Brought home 4 "feeder" goldfish

[dixaisy930]

While getting some pencilfish for my tropical 60 gallon tank, my mom noticed a real pretty "feeder" goldfish. She wanted to get it and put it in my tropical tank. After telling her the problems involved with that, she said what about one of my death-trap fish bowls (not her words, mine) or the 2 gallon hex tank. Then after explaining to her why that wouldn't work, I finally said I would start up my old ten gallon, and then we could put him in the neighbors pond in the summer. Well, then I had to start looking at the feeders *shakes head* and saw three more I liked. I know, I know that a ten gallon is way too small for four goldfish, but I figure for a few months they'll be ok (until it's warm enough to put them in the neighbors pond). Here are my questions since I've never had goldfish before:

1. Can they have live plants in their tank, or will they eat/tear them up?
2. Should I vaccume and do water changes two or three times a week instead of just one?
3. One has some nips taken out of it's tail...is Melafix o.k. to use with goldish?
4. Are there any diseases that goldfish are more prone to than tropical fish (I know that the feeders are probably not very healthy to begin with, but I figure since they aren't with anyone else, it's not a real problem)

 

[Tempestuousfury]

They are more prone to fin rot, IMO.

I would not suggest having four in a 10. They will each grow at least half an inch in length in a period of three months. That's a lot of fish and a lot of waste. You might consider multiple types of filtration/ filters.

If you decide to go through with this, then you will definitely have to do more water changes and should feed as less as possible.

Good water conditions and melafix if the fin hasn't started growing fungus, though if you have antifungal meds, you should use them.

If you wanted goldfish, you might have been better off getting lionheads or orandas or some goldies like that. You are probably wasting your money, but they are more pretty, IMO.

Also, you can probably get the fish in the water before it feezes over. As long as there is enough food in the pond, chemistry has shown that they can survive because the water retains its heat as the top freezes over.

 

[ryan]

1. They will nibble at plants to a degree, but the big plant killer is the massive amount of waste Goldfish produce.

2. Perforum 2-3 25% water changes a week if you are going to keep that many Goldfish in a 10g. If you are going to move them on in the summer and they are only small now then you could get away with two but I would not say four. As said Fancy Goldfish would be a much better option although they would need upgrading also.

3. Providing there is no signs of disease of fungus, melafix should help clear up the problem.

4. Fancy Goldfish will often have problems with swim bladder, dropsy etc but Common species are alot hardier. However, in poor water conditions they are still prone to diseases.

 

[dixaisy930]

I was starting to feel guilty about having four in a ten gallon. )

The plan is to keep everyone in the ten for a week, make sure they aren't carrying any disease or illness...get them well fed, then move the two bigger ones (a little over two inches) into the pond after a week, then keep the two little ones (about an inch) in the tank until summer, then put them in the pond.