How to keep goldfish alive: Dr Katrina Warren explains the common mistakes goldfish owners make

Despite the common myth, goldfish don't actually have a short-term memory of three seconds �C so your sins might not actually be forgiven and forgotten easily.

While goldfish are relatively easy to keep as pets, there are a few common errors that often result in their untimely death.

Here's what you need to know about keeping your goldfish alive and how you can avoid common mistakes.

Don't keep them in a small 'goldfish bowl'

You know the one I'm talking about. Contrary to what cartoons and movies pedal, these small glass bowls are actually bad for goldfish.

The biggest mistake is that goldfish have been promoted for so long in that horrible little glass bowl, and they nearly always die because they don't get enough oxygen.

Goldfish actually require quite a bit of oxygen, and they need a large, rectangular tank �C which gives them a surface area big enough to get an adequate amount of oxygen �C fitted with a filter, which aerates the water and keeps the tank clean.

Keep in mind, however, that when goldfish have good living conditions, they grow quickly and they do need some space to swim. They also produce a lot of waste, so if you give them a tank that's too small, it can be harmful.

Put down the fish food, you're overfeeding them

The next biggest mistake is fish being overfed, which can pollute the tank as the excess food will rot in the aquarium. It's not putting on weight in this instance that will kill the fish, necessarily �C it's the rotting food producing ammonium, which is toxic to them.

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Feed your goldfish twice a day, and only give them the amount they'd eat in two to three minutes. If you have kids, be sure to supervise them when they feed the goldfish, as they often will be too generous in the amount of food they give their pets. Give the kids only the amount of food the fish needs to be fed on a tray or in a separate container, so they can sprinkle it in to their heart's content.

Avoid cheap fish food with lots of fillers, and ensure your goldfish are fed good quality commercial food. You can also supplement goldfish food with brine shrimp.

Fish are friends, not food

Goldfish are social creatures, yes, but too many fish in the domesticated sea in this case is actually a bad thing.

Goldfish should be kept in groups, but because each fish produces a lot of waste, they need space, therefore, bigger is definitely better when it comes to tank size.

Overcrowding in a tank will cause the water to quickly become polluted, which is less than ideal, to say the least.

Not all fish are friends, however

Yes, goldfish are social creatures and should be kept with other fish, but remember goldfish are cold-water fish, so they are not able to live with tropical freshwater fish.

Goldfish are also likely to eat other fish that are smaller than their mouth size, and other fish often target goldfishes' large fins. There are not many other types of fish that are compatible with goldfish, so it's easier to simply have goldfish in the tank.

If you do want to keep a mixed bag of fish together in the tank, that's fine �C but make sure you consult with an aquarium expert to find suitable tank mates.

New tank syndrome

When a new tank is set up and the goldfish are popped in without the tank adequately being set up for them, the goldfish die.

A brand-new tank does not have enough bacteria in it to eliminate toxins, so before putting the goldfish in their new tank, let the tank sit for a few weeks. During these few weeks, you should cycle the tank, which involves using a kit to test ammonia and nitrate daily, before you add any fish.

Cycling the tank allows time for bacteria to establish a break-down waste, and for nitrate and ammonia levels to drop to a safe amount. Add the fish gradually, so the tank can adjust to the new additions.

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