Halloween is a couple weeks away. On October 31st, millions of people will dress themselves in scary costumes. Children will walk house-to-house brandishing pillow cases and plastic bags, their faces alight with sweet-tooth-filled grins.

If you celebrate Halloween, you’ve likely covered every inch of your house with ghosts, ghouls, and creepy crawlers. I wouldn’t be surprised if you already had jack-o-lanterns gracing your front doorstep.

Why not deck your tank with scary aquarium decorations?

Finding scary aquarium decorations specifically for Halloween isn’t easy. Many pet stores don’t bother to carry Halloween fish tank decorations because the holiday only lasts one day of the year.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative.

Scary aquarium decorations abound with laughing skulls, haunted castles, and dark themes. You can make your aquarium a sight to behold, grabbing attention the second you whip out that bowl of sweets.

4 Halloween Theme Ideas Using Scary Aquarium Decorations

While Halloween fish tank decorations are limited, you can combine creativity with ingeniousness to build a creepily dark theme with scary aquarium decorations.

In this article, we’ll look at substrate, plants, driftwood, skulls, haunted castles, and spooky caves.

But don’t feel limited to just these. Experiment and create your own aquarium theme worthy of bone-creaking knee shaking.

Dark Aquarium Substrate

Both aquarium lighting and substrate can set the mood for Halloween.

You’ll want to use dark tints and Halloween colors to give your aquarium the adrenaline rush you’re looking for. At the same time, you don’t want to include substrate that is too harsh or too small.

Black, orange, and grey are all great colors for Halloween. You can include solid black substrate or mix and match the colors to add variety.

Halloween-Themed Foliage

In this section we’ll take a look at plastic plants and driftwood that will help create a spooky environment for your goldfish.

Plastic plants colored in orange, peach, or red shades also look great on Halloween. Positioned properly, dark driftwood and bright aquatic plants can work together to create an unnerving, almost supernatural atmosphere in your aquarium.

Driftwood adds a nice touch among other Halloween fish tank decorations. The natural-looking wood atop mossy rocks will have your goldfish feeling as though they’ve just explored an aquatic graveyard. This driftwood is made out of polyresin, providing your goldfish with much-needed hiding space whenever they want to escape from ghosts and ghouls.

You can compliment driftwood with orange and red plants, typical Halloween colors. Add a bit of green or even an underwater forest and these plants will make the darkest corners stand out.

Keep in mind that goldfish like bumping against things. They especially love nipping on edible-looking foliage. So choose plants and scary aquarium decorations that don’t have sharp edges that could easily scrape against your goldfish.

Creepy Skulls and Skeletons

Halloween isn’t complete without the maniacal grin of the undead.

You can give your aquarium a pirate-like atmosphere and include pirates with eye patches, treasure chests, and even sunken ships. Some scary aquarium decorations even come with built-in air stones to keep the water well oxygenated.

This Skeleton raises and lowers his jug of rum as bubbles escape around him, keeping your aquarium well-aerated for Halloween. Air pump and airline tubing aren’t included, so you’ll need these to make the built-in air stone work.

Because Halloween aquarium ornaments aren’t commonly supplied, skeletons and pirates are often used to replace witches, ghosts, and pumpkins. In fact, you can mix and match most pirate decorations with your Halloween theme and still create great results.

No matter which scary aquarium decorations you buy, keep an eye out for quality. You don’t want to accidentally purchase poorly made ornaments. Poor quality products will easily break or cloud the water with harmful chemicals.

If you’re an avid online shopper, finding quality scary aquarium decorations might be as simple as reading reviews. Disappointed shoppers will often leave negative reviews, so always weigh the pros and cons before making a purchase.

Spooky Caves and Haunted Castles

Haunted castles and caves can definitely create a disturbing air. You never know what could be lurking in those dark crevices! The mystery won’t stop your goldfish though. If anything, they’ll enjoy exploring the unknown.

Caves and castles, even haunted cabins, work great in dark Halloween themes. Often these types of decorations will have dark holes and pits your fish can escape into. Since goldfish can grow over 6 inches, you might have to shop around to find scary aquarium decorations with holes large enough for your goldfish.

This haunted castle boasts dark colors and includes plenty of holes for small goldfish to unravel its mysteries. The castle suggests a realm of magic and enchanting beauty filled with witches and wizardry.

You can compliment your haunted castle with blinking lights and purple plants that will enhance your enchanting-magic theme. If you’re interested in dark and eerie, there are sunken ships, rotten bridges, and rock clusters you can include to create a more haunted look.

Putting tank ornaments into your aquarium for the first time? Rinse them off with hot water first. Some tank decorations conceal dust particles that will cloud your aquarium water.

You can even clean scary aquarium decorations by boiling them in a hot pot for a few seconds. Quickly rinsing out decorations with hot water will help remove excess dirt that can accumulate during shipment.

