Is Cycling Goldfish Necessary?

[Tula_Montage]

I have had my goldies since they were wee tiddlers. I got them from a pet store with missing scales and torn fins (didnt notice at the time). They are now completely healed, HUGE and I have recently successfully hatched out some fry and they are feeding like mad!... So I can't be doing too much wrong.

HOWEVER I seem to go about my keeping completely wrong. The parents are in a small 2ft tank (soon to be moved to a 3ft). They have a small air filter running. I do a waterchange once a week, and a full water change/filter clean once a month. Apparently thats a sin in the world of fish keeping! I even clean the filter with tap water

I am going to set up the 3ft tank in the next week or so and it looks like I need advice. Is ammonia cycling necessary for goldies? Iv never read that it was on any goldfish site or caresheet. I use the usual dechlorinator and biological suplements so will that be enough?

I have bought a flauval filter (apparently thats a great brand) and I just want to do this right. They may only be goldies, but they are still animals in my care, my responsibility.

BTW im new to the site, I am from Scotland and an avid reptile keeper/breeder. Mostly snakes, royal pythons, corn snakes, dwarf boas and other colubrids.

I have attached a picture of the proud parents (before and after, you can see the scale and fin damage on the commet). I have no clue whos who... Just found the eggs on a plant when I was cleaning. Nothing fancy, sarasa commet and a shubunkin... met the splishies LOL

 

[channing]

very pretty fishes!!!!

 

[black angel]

Hi and welcome to the forum

As for transferint to another tank I would add half the old water to half new and put in the old gravel and anything else you want to add.
Put the old filter and the new one into the new tank and let it run.
Put the fish in the new tank and it should cycle for you in about 3 to 6 weeks.
Buy an ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kit and check it each day and do water changes if the ammonia and nitrites start to climb over 1. Theres pinned topics on the newbie section explaining how to cycle

 

[Tula_Montage]

Hi and welcome to the forum

As for transferint to another tank I would add half the old water to half new and put in the old gravel and anything else you want to add.
Put the old filter and the new one into the new tank and let it run.
Put the fish in the new tank and it should cycle for you in about 3 to 6 weeks.
Buy an ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kit and check it each day and do water changes if the ammonia and nitrites start to climb over 1. Theres pinned topics on the newbie section explaining how to cycle

Thank you for that information!

I know how to cycle, I was just wondering if it was necessary? How many people who run out to buy a goldfish cycle their bowls... and yet many goldies in those conditions can live long lives! I am not trying to cut my work load, I want to do this properly.

What brand of test kit do you recommend? There are so many!

 

[MHunt]

You may find the goldfish are hardy enough to survive a cycle, i know mine still is. My fantail goldfish has survived half her life in a small unfiltered bowl.

Even adding a small filter to the tank promoted a growth spurt. I have since upgraded to an over filtered 10 gal tank and i will probably have to get a bigger net to catch her in the future!