Adopted a lovely little one - help needed!

Hi guys, hoping you can help and sorry if I'm in the wrong place. My partner and I have just adopted a sweet little fish that an elderly neighbour could no longer look after. From searching online she looks like she is a telescopic eye calico fancy tail or something or other?? I have attached some pics. So when we took her in she was in a 4L fish bowl so we instantly went to pets at home who suggested a 24L fish tank with some plants and gravel etc. So we bought what was suggested but after looking online we realised this might not be enough. She looks happy enough playing and after reading everything online most fish dont last longer than a few weeks in a fish bowl but she is already 2. Can you guys suggest if we need to do anything differently? Want to make sure she is looked after (p.s not sure if she is a girl but she was originally named Sheila ) thanks in advance!! Also very upset that Pets at Home sell this stuff and give you very bad advice apparently....

Hi! Yes, she is a telescope calico. Very nice. She needs at least 20 gallons of water for first goldfish. I think that’s about 75l. She should really have a friend as goldies are companion fish. Add another 10G or 38L for 2nd fish. I have 2 males in a 45G tank. It’s really hard to see in pics but she looks like a female. The vent in the female by anus comes out slightly in a “v”. A male concaves in a little. During breeding season males will also get breeding tubercles on gill plates that look like white pimples. Spring is breeding season. . Hope this helps some. I use to breed goldfish but have stopped during pandemic.

Deanasue said:

Hi! Yes, she is a telescope calico. Very nice. She needs at least 20 gallons of water for first goldfish. I think that’s about 75l. She should really have a friend as goldies are companion fish. Add another 10G or 38L for 2nd fish. I have 2 males in a 45G tank. It’s really hard to see in pics but she looks like a female. The vent in the female by anus comes out slightly in a “v”. A male concaves in a little. During breeding season males will also get breeding tubercles on gill plates that look like white pimples. Spring is breeding season. . Hope this helps some. I use to breed goldfish but have stopped during pandemic.

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Hi! Thanks so much for your reply. We will certainly be visiting pets at home again for some talks as they are also selling 4L fish tanks. No wonder people don't know how to look after fish when they don't give the correct advice. Well sheila has a vent I believe so she has been named correctly (if not trendy) I tried to take some more pics (just to confirm) but I didnt want to startle her... I will let her settle tonight and get her a bigger tank tomorrow!

OhOh said:

Hi! Thanks so much for your reply. We will certainly be visiting pets at home again for some talks as they are also selling 4L fish tanks. No wonder people don't know how to look after fish when they don't give the correct advice. Well sheila has a vent I believe so she has been named correctly (if not trendy) I tried to take some more pics (just to confirm) but I didnt want to startle her... I will let her settle tonight and get her a bigger tank tomorrow!

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Most pet stores dont care about the wellbeing if the fish, nor do they often know anything about the care. Most of us here on TFF learned that the hard way

Thats just awful. It does make me understand why my mother wouldn't allow me to get a £1 goldfish when I was 7 years old.... she always told me it took more work than sticking them in a small bowl. I didnt think about this again until I was a 31 year old woman who has adopted one! Poor girl.

Since she was in that small bowl for 2 years her growth may be stunted

JuiceBox52 said:

Since she was in that small bowl for 2 years her growth may be stunted

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Hi! Will this be a problem for her long term health?! Seems a silly question but is there anything we can do to help her?

no the fish being stunted won't affect it.

OhOh said:

Hi! Thanks so much for your reply. We will certainly be visiting pets at home again for some talks as they are also selling 4L fish tanks. No wonder people don't know how to look after fish when they don't give the correct advice. Well sheila has a vent I believe so she has been named correctly (if not trendy) I tried to take some more pics (just to confirm) but I didnt want to startle her... I will let her settle tonight and get her a bigger tank tomorrow!

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Hello, you'll also need to look into the nitrogen cycle with proper equipment and what not. Water chemistry is also a big thing with fish. I'm not sure if you know this or not, but if you have any questions about it please let me know, and someone else or I will answer happily .

Also, if anything happens, it's alright and you're doing great! Don't be to harsh on yourself if anything happens!

OhOh said:

Hi! Thanks so much for your reply. We will certainly be visiting pets at home again for some talks as they are also selling 4L fish tanks. No wonder people don't know how to look after fish when they don't give the correct advice. Well sheila has a vent I believe so she has been named correctly (if not trendy) I tried to take some more pics (just to confirm) but I didnt want to startle her... I will let her settle tonight and get her a bigger tank tomorrow!

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Yes, Sheila is a female. Glad you are taking such good care of her. When you get her a new tank, move the gravel and filter over to the new tank. Even if you have to get a bigger filter. Just run both filters together for a while. This will carry your cycle Over to the new tank instead of having to cycle a new tank. Let me know if I can help you in any way. If you aren’t aware if the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle, please read this.

Also, see if you can get a bottle of Tetra Safe Start+ When you get the tank. It is a bottled bacteria that will help get the good bacteria growing for your nitrogen cycle. Don’t panic. This will all make sense as we move along. We’re all here for you!