Love the new haunted aquarium theme? You don’t have to pack everything up after Halloween. You can keep your theme year round, create a pirate theme with skeletons and treasure chests, or establish a fantasy world where magic reigns supreme.

Whatever you decide, have fun with it. Add spider webs to the corners of your tank or place a few spiders across your aquarium hood. Tape on cutouts of witches and ghosts. Make decorating the aquarium a family activity.

Jennie Connelly does a great job on her aquarium. Just watching her video will give you all kinds of creative ideas.

Goldfish Love Treats Too

Photo by JD Hancock (Flickr)

Now that you’ve dressed your tank with scary aquarium decorations, let’s celebrate the occasion with tasty goldfish treats!

You can…

Feed Your Goldfish Fresh Fruit

Fruit can be a great source of vitamin C. Goldfish enjoy fresh bananas, oranges, grapes, or berries.

Always…

• Chop fruit up into small clumps before feeding
• Remove the skin from fruit
• Remove embedded seeds
• Feed in small amounts

If you’re not sure which fruits to feed, you can even make a fruit salad of sorts with chopped up grapes (remove seeds and skin), diced bananas, and several different types of berries. Put any leftovers in the freezer, and make sure you sweep the gravel with a water siphon to get rid of uneaten food. I like to feed fruit an hour or two before a scheduled water change.

Since many fruits are high in sugar, I’d only recommend feeding fruit once or twice per month if you want to make it a regular routine.

Treat Your Goldfish to Vegetables

Goldfish will enjoy vegetables like frozen peas, green beans, lettuce, spinach, or zucchini.

Make sure you…

• Never add spices to vegetables
• Remove the skin from vegetables
• Soften vegetables by slightly boiling or freezing them
• Never soften vegetables too much or they’ll cloud the water

You can add veggies to the diet once or twice per week. Vegetables like green peas are even recommended to treat buoyancy problems.

Any special treats you give your goldfish should be fed in moderation. Goldfish will enjoy fresh food in their diet, but don’t go overboard. Feed your goldfish fruits and vegetables occasionally to supplement their stable diet of dry food.

Once you’re done feeding, be sure to clean up any leftover pieces that your goldfish didn’t eat or you might end up with a water quality problem later on.

How Will You Celebrate This Halloween?

Any Halloween decorating tips? Which scary aquarium decorations have you used?

Publish your creativity right here on this website for the world to see. Simply upload a photo on TinyPic (a free image uploading service) and post the link in the comments below or email me a link to your photo, and we’ll publish your haunted aquarium theme and scary aquarium decorations right here on this page.

Good luck decorating!

The post Celebrate Halloween with Scary Aquarium Decorations appeared first on Complete Goldfish Care.

Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also made from high-quality materials and very safe for your goldfish. These large aquarium decorations will last for years. You’ll never have to deal with chipping paint or cloudy water.

I recommend at least 30 gallons of aquarium water for the ornaments listed, since many of these ornaments are too big for smaller aquariums (and really, your goldfish tank shouldn’t be any smaller than 20 gallons anyway – see my goldfish tank guide). Sizable dimensions mean more hiding spaces for your goldfish. Many large aquarium decorations even include bubbling air stones for increased surface agitation (much needed for healthier aquarium water).

Greek Sanctuary Ornament from Top Fin

This elegant 5-inch wide and 7-inch high (5-inch diameter) Greek sanctuary ornament is breathtaking! If the incredible detail on the bricks and columns doesn’t make you drool, surely the ample hiding spaces for your goldfish will. Capture the Greek ruins in your aquarium with highly photogenic realism and give your goldfish a very durable piece to explore. This large fish tank ornament is glowing with positive reviews.

I have a 5″ Synodontis and he has claimed this as his home. When I lifted the decoration out of the tank he tried to swim up with it. He didn’t want to give it up. – Gryph70

Exotic Cambodian Rock Face Ornament

This gorgeous Cambodian rock ornament is 6 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high, perfect for a 10-gallon aquarium (or larger!). The intricate detail of each rock face will take your goldfish back to ancient times, where there are plenty of crevices and holes for smaller goldfish to hide in. If you want a realistic piece for your freshwater aquarium, this ornament will definitely fit the bill.

Very nice accent piece. Just the right size for my 3-4″ cichlids, and the color contrast with faux greenery is good. Very well rendered. – J. Valk

Intricate Barrel Aquarium Ornament

One of many beautiful large aquarium decorations, this resin barrel ornament looks great in 20-gallon aquariums (or higher). It’s 8 inches wide, 5 1/2 inches high, and 5 inches in diameter. With its built-in air stone and calming air of tranquility, bubbles appear to flow right out of the barrel and help keep your goldfish tank well oxygenated. Hiding places are only large enough for smaller goldfish though.

