How do you keep goldfish?

[Lexielou]

We got a BiOrb fish tank thinking it would be a nice, easy to keep pet for the children. Its turning into a nightmare, We have had 9 fish die in about 8 weeks. I thought they were supposed to be easy to keep! We have had a few that have gone upside down (presumably swim bladder disease) and a few just seem to stay at the bottom of the tank and then die.
What are we doing wrong?

What sort of tank are you using? Ive had fish and its sometimes the simple things. you could have aquired a fish desease with one of the fish you bought. If thats the case then take all the fish out of the tank, make them sit in a small amount of clean water whilst you scrub and clean the living daylights out of the tank. Also any good petshop should be able to explain what went wrong and steer you in the right direction of a salution or a 'fish treatment' if not, then you should get some of the money back you spent on all of those fish

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We have four fish in a tank with a filter/pump. Had them since May. One died within a day. One within a week. Replaced both. Two originals and the newbies still going strong. I use tap water with the Aquasafe stuff in - few drops. Clean the filter every couple of days and clean the tank once a month. Perhaps buy your next batch from a different shop?

DS just asked if we could have a killer whale as a pet. He's watching Free Willy. "When it gets too big for the tank we can take him to the ocean". Ah, life so simple when you're 5.

thanks everyone.
Mellowma... I had fish when I was a child and they lived in a plastic tank with gravel in the bottom and a water change every blue moon, thats why i thought it'd be a doddle
The tank is a BiOrb 30 ltr tank and we have followed the instructions and used a product called "stability" for setting up new tanks.
Have tried buying fish from different shops, DH is now saying that if the last one dies the f$"ing fish tank can go in the f&%ing loft
I thought pets didnt come any easier than goldfish.

Fish for some reason prefer rectangular tanks - so Im told anayway. Weve had the same fish for 2 1/2 years.

Probably something to do with greater surface area per sq foot of water or something Liesel.
I remember the days of goldfish living happily in tap water

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