Embarassing Fish Error

[morganism]

Hey everybody,

This is really embarassing so please don't judge me too harshly!
I've been into aquariums for a couple of years now.
I bought a tank, heater, internal filter etc. and two fish all at the same time from a (disreputable) LFS 2 years ago.

So first off, I started wrong... no cycle etc...
Anyways that wasn't too much of a problem and the two fish were very happy for a year.
I upgraded to a larger tank as the two fish grew, and an external filter. One of the fish got caught on the filter intake. (a tragic death) The remaining fish seems happy and healthy another year later. (he's doubled in size as well)
Now after over two years I discover......

He's a Ghost Koi!

My fish is coldwater!!! He's been at 78 degrees Farenheit for his whole life, or at least since I got him.
He seems happy, no illness or odd behaviour.
What do i do. I'd like to turn his 24"x12"x12" tank into a jungle, real plants etc.. and get some tank mates.
He's 4" long at the moment, so if he was a random tropical fish i would just go ahead with my plans.