Adding Old Fish To A New Tank...

[JennyG123]

Hi All... first post here but I've been following the forum for a while!

I started up my new tank about 2 months ago. I've done everything the right way, taken all the necessary precautions to the point of being obsessive so as not to suffer "new tank syndrome."

My dilemma is this:

My boyfriend has a fish tank at his parents house with one common pleco in it which he's had for (he says) 2 years. Since he moved out (over a year ago) his parents have not taken care of the fish except for feeding him and adding water to the tank (never actually changing the water, filter, etc.). Clearly they are just waiting for the fish to die, but against all odds he is still alive and well. When I visited their house, I checked out the poor fish and he honestly appeared in good health despite his conditions.

My question is this:

What would happen if I added him to my tank? I have worked so hard to maintain my new tank and all my fish seem very happy and healthy, and im afraid adding this pleco will disrupt the environment because I can't imagine the bacteria he might carry. I am also worried that if I took him out of his environment he would die from the shock of healthy water. I considered getting a hospital tank and maybe stabilizing him in normal conditions and then adding him to the community tank?

What do you all think? Should I just help euthanize him and put him out of his misery? Or is he fine living the rest of his days in those dreadful conditions?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tolak]

If it is a common plec. it will need a 55 gallon tank minimum. If you have, or plan on getting this size tank it should work.

The biggest problem would probably be the shock of going from the old tank's water to your tank's water. If you plan on saving this fish, what I would do is small water changes on the old tank every other day for a week, around 10%. Too large of a change too often will be a shock, probably due to differing pH. After a week do 10% daily for a week, this should bring the neglected tank closer to the parameters of your tank.

I wouldn't worry much about the fish transfering any diseases if it has been disease free for so long in such horrible conditions. I would worry more about it's immune system being weakened from being so poorly kept, and it catching something from your healthy fish. Sort of like a healthy person getting a run of the mill case of sniffles, transfering it to someone with a supressed immune system. You are fine in a couple days, they get pnemonia & die.

If they are getting rid of the fish, why are they keeping the tank? Why don't you take the whole setup off their hands, doing them and the fish a favor?

Tolak

 

[JennyG123]

Thanks for the response!

Unfortunately, since the fish is at least a year and a half old, he is adult size, which looks to me to be around 10 in. My tank is a 40g. and while I do plan to upgrade at some point, i don't forsee it anytime soon. The issue is that the pleco is currently in a 10 gal!!! And although he's in there all by himself, there's not a whole lot of room for swimming. So, in that case, would even a 40gal. be more comfortable for him??

I am also concerned about the shock the fish may suffer if I put him in my new tank. Unfortunately, he lives an hour away from me, so I'd have to do it in one trip. I wish I could just take the whole set up, but its about 4years old, and in very poor condition, as it has been neglected for a while. Perhaps with the upcoming holidays I may have time to work on the old tank, but I'd definately have to buy a new filter, heater, etc.

I guess the bottom line is that I was concerned that even attempting to move this elderly fish out his habitat would kill it from shock. But if you all think he might be able to survive it, as well as make it more comfortable, then I would definately consider taking the setup and putting in the time.

 

[annka5]

I'd suggest you take the whole set up, tank fish filter etc, and do daily small water changes just as Tokis suggested. If he starts looking stressed then stop for a day and resume then.
A 40 gal is not ideal but a 10 gal is worse.
However, do you actually want the fish? Ultimately it's not your boyfreinds parents' responsibility - it's not their fish - nor is it yours. Can you suggest to your bf that he buys a 55 gal second hand tank for you and the fish for Christmas? If it's not a fish you particualrly want then to me thats only fair - you look after it for him, he should at least be prepared to pay for a new tank for it.