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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Goldfish / June 2005does goldfish like company?
I have a solitary goldfish, possibly a comet. I had him for about 6 years now, and he is about 7 inches long, plus the tail. He lives in a 30 gal. tank, with all the amenities a goldfish can possibly need - and he appears sad. My question is: would he enjoy a company of another goldfish? Love you all, - Maggie's Mom. > I have a solitary goldfish, possibly a comet. I had him for about 6 > years now, and he is about 7 inches long, plus the tail. He lives in > a 30 gal. tank, with all the amenities a goldfish can possibly need - > and he appears sad. > > My question is: would he enjoy a company of another goldfish? sure, they love company. > sure, they love company. In that case: a) how many goldfish can a 30 gal tank hold without overcrowding? b) what size companion should I get for Harold? (I am worried that if the companion is too small, Harold may actually damage it) Love to all, - Maggie's Mom If you do decide to give him company please make sure to quarantine the new fish for at least two weeks (four would be better) before adding it to your tank. I would only add one more fish and make sure it's not small enough for your guy to get in his mouth. Maria >> sure, they love company. > > In that case: > > a) how many goldfish can a 30 gal tank hold without overcrowding? Some say 10 gallons per fish. Start with only one then see how things go. > b) what size companion should I get for Harold? (I am worried that if > the companion is too small, Harold may actually damage it) Who knows. Some are friendly, some are not... don't put a very small fish, but you really don't need to put an equal sized fish. The important thing is that you don't put "fancy" goldfishes (telescope eyes etc) with a so big comet... just put another comet or similar goldfish. I would put a 3-4 inch comet with different colors :) >> sure, they love company. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Love to all, - Maggie's Mom The rule is 10 gallons per Goldfish, but I've only got five in my 75 gallon and it's probably approaching too small. Two of the GF are close to Harold's size and the rest are smaller. They started out together in the Pond and moved to a 55 gallon a few years ago. The smallest were less than an inch long then and Panfry was over four inches. I'd probably get a companion at least two inches, but not so big as to add a lot to the bio-load. You've had Harold for six years, so you obviously have a good maintenance routine going. > I'd probably get a companion at least two inches, but not so big as to add > a lot to the bio-load. You've had Harold for six years, so you obviously > have a good maintenance routine going. Thank you all for good advice. I think I will come up with one more comet, maybe not quite as big as Harold, but not small enough to be Harold's meal. I am not sure how I will arrange a quarantine - just not enough room for one more fish tank (I have 55 gal and Harold's abode). I will probably add some preventive to the water at the same time I add the fish, and watch it closely to make sure nothing develops. There is a small, locally owned pet store here in town, and they keep their fish wonderfully well, I have never had problems with fish bought there. About maintenance, it was a chore until I devised an internal biofilter. The water conditions magically improved after about 5 weeks. Anybody interested in making a biofilter out of the stuff you probably already have at home? Love to all, - Maggie's Mom. >> I'd probably get a companion at least two inches, but not so big as to >> add a lot to the bio-load. You've had Harold for six years, so you [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > interested in making a biofilter out of the stuff you probably already > have at home? So tell us about your biofilter. > Love to all, - Maggie's Mom. > So tell us about your biofilter. As I said, you may already have everything you need for this, it is an internal biofilter and with any luck you can camouflage it behind some ornament or even get creative and using aquarium sealant, glue some pretty rocks (real or fake) to it, to make it look like something else. You will need: a power head (any power head), a quart size plastic jar with lid (a mayonnaise jar works really good), and any ceramic porous filter media, or bioballs, or even coarse open cell sponge cut into cubes. I use the ceramic media. You will also need some basic tools. Remove the power head base cover that normally goes into the undergravel filter tube. Measure the base across. See if you can get a hole saw that will have exactly the same diameter. If there is a hole saw shortage, you will have to patiently cut out a hole in the lid of the jar by hand. Just make sure it is a very tight fit, or else you will have water coming in not through the filter, but through the opening right below the power head, and you don't want it. Take the jar, remove its label and remove the glue that held the label, best with alcohol, so you don't spread any chemical stuff all over the jar, also so you don't damage the jar itself. Mark some holes in couple of rows somewhere around the bottom of the jar. They should be not larger than 1/4 in diameter, or at least small enough so the media won't fall out. Cut the holes out carefully, the jar is kind of brittle and likes to crack. Now snap the lid of the jar onto the power head's base. If the power head comes with an o-ring, you can put the o-ring back on it to secure the lid even better. Fill the jar with your favorite biofilter media, screw the lid on and if you're using plain jar to hide it behind something, you may use the sponge sleeve that fits Magnum 350 cartridge as a pre-filter. If you decide to make an ornamental piece out of it, and just camouflage the power head itself, you will probably have to do the maintenance more often. In Harold's tank, one is hidden behind a fake fossil rock, and another one pretends to be a reef. Your imagination will set your limits. Most important, the water quality is fabulous and Harold is one happy fish. Love you all, - Maggie's Mom Reposting filter instructions: > As I said, you may already have everything you need for this, it is an > internal biofilter and with any luck you can camouflage it behind some [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Love you all, - Maggie's Mom Give us all some building info, >>> I'd probably get a companion at least two inches, but not so big as to >>> add a lot to the bio-load. You've had Harold for six years, so you [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >> Love to all, - Maggie's Mom. > About maintenance, it was a chore until I devised an internal biofilter. The > water conditions magically improved after about 5 weeks. Anybody interested > in making a biofilter out of the stuff you probably already have at home? YES! n For instructions please see my post of 6/26/2005 7:40 PM. I hope you will find it helpful. If you have more questions - ask. I hope I will have all the answers. Love to all - Maggie's Mom. >> About maintenance, it was a chore until I devised an internal biofilter. >> The water conditions magically improved after about 5 weeks. Anybody >> interested in making a biofilter out of the stuff you probably already >> have at home? > > YES! Could you please post your instructions again, I,m only a dum dog and I missed them. bassett > For instructions please see my post of 6/26/2005 7:40 PM. I hope you will > find it helpful. If you have more questions - ask. I hope I will have all [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> >> YES! |
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