Comet Stock.

[thelastbetta]

I've got a filter, and a 10 gallon tank. The comets in the pet shop are only about an inch long, and very very cheap. I was wondering how many comets I could fit in the tank comfortably? It's all cycled, planted, etc.

 

[koimom]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43980

 

[sylvia]

ie none

I realise you're talking about 1" fish though so I should add that goldfish grow about an inch a month so you'll need a big tank almost immediately anyway and you have to consider the amount of waste these fish produce and their activity levels. Even small fish shouldn't be kept in a 10 gallon and you should go for a tank that will house them permanently if you want some.

 

[thelastbetta]

Hmm ok. The comets at the shop are full grown and are only 1 inch, but that's fine. I'll just use the 50.2 gallon i've been saving for a puffer. S'all good. Thanks both of you.

 

[sylvia]

Umm... no they aren't. Comets get to 14", often more. They are one of the largest-growing goldfish varieties. Absolutely no goldfish will remain at 1". Perhaps you have them confused with a different species of fish altogether?

 

[thelastbetta]

I don't know.. They're feeder comets (thats what the tank said, and has said for the last two years), priced at about 5 cents each. Really, they're smaller then my pinky.. they could be babies but I doubt it. Shall I take a photo of them for you?

Edit: Got some pictures.

 

[sylvia]

Yep, those are just ordinary baby goldfish. Given a few months they'll be huge and they'd grow extremely rapidly. The only reason they are called 'feeders' is because they are goldfish of unremarkable breeding that are sold to be used to feed larger predatory fish (a very unhealthy practice as they often introduce disease). Like I said, if it's a goldfish, it gets big. There are no miniature or dwarf varieties - they all get to at least 8". Comets and similar 'common-type' goldfish are the largest growing and can easily get to 14".

 

[thelastbetta]

Ok. Well I'm guessing once they're big enough they can go in my pond outside? All I've in there right now are two butterfly koi.

 

[sylvia]

I'd say it's still not a good idea as they'll only take a couple of months to out-grow a 10 gallon and it'll still be winter so putting them out in the pond won't be an option (that should be done in summer). Look, if you want goldfish, get a tank that's big enough and put them in a tank where they'll have a permanent home. There's realy no point getting tiny feeder comets and putting them in a 10 gallon. I don't mean to sound rude BTW, it's just I don't understand why you want to do this. If you what you want is a coldwater fish for the 10, try some white cloud mountain minnows. You could put fathead/rosy reds in there for a while as well but they will need a bigger tank (or can be moved to the pond as soon as the whether starts warming up) later. You could even fit a paradisefish (just one) male in there if you were to plant quite heavily and he won't need a heater as long as temps. don't drop too low. Just make sure there's nothing else in there as 10 gallons is a tight squeeze for one of these gouramies and he'd probably kill anything else you add (but a snail would work).

edit: You do have one more option, if you realy want those goldfish. Get a plastic storage box like the one in the pic, add a filter and some version of a non-air-tight cover (because they might jump). Measure the dimensions of the box and work out the gallonage and then stock appropriately. Go by the usual rule - 20 gallons for the first goldfish, 10 gallons on top for each additional one. The fish can then live in there for however long you wish and you could always put them in the pond if they get very large.

 

[thelastbetta]

Of course I want them, they're adorable.. They're one of the only coldwater fish I like, I don't much care for the rest. Oh and one, the pond is heated and two, it's not going to be a cold winter, the last time anything actually froze (ponds, lakes, etc) over was two.. or three years ago, can't quite remember. Would it still be too cold for them, even when it's being heated?

 

[sylvia]

Is the plastic box idea not possible?

The thing I can't understand is, why, if you like these fish so much and insist on getting them, you still want to put them in a 10 gallon. If the pond is heated, fair enough, you could put them in there - but put them in there from the start (and hope the koi don't get them). If you want to grow them out so the koi can't eat them (I don't know how big the koi are mind you), you need a bigger tank anyway as they'll need to be moved even at 2-3" (due to the huge amount of waste they produce and their activity levels).

Like I've said, it's pointless putting them in a tank where they'll need to move out in a few months. It's stressful, the tank has to first be cycled fishless, you could only keep about 4 for any decent amount of time and they are active so would preffer a less limmited space.

Anyway, it's up to you. Do what you think is right.

 

[thelastbetta]

I don't really want to keep them in a plastic box.. they're only in one in the pictures is because that's the quarantine tank. Well the koi are only babies right now so they're only around 5", do you think they'd still go after them? I could move them into the pond in two weeks if it's safe.

 

[sylvia]

If the koi are only 5" and the goldfish are over 1" (which they look to just about be), they should survive. Keep in mind the goldfish will grow quickly do will be a little larger in a couple of weeks anyway and will grow rapidly once in the pond as well so most, if not all, will make it (and soon be larger, most likely, than the koi).

 

[thelastbetta]

Alright thanks.