In article ,
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Thank you Gunther. I'm sorry I have frustrated everyone. Really I
thought the pet store would know given the huge size of their fish
area and the fact that the staff seemed very interested and offered
what I thought were rational options. It seems to me if the 1 fish to
10 gall rule is critical that it would be more mentioned outside of
listservs.

You have to remember their job is to sell you stuff. And I've often
suspected that there are many aquarists who are truly knowledgeable
in most areas but have never kept goldfish, and are thus unqualified
to give advice. And they actually look down on goldfish, I think.
But they do know that if you buy a 1 gallon tank, you're apt to
have a fatality in a week or so. And you'll be back. With money.
You'll have better luck if you read up on the hobby independently,
library books, here, sites like www.thekrib.com, Puregold
(http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/puregold/), and others.


I will say to the 6" growth I was told they won't grow unless you get
a bigger tank, so I felt safe.
I've heard that myth myself, and no longer believe it.
Others here may know more about it.

That being said, 10 gallon is not out
of the question. Perhaps I can move Goldie to that and get a Betta for
the smaller tank (which seems certainly large enough given the size of
those golf ball size tanks they are kept in at the store).

Good plan, I think.

Goldie, btw, is covered in a lot of black spots but seems happy,
eating and swimming. I have not done daily water changes as the levels
seem fine and the water is clear.

Um...bad plan, that. Change that water. Unless Goldie had those
spots when you got him/her, they indicate a probable water problem.
I think I can guarantee that a new, uncycled 1 gallon tank with
an under-gravel filter and a goldfish has very high ammonia levels,
regardless of what test strips might indicate. Do a 50% change
with temperature-matched, de-chlorinated water, just for drill, OK?


I will continue to monitor the
situation.

Good luck,
Gunther