Crazy Hobbies

Why do so many people new to the hobby of fish keeping start with goldfish?

They are actually more difficult to care for (as long as you try to do everything right by them) than tropicals. They need a larger tank and more attention paid to maintaining water quality, yet it seems many people don't realize that until the goldfish are home and start to do badly. And the fancy goldfish aren't cheap either. Why do so many people start with a relatively difficult fish?

Public Comments

1. Simple... they dont do research... :)
2. Because they can go buy a Common Goldfish at Petco for $.13 and the classic myth that Goldfish belong in bowls is always present. Not only that, but most chain store employees will gladly sell you a few Goldfish for that $10 fish bowl. Ignorance is the main reason. EDIT: Oh no. The "one inch of fish per gallon of water" "rule" again. As I, and many others have stated numerous times, this is certainly not a rule, nor would I even recommend thinking of it when keeping fish. It doesn't account for waste production, aggression, swimming level, activity, filtration, maintenance, schooling habits, girth, surface area, surface agitation, pH, temperature, decor, and many other aspects that are VITAL to stocking a fish tank. Put 10 1 inch Neons in a 10 gallon tank, then try the same thing with a 10 inch Goldfish. Keep in mind, a 10 gallon tank is only 10 inches wide...
3. Umm.. because they didn't come here, or one of the internet forums and ask first? Ian
4. cause they're cute. i don't know, whatever.
5. because the fish are easy to replace cause they are only 15 cents at Walmart, and yes this is my real name
6. another myth. they don't know the 1 inch rule. they don't know water chemistry. they don't know that a big tank is easier to tend to because the water doesn't get dirty as quick. they don't know proper pH how much water circulation can aid in fish care. filtration makes a big difference.
7. - know nuts about fish and didn't bother with research (goldfish are coldwater fish that need lots of oxygen, goldfish are champion poopers) - no idea that goldfish can grow to 1 foot for common & Comets (if they're real lucky to be in such a select minority group) - believed all the hearsay from others that keeping goldfish is very easy (read some of those answers in this forum) - won common goldfish at some carnival or funfair - think small goldfish in bowls are cute - small common goldfish are cheap & hence affordable to replace whenever they die (which is very soon in the hands of such people) - was sold on a complete small tank package that came with 'free gift' of 1-2 small goldfish - got 2nd hand fish from others who didn't want them anymore Goldfish definitely rank No. 1 on the list of all-time most abused pet fish all over the world and bettas come 2nd. And many people just stubbornly refuse to change their pre-conceived ideas about goldfish when told the facts.
8. well first of all they are cheap u can get them for about 10 cents each at a LFS and then they are cold water fish so that saves you the cost of a heater. and ppl tend to think they are easy since they see them at carnivals