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New Goldfish Acclimation - A Guide by Jimmy Goldfish

Successful Acclimation of Your New Goldfish from Jimmy Goldfish

A Guide by Jimmy Goldfish - for Jimmy's Goldfishes

Hello Goldfish Fanatic,

Thank you for your recent purchase from Jimmy Goldfish! We’re thrilled to know you’ve welcomed new aquatic friends to your home. Let’s walk through the acclimation process, which is essential for your goldfish’s transition to its new environment. Please note, this is my way of acclimate goldfish, this guide is made for my buyer, my goldfish.

Understanding the Importance of Acclimation

Your new goldfish needs to adjust to its new home gradually. Differences in temperature, pH, and salinity between the shipping water and your tank can stress your fish. By properly acclimating your goldfish, you increase their chances of a healthy, smooth transition.

Preparing for Your Goldfish’s Arrival

Ensure your tank or quarantine tank is ready at least 48 hours before the goldfish arrive, using aged water or pulling your main tank’s water (mixing 50% main tank’s water with new water). A separate quarantine tank is highly recommended for this. Here are the ideal water parameters for your tank:

Water temperature: 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (for Thailand Goldfish). Read more
• pH: 7.0-7.5
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrites: 0 ppm
• Nitrates: Less than 20 ppm (as low as possible)
You can verify these parameters using an API freshwater test kit.

Setting Up a Quarantine Tank

A quarantine tank helps gradually acclimate your goldfish and screen for infectious diseases. Ensure it’s empty and filled with aged water at least 48 hours before the fish’s arrival. A 10-20 gallon tank would be ideal, although the tank’s size may depend on your fish’s size.

Upon Your Goldfish’s Arrival

Follow these steps to safely introduce your goldfish to its new home:

  • Turn off or dim your aquarium lights. Avoid opening the shipping box in bright light.
  • Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15-25 minutes without opening it. This allows the water inside the bag to gradually match the tank’s temperature.
  • Open the bag, gently inflate it with some air, and compare the water temperature with that of your tank. The difference should not exceed 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Slowly add tank water to the shipping bag. Using a small cup, pour tank water into the shipping bag every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full.
  • Carefully remove the goldfish from the bag and place it into the aquarium. DO NOT add the bag water to your aquarium.
  • Keep the aquarium lights off for 12-24 hours.
  • IMPORTANT: Refrain from feeding your new goldfish for the next 48 hours.

After Quarantine is completed

Congrats, your fish is now ready for introducing to the community tank. Now, the time of qt could be varied but recommended at least 1 full week (7 days). The decision of completing qt time is based on the observation of you on the fish. How is it doing? is it active, and seems strong to meet new friends?

Warning - This is important

When completing the quarantine and ready to transit the fish to another tank, few things below you must strictly follow to prevent any shock.

1. Temperature: Slowly decrease the quarantine tank temperature if you plan to acclimate the fish to a lower living temperatur. For example, per my suggestion, the qt temperature should be 86. Given your main tank is running around 75 degree. Then, you must lower the temperature of the qt tank weekly by 2 degree. By doing this, the fish will adapt to the lower temperature without being shocked or stress (this is a common problem). So, degree the temp by 2 degree every week until it is 75 degree.

2. PH: This is the same with temperature, you must make sure the qt water and the main community tank has similar PH, no difference or minimal difference of less than 0.5. You can also mixing the water of your main tank with the qt tank to adapt the fish, around 25% of main tank water into qt tank when you do water change. Just make sure the main tank water is good (No Ammonia, NO2, NO3).

By doing the step above, you will have great chance of successful acclimate your new fish while maintain its strongest health.


By following this guide, you’ll help your new goldfish successfully adapt to their new environment. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.