Fish I Want To Save :(

[Supraman]

So I went over to one of my old friends house today to find out she still had a tank that she had bought back at the end of school ( 3years ago ) . I haven't been to her place since then so I was surprised to see what I saw.

2 massive gold fish
2 decent sized pleco
And one of those white sharks with the red tail

Already you can see the goldfish are " stunted " as this tank is only a 10gal!!!

I'd love to save all these fish but I know my cichlids would enjoy nibbling on the gold fish, but I'm curious if I could save one of the pleco.

Here is a picture of the pleco I'd like to save, also the pic makes this tank look clean, but the gravel is littered in poo, and I asked how often she changes the water and she replied " I change the water once my filter makes funny sounds " so I'm either assuming when it gets clogged, or when the water level actually drops that low. I later explained how big they can get and how long of a life they can have, but she wouldn't accept any of it so I gave up.

 

[TallTree01]

Someone on here is planning to deliberately crack their brothers tank to make them rehome the fish.
You could always steal the fish. The Plecoes would live abetter life with you than her that's for sure.
Even the goldfish would be better of eaten than in there.

 

[Supraman]

It's a shame cause all her fish are actually very beautiful fish and when I seen that pleco I really did fall for the fish it even purked right up when I took the picture. I can also tell all her fish are extremely stressed . The goldfish were actually attacking each other

 

[Shelster]

it's frustrating when people don't take advice, perhaps they just don't have time for the tank? In which case you think they would be happy to rehome! Keep us posted.....

 

[Supraman]

Yea it's sad, I didn't den realize she kept the tank and not once has she mentioned it to me. Next time she gives me the opertunity to go over I will see if she will rehome that pleco. I'd love to take everything but I just don't have the space

Oh and that's the small pleco, there is another in the tank twice that size.

 

[TallTree01]

Take them both when she sleeps.

 

[Supraman]

Haha yea, she wouldn't suspect me as the thief after I suggested a larger tank at all

 

[TallTree01]

Say they died and you flushed them down the toilet.

 

[Supraman]

Haha yea idk how well they would flush haha, the one you could put on a frying pan haha

 

[dougie]

1) ask your friend "does this cloth smell of chloroform?

2) take fish

 

[Shelster]

1) ask your friend "does this cloth smell of chloroform?
2) take fish

Awesome! Then when they wake up from their nap just say you saw a heron fly in and out again with fish in beak

 

[TallTree01]

I've devised a cunning plan to save these poor animals.
1. Get loads of drugs.
2. Hide them in her apartment.
3. Come up with a good excuse for knowing about them.
4. Call the cops on her.
5. Steal the fish as she's carted off to jail and given a large fine.

 

[fluttermoth]

Supraman; you have my sympathies; it's very difficult to see this kind of thing going on.
 
However, they are her fish, and, unless she's willing to listen to you, there's not really a lot you can do
 
Perhaps showing her this pic might sway her; 
 

 
this a plec, of the same species as hers, that was kept in a tank that was too small for it.

 

[RCA]

1) ask your friend "does this cloth smell of chloroform?

2) take fish

 yours is a good plan too TT
 
@Supraman, I agree with fluttermoth though it is very difficult as sadly people are given the wrong advice and think they therefore know what is best for the fish.  Another option would be to take some old fish magazines/books around for her to read?  I always find education is the better way to go with people who are not sure of the way to look after their fish.  Good Luck and keep us posted on any changes.
 
@fluttermoth, that is a sad picture, do you know what happened to this plec, i.e. did he find a decent home despite his deformity?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, he did; that pic is from another thread on here; one of our members rescued him and he went into a nice big tank