My goldfish love to sit in there while my algae eater sticks to it. Great decoration! My fish have been in there since I put it in. – CrispySteze

Delightful Wooden Cabin Aquarium Ornament

Realistic cabin ornament creates a soothing environment for your goldfish tank. Standing 9 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 12 inches long, this large aquarium ornament looks beautiful in 20-gallon tanks or larger. Only smaller goldfish will be able to explore the mossy steps and clay pots on this bubbling beach hut. But the decoration will definitely remind you of those warm summer afternoons. Built-in air stone turns the wheel for nicely oxygenated aquarium water.

Saw this item when I was looking for a new air pump and had to have it. Hooked up the water wheel to the new air pump and watched our fish and aquatic frogs explore their new digs! – barnmaster

Enchanted Castle Aquarium Ornament

Create a bewitching atmosphere in your goldfish tank with this lovely enchanted castle ornament. 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 8 inches high, this ornament is one of many large aquarium decorations that look great in 10-gallon aquariums and larger. Smaller goldfish will enjoy snooping through holes along the rocky cliff as they explore a magical land of warlocks and wizardry.

I’ve gone off the deep end. But this is one in a whole series of aquarium decorations I’ve purchased. This one is the best, most sturdily constructed, artfully decorated and architecturally challenging and comforting to the betta.

Realistic Castle Ornament with Drawbridge

If you’re looking for large aquarium decorations, you don’t have to look far. Your goldfish will enjoy ruling over his subjects with this stately castle ornament. This ornament is 9 inches long, 6 1/2 inches wide, and 4 inches high. The beautiful drawbridge complements each brick on this elaborate castle fit for royalty. Bubbling air stone keeps the water healthy and well-oxygenated for rambunctious goldfish.

The castle has a good sized opening on the lower right-side that acts as a cave, if you do not use the airstone. This provides fish with a cozy spot to hide in if feeling unsafe or insecure. – FintasticReviews

Elegant Balinese Dragon Aquarium Ornament

This beautiful Balinese dragon ornament might look menacing, but your goldfish will enjoy that he breathes bubbles and not fire. This gentle giant is 14.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide and works great in aquariums that can hold 30 gallons and up. The dragon guards over all aquarium inhabitants and comes with an air stone embedded in its mouth for oxygenated water. Some hobbyists did have trouble getting the air stone just right though.

I purchased this dragon to add to my new cichlid tank and it is just as beautiful as the upright one that I purchased for my living room. My fish love it and so does my family and friends. This decoration has encourage my friends to but a fish tank as well. What an excellent focal point to add to a fish tank. – TraciT522

Asian Bonsai Aquarium Ornament

If your goldfish are shy, this Asian bonsai aquarium decoration will pull them right out of their shell. The bonsai tree stands tall with a realistic trunk overflowing with leaves and offers much-needed shade for your nature-inspired aquarium. The ornament is 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high for 10-gallon aquariums and up.

I love this ornament. It is so beautiful and it really looks real. It makes the tank look great and it provides shade for some of the little fish. A must have. – Beansoup1999

Forgotten Cambodian Ruins Aquarium Ornament

The detail on this Cambodian house ornament is simply beautiful. The ornament takes your goldfish back into history with dozens of hiding places for small goldfish to explore. Like the large aquarium decorations above, your goldfish will never be bored again with this 7.5 x 6 x 8-inch work of art. This piece is perfect for 10-gallon aquariums and higher. On the downside, bigger goldfish may not be able to fit through the holes.

Got this in the mail, was afraid it was going to be too big in our 10 gallon tank. Fits beautifully in the tank, we have it in there with a shipwreck. Looks very nice, and wasn’t very expensive like most larger pieces. – Doreen M.

Ancient Greek Coliseum Ornament

This Greek coliseum aquarium ornament is almost an exact replica and can be paired well with other large aquarium decorations. Not only is each stone crafted with surprising detail, but the ornament also includes an embedded air stone to keep goldfish healthy in oxygenated water. Your goldfish will love the natural stones and mossy hollows in which to hide in. The ornament is 12.5 inches long, 7.3 inches wide, and 8.3 inches high, perfect for 30-gallon aquariums or higher.

I put a pink light over the coliseum to brighten it up, and a blue light over the corner piece to tone the columns down. The fish and snails love both and the guppies love the foliage. – Megen

Take your pick of any of the above large aquarium decorations and you won’t be disappointed!

Whether your aquarium is aquascaped with sweeping plants and foliage or floating driftwood and rocks, these highly realistic ornaments will turn your goldfish tank into an aquatic paradise. They’re so gorgeous that many fish hobbyists use them as beautiful centerpieces in their aquarium.

Do You Buy Large Aquarium Decorations for Your Tank?

I’d love to hear from you! How have you used large aquarium decorations to enhance the beauty of your aquarium? Drop a comment in the form below and share your experiences with the rest of the goldfish community!

The post Top 10 Large Aquarium Decorations: Elegant Solutions for Your Tank appeared first on Complete Goldfish Care.