Overwhelmed and totally lost...^_^...help!

[Rachel]

ermm...Well, I just got 2 Red and White Oranda Goldfish and read up a bit and found out they do best when given a mixture of food including plants. The thing is, I know nothing about aquarium plants. I've been reading up, but I'm mostly finding info on decorative aquarium plants. I've only got a 10 gallon tank (I'll need to get a larger one when the fish grow, but I've got a while ) and don't know what would be best for my fish. I know this is mostly an aquarium decor plant group...site...forum, but would love any advice

My major questions are these:
What's edible? (I know that sounds armature but I'm serious)
What would be best for my 10 gal. tank size?

I think from there I can study as to how to care for the plants but I'm a bit overwhelmed and lost up to that point. ^_^


Thanks!!

 

[Carissa]

From what I have heard, goldfish will eat/destroy just about anything in the plant realm. I doubt that you will be able to do any actual aquascaping with two goldfish in a 10g, they will uproot and destroy plants as quickly as you add them so buying actual aquatic plants is probably a waste of money for you, they will be nothing more than very expensive fish food. You're probably best off looking for some type of food item that you can feed them, as opposed to trying to grow anything as fast as the fish will eat it which will likely be impossible. I'm not sure about goldfish, but I know that plecostomus usually like to eat lettuce and cucumber and possibly other vegetables. These might be options you can try, or someone else who keeps goldfish may have some more suggestions. Aquatic plants are usually not all that cheap (when compared to food items at the grocery store) and don't grow all that fast unless you invest in a lot of expensive co2 injection equipment. They are meant for decoration and not as a crop of food. If you want to have an actual planted tank, you would be better off returning the goldfish and going with tropical fish who won't eat plants.

 

[Ardell]

I've found that blanching any vegetables you feed is helpful, It is much easier for the fish to eat

 

[Rachel]

OMG you guys are awesome Thanks so much for your advise/input/help!! It really is appreciated. Sorry for the stupid question Thanks again!!

 

[tn88]

Goldfish

Mine loooooove duckweed, in fact, I have to grow it in another tank in order to 'make' enough for them.

 

[Gerryd]

Hi Rachel,

Goldfish can get big and eat a lot and can produce a lot of waste. Not necessarily in that order lol

I think they may outgrow your 10gal tank pretty quickly.

Until they do a larger filter than normal for that tank would be good for them (and you) until you can get a bigger tank. Remember that they will grow all their lives, so keep this in mind when you upgrade

More frequent water changes even if smaller in volume may also help.

You may get lucky with either Anubias species or Java fern as they have tough leaves and are not very tasty to most fish. As noted earlier by others, they eat plants like candy.

Good luck!

 

[veryl]

I keep a lot of goldfish and find Crypt's to be a good plant to use with them.
They taste awful, be sure to clean around them when changing water.
Get larger tanks soon.