RubberMaid Containers...

[DaisyGirl]

Hello. I made a mistake as a newbie in the world of fish, a few months ago. I bought 4 fancy goldfish to put in my 10g tank. Its propperly set up with a filter, gravel, plants etc. I realized my errors this winter, so I decided to do something about it (build a pond) which I can't do until summer, since there is 2+ feet of snow on the ground.

The point of this thread was to know if I could put my goldfish in a large rubbermaid container with filters and gravel until the summer when I build a pond for them.

Another Question:

Do they NEED a lighting situation? Its fine, and I can do it if they NEED it, but I have 2 cats and I'm worried about them eating the fish, because if I have no lighting I can have a cover on the container. I'm not so sure about this. Suggestions?

 

[Paccula]

buckets would work fine, if you can find some big enough, preferably with 2 fish in each one so they have company. I use a bucket as a quarentine tank lots, it works just fine, and I have enough equipment to make all the fish comftorable. as long as each bucket can have some sort of filtration (or at least airation), the fish will be fine. (just make sure you have an extra bucket to put them when you clean their home-bucket!) they don't NEED a light of their own, if the top is open and there is room light, but I wouldn't keep them covered and in the dark all the time. maybe find some glass to put over the tops, so they can have light and protection.
another thing to think about, what will you do when you have your pond and the fish grow even bigger and winter rolls around again? what I've always wanted to do was keep fish in the bathtub! if no one else would mind them there, that would give your fish lots of room!

 

[Harlock]

You could skip the gravel in a Rubbermaid. Filter still is a must, of course. I should think so long as you are cleaning the container fairly often to keep waste to a minimum and making sure not to over feed, this would be suitable. Please bear in mind that I am a reptile keeper and keeping snakes in rubbermaid is very very common amongst breeders so, I may lean this way when a "true" fish keeper may not.

As for light, I'd say a day/night cycle is pretty important for fish. You do not have to put the light on the top, however. If you could have light come in from the side, or if ambient light in the room is such that it's bright enough without adding a light, then I'd say you're fine. No need to have cat sushi that way.

 

[blueturq]

You could do an indoor pond instead of an outdoor, since fancies actually prefer a temperature between 72-75 F, rather than cold like commons or comets, even though in the summer time it's hot, I would be worried about outside rodents such as raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, etc. who wouldn't mind a tasty midnight snack if you know what I mean.

If you do an indoor pond, and put in the basement or something, then all you have to worry about are your cats, but if they don't go in the basement.... problem solved .

You can use a kiddie pool for your indoor pond, it should be fine. .

That way, you don't have to go outside to catch all of them for the winter, and worry if you got them all. In the indoor situation you can see them, and check on them/feed them, as you would with an aquarium.

You don't have to go with my idea, if you don't want to, it's just a suggestion. You may still want to go with an outdoor pond because it's more natural, but again it's up you

 

[DaisyGirl]

Ok, I'll go for it, the only reason I wanted the gravel in the rubbermaid is that I'm changing the substrate in the 10 to sand, so I needed somewhere to put it. Yeah, I agree the bathtub would be the easiest. I plan on building the pond to be deep enough to winter the fish. I've heard they can do cryo, so they can winter in the pond, and if they can't out come the rubbermaids again!

 

[DaisyGirl]

blueturq: I really like your Idea, the only problem would be where in my basement that I could fit it. I'll talk to my parents about it, also my cats don't go in the basement too much, the indoor pond would be good because its warmer, and I can watch them very closely!