two links have now been posted re: cycling a tank. one right on this page, and one that i posted in my first response to you. please read them, and then let us know if you have more questions.
worried about goldfish
- Thread starter Lexi
- Start date
thats great have sorted out a tank that is 36" long not sure on the width but im sure it must be big enough.
done a 30-50% water change and they perked up for a while been reading up on it and apparently they will perk up after a few days as it takes them time to get used to a new environment.
the black moor hasn't eaten since i got it but not sure when the pet shop will of fed them the other has eaten some flakes but waits for them to drop down in the water is this normal??
done a 30-50% water change and they perked up for a while been reading up on it and apparently they will perk up after a few days as it takes them time to get used to a new environment.
the black moor hasn't eaten since i got it but not sure when the pet shop will of fed them the other has eaten some flakes but waits for them to drop down in the water is this normal??
you want the fish to eat from the floor rather than the surface. The problem with feeding flakes and other floatables to roundbodied goldies is their tendency to gulp at the surface and ultimately take in too much air. The air then get's trapped in their systems and the fish becomes to have swim-bladder issues which interferes with the fish's balnce and ability to swim correctly in the tank. Sometimes you can help clear it, sometimes you can't. I lost 2 fish to this. If you are going to feed flakes (even with pellets), you should really soak the food in tank water and once the food is heavy enough, pour the solution back into the tank.
took some advice from a webpage and added a small piece of meat to my fishes bowl to help mature my bowl. after about 10 minutes both of them have started to swim around quite happily :bday: and haven't stopped since. is there any reason for this or have they just suddenly become happy???
I believe you usually add a piece of meat if there is no fish in the tank (I could be wrong) But I've always heard you can put a piece of meat in because it will decompose and then build up the good bacteria you want to have in your tank. If you have fish in your tank, there's no need to put the piece of meat in, as they are giving off the waste that will do the same thing as the meat. I agree with some of the others, try to get your fish into a bigger aquarium as soon as you can. I have 3 fancy goldfish, in a 55 gallon and I do 25% water changes about every 3 days because they give off so much waste. Cycling your tank with them in it won't be a problem, just make sure you keep an eye on the water. If you can, go get a test kit that will help you see if the ammonia (that the fish give off in their waste) in your water is too high. This will help your fish while you cycle a tank. If you are borrowing a tank, make sure you rinse it out really well first. Do not use soap to clean it! Any soap left in a tank will harm your fish, it is better just to rinse it or use REALLY diluted bleach (your tap water purifier will pull any tiny bits of bleach left over out since it removes chlorine). One more thing for you.... goldfish are cold water fish.... so everyone keeps saying to get a filter because if the temperature in your tank is above 74 degrees, your goldfish are going to have a hard time breathing. Adding a filter that will move the water around will send oxygen into the water which will help your fish. For goldfish, when you get a filter, you want to get one that is for a tank bigger than yours. I personally have two filters on my tank that are both for 55 gallon tanks. Thats some of my tips for you. Good luck!
(yes, i'm quoting myself)
your fish started swimming around because they smelled food. if you want your fish to live, either return them and ask the LFS to hold them for a couple days which they should do, or read the links asap. meat in the water is going to ROT and poison your fish even faster than if you keep them in the bowl and let them swim in their own wastes.
I would not take any advise from anyone who thinks it is ok to keep the goldfish in that bowl. we have gave you suggestions and advise endlessly and you are still trying to get advise on keeping the alive in the bowl. I know you are getting a tank ready but really the fish should not be in that bowl at all. Who ever you are getting advise from for keeping goldfish in a bowl is an idiot. And who ever told you to add a piece of meat to a fish bowl with fish definately does not know what they are talking about if you would have kepth it in there you definately would have had two dead fish.................
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