(02-13-2018, 10:17 AM)Gutter Wrote: We have 2 goldfish in bowls. We will have had the one 8 years in June, the other 7 years in June. We clean their bowls and stones/decorations once per week every week. We use cistern water, i.e. rainwater, and a conditioner. They are 2 1/2 to 3 gallons each.
Do you have a filter?
I am sure the goldfish are not in optimal health under the conditions you said. At the very least they have permanent damage from ammonia burn. Clean everything will destroy the beneficial bacteria for the nitrogen cycle. But it does not matter if you do not have a filter... not enough beneficial bacteria anyway.
Like we have said in the previous posts, goldfish can live for decades. Having them live shorter than their natural lifespan is not the proof you are doing the right thing.
