Glossary of Fish Terms for a better understanding
Acidic: Softness of water; low or no alkalinity
Air pump: Bubbler; motorized pump that pushes air
Algae: Common varieties are; blanket, green water and substrate; plant organism that is found only in a cycled tank or pond; feeding on nitrates
Alkaline: Hardness of water; high in pH
Ammonia: The first toxin converted from waste without the assistance of living organisms
Beneficial bacteria: Friendly bugs; single cell microorganism that splits every 10 to 12 hours; food source is ammonia; prefers cool, heavily oxygenated water; prefers darkness
Carbon: Used in aquariums and ponds for absorption of ammonia
Carbon dioxide: Gas found in goldfish tank or pond; created from waste
Carbonate hardness (KH): The level of carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations found in water
Charcoal: Used in aquariums and ponds for absorption of ammonia
Chlorine or chloramines: Disinfectant found in most city tap water
Cold blooded: Having no core body temperature
Comfort Zone: The range of measurement that is suitable for goldfish
Cycled tank or pond: The process of the nitrogen cycle complete with only nitrates being produced by living organisms
Dormant: Body functions become slower over a period of time; deep sleep
Ecosystem: A community of living creatures and organisms and their association with each other in a particular environment
Fasting Goldfish: To withhold food
Fishless cycle: A means of encouraging the formation of bacteria in an environment ‘without’ the presence of goldfish
Fresh water change: Replacing old tank or pond water with fresh.
Friendly bugs: Beneficial bacteria
Fry: Very young goldfish
General Hardness: The level of minerals found in water
Gravel Vacuum: Python; motorized or manual; used for siphoning waste from tank or pond bottoms
Hardness of water: High alkalinity
Harmful bacteria: Unfriendly bugs; single cell microorganism that splits every 20 to 30 minutes; food source is decaying matter; prefers warm, stagnant water; no preference to light or dark
Immune system: Natural resistance to infection
Live fish cycle: A means of encouraging the formation of bacteria in an environment ‘with’ the presence of goldfish
Nitrate: The third and final toxin converted from nitrite with the assistance of living organisms
Nitrifying bacteria: Microorganisms that convert ammonia and nitrite into nitrate
Nitrogen cycle: The process of converting ammonia into nitrite, and then finally into nitrates by living organisms
Nitrite: The second toxin converted from ammonia with the assistance of living organisms
Parameters: A specific measure of the water and its conditions; standard tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, KH, GH, oxygen levels, redox levels, temperature
Partial water change: Exchanging only a percentage of old tank or pond water with fresh
Potential of hydrogen (pH): Meaning; how acid (soft) or alkaline (hard) the water may be
Quarantine: Relocate fish in separate container to prevent contamination
Redox potential: Reduction of oxidation reaction; quality of water
Spawning: The development, release and fertilization of eggs; breeding
Spike: Rise in water parameters; ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH or temperature
Spike in the nitrogen cycle: Break or interruption of the cycle, causing ammonia or nitrite to be present
Stagnant water: A quiet body of water; without motion
Stocking level: Size and quantity of container according to size and quantity of fish
Supersaturated gases: Found in tap water; concentrated amounts of oxygen
Surface action: The action or movement at the top or surface of a body of water
Unfriendly bugs: Harmful bacteria
Water pump: motorized pump that pushes water; rated by �gallons or liters per hour GPH or LPH
Water Table: The depth or height of contained water
Zeolites: Used in aquariums or pond for absorption of ammonia
Terms used in fish keeping
Glossary of Fish Terms
Symptoms, Conditions & Treatments
Anesthetize: To induce insensitivity to pain
Antibiotics (natural): Selective poison that destroys bad bacteria without harming good
Antibiotics (medicinal): Selective poison that destroys bacteria
Bacteria Bloom: Clouded water filled with bad bacteria; tinted white
Bent positioning: Body of goldfish is curled or bent sideways
Bottom sitting: Goldfish is pressed to floor of tank or pond
Clamped fins: Goldfish fins are folded in, close to body
Concave: Sunken
Constipation: Processed food becomes obstructed
Dosage: Specified amount
Euthanize: To end life
Flashing: Goldfish is swimming sporadically or darting
Gasping at surface: Goldfish mouth is above water line; sucking air
Harmful bacteria infection: Invasive microorganisms in quantities that cause sickness
Impacted eggs: Bound eggs
Organ failure: Kidney, liver or heart ceases to function
Oxygen deprivation: Deprived of oxygen; not being able to breathe
Parasites: Organisms that benefit by deriving nutrients from a host; causing sickness
Pine coned: Goldfish scales are lifted or raised; looking much like a pine cone
Pop eye: Condition caused by oxygen deprivation; pressure in the water
Probiotics: Beneficial bacteria
Shock: Sudden and insufficient blood flow throughout the body
Tilted: Goldfish body is leaning sideways
Toxin: Poison derived from microorganisms
Uncontrolled swimming: Goldfish has no control swimming or buoyancy;
cannot rise or sink upon demand
Glossary of fish terms
Read the 10 steps to goldfish Koi care
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Author: Brenda Rand