What to do w/ fair fish?

[abe]

This is copied from my post in tropical chit chat, I hope it's ok. I didn't even think to post here first.

My boyfriend's nephew won some fish at the fair... Apparently the idea of feeding them (two goldfish) to the cat was tossed around by the "adults", not sure how much of a joke that was honestly... Anyway, since I'm the crazy fish lady (everyone thought my 20g was huge, until I brought over my 40g; and that having anything more than a single 10g is nuts) they were dropped off here.

I put them in my 40g tropical tank for the moment, until I figure out what to do with them. I like goldfish, but they're messy, coldwater, and get huge. This is why I don't keep them.

What do you guys think I should do? I have a 40g tropical, 20g endler's/fry tank (which the goldies can't live in), and a 10g tank that a betta currently lives in (I was planning on putting 3 in here to save some counter space). The only options I can think of are leaving them in the 40 until they get bigger (they're only about 1-1.5") or fixing up the 10 for them, both of which I know aren't the best suited tanks.

I don't get why people don't think this over before they let the kid play the fish game sad.gif Or why they think of fish as disposable unfeeling beings, OR why they think goldfish are going to be fine in my tank even though I don't keep that type of fish or have room for it. grr!!!!

 

[J_acon]

Ppl are ignorant.

Anyway since you can't keep them why not give the to your LFS?
From what you have describe i don't see what can you do for them, unless you get a new tank for them.

 

[abe]

That's the first thing I thought of actually. But I'm sure that won't go over well... I'm sure I would be the bad guy then. No one understands that fish have requirements and you can't just dump them in a bowl & forget about them.

Maybe for his nephew's birthday, I'll give him a fish lecture & a tank

 

[black angel]

All i can suggest in the meantime is to get a 20 gallon rubbermaid with a decent filter and keeping them in that until a more permanent tank is found.
Eventually the fish will need a pond to go in to but can be ok for a couple of years in roughly a 30 gallon with loads of filtration.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Mmm, too bad I haven't bought my 75 gallon yet; I could have moved my two commons into that, then came and picked up your two for the 30 until they grow. I wonder how far "Middle o' PA" is to "Northeastern PA."

Unless you can find a cheap second hand 30 gallon, you should probably go with the massive rubbermaid tub idea. Goldfish - especially fair ones - can wreak havoc on your tropical tank as they tend to come loaded with parasites, bacteria, and other nasties. They also (if they are commons) tend to enjoy nipping fins, uprooting your plants, and pooping everywhere. So, it could become a bad situation very quickly.

What a horrible lesson those parents taught their child, both by letting him win them to begin with, and by giving them up instead of being responsible!

 

[Cat]

Do you know any one with a fish pond?

They could go in there,we aquired one like that a neighbour had won,it was about 1 inch its about 5 inch now.

 

[GSD]

i think you should get a cheap tank from your loacl freeads paper.I say that all of the time but you can pick one up for around £20 here.Often they are scratched etc but it will only be temporary.then ask around for someone who owns a pond that you can put them in.I think your great for not thrownig them in a bowl as most people do good luck finding them a good home

 

[sylvia]

It's a shame about how irresponsibly people treat goldfish but at least they ended up with you - and you seem to know what you're doing.

The one good thing about goldies is that they are hardy and, because they are coldwater, don't require a heater and thus there are no complications when it comes to using plastic containers - and that's what I suggest. You can get very cheap storage-type plastic boxes of practicaly any volume. I use them all the time. All you need is to make sure they are 'food-safe', get a good filter and clone a tropical tank. The filter will be your only expense realy and you'd want something of around 40 gallons to keep them permanently. Obviously you can then add decor or a substrate according to your taste just as you would a normal tank. If you can get a box that's relatively transparent, you may even be able to watch them like you would a tank - though I suppose the whole point with goldies was to look down on them from above.

Anyway, end of rant You can't realy keep them in your tropical tanks and the 10 gallons is too small. I understand about not giving them to an LFS and not everyone has a pond handy. This is the best solution I can think of that's also cheap and suitable long-term. The downside is that it's not so aestheticaly pleasing and you may need to come up with a makeshift lid of some description but I'm sure you could handle this in favour of providing the fish with a good home.

Good luck!

 

[abe]

Thanks for all the replies & ideas

I live in an appartment, so there isn't a whole lot of room. But I will look into the rubbermaid idea.

Does anyone think they will be ok in the 10g, for now? One of my rainbow fish died today, not sure if it's goldfish related or not. I REALLY hope not...

Someone else called up, wanting to see if I wanted a few more goldfish. I don't know who won them this time, but I kindly let my boyfriend know that we don't have a pond, and if he doesn't want to buy one then he's going to inform his family of the 12" poop machines. I wish they still gave away bettas at this fair. Still a terrible & cruel prize, but at least I could get away with keeping a few more of them. Ok, end of rant.

 

[abe]

& BTW RandomWiktor, I love your banner