Wetting Comet Goldfish Food

[A&W_Fish]

I picked up 3 Comet Goldfish today. Not to be used as food, but for testing my new aquarium.

I noticed today the salesperson said that you should wet the food before adding to the tank, because if the fish try to eat it on the surface there is a good chance they will swallow air and then die.

I don't remember doing this growing up as a kid, and I never seemed to have a problem. I'm wondering if this is paranoia, or are comets a little more risky than other fish?

[madagascariensis]

many fancy goldfish with compressed bodies will have problems if they accidentally swallow air, but I believe that comets are able to pass the air from their systems.
Are you aware though, of the potential size and age of a comet goldfish?

[Lady Hobbs]

Easier to wet pellets than flakes and better for them anyway. Get those that sink, not float.

[Honey Badger 1]

You don't need to wet the food, this is a myth, goldfish are quite capable of eating from the surface without any problems, here are some links you might find useful on goldfish care and nutritional needs.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebi...fish101art.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebi...dfshmalnut.htm

[A&W_Fish]

It is not true that goldfish achieve this set of symptoms by swallowing air with floating food. To an extent, goldfish are capable of gulping and 'burping' air to control the amount of gas in their swim bladder and somewhat control their buoyancy; swallowing air has nothing to do with this nutritional disease.

I guess that means that not everyone who works at PetSmart knows what they are talking about?

Anyhow, I understand my three little babies may grow up to one food in length, if they live that long. Though expected to live up to 15 years if properly cared. I'll make sure I don't treat them like in a Fishbowl as I've seen so many other friends do. Never understood how stores can even legally do that these days.

Right now I've got them in a 5 Gallon tank, and while I know that's a no-no, they are just babies for now. I'll move them over into something bigger if they last long enough to grow to a bigger size.

[Honey Badger 1]

I guess that means that not everyone who works at PetSmart knows what they are talking about?

Generally speaking this is true, you will find a few that actually know about the fish they are selling.

If you take good care of your goldfish, they will last and outgrow that tank very quickly, and you should either make plans now to rehome them, or just rehome them now for fish more suited to your tank. Are you using them to cycle the tank? If so then you might want to read this, http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=36492

Or even better rehome the goldfish now and read this. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640

[Zander]

Personally I find it to be a bigger issue among fancy goldfish than common/comets. Swim bladder issues that is. With comets you shouldn't worry about it. I've never seen a comet with swim bladder issues.

And even then, they very rarely seem to die from it.

[A&W_Fish]

What I did was use TopFin Bacteria Supplement, as I used their Conditioner before hand to declorinate the tap water.

I'm not liking how shortly after adding the supplement, the water has gone murky pretty quick, but I did read elsewhere this has a tendancy to happen 24-48 hours after the supplement, and should go away again.

I will try to keep a close eye on the ammonia levels.

Right now I'm feeding them just once a day (what I used to always be taught in our school), but the label says to feed them MULTIPLE times a day.