When you visit the pet store, plan enough time to talk to the clerk at the store about the different goldfish they carry. What goldfish varieties are available? Can you call them with questions about your fish? Can you bring a sick fish in for diagnosis? Do they make house calls? Be sure to bring a photo of your tank setup and know the size of your tank. The clerk may have other helpful goldfish information to share with you. The clerk can help you pick the correct number of fish for your tank and can let you know if your tank is missing anything. You also want enough time to pick the fish you want from the many fish in the tank. You want to choose a goldfish that is healthy – never start with a sick fish. Avoid the fish that are not swimming around, have damaged fins, discolored gills, or cloudy eyes. Finally, don’t take too many fish home at first. Pick one or two – which may be all that your size tank can handle – and give them the attention they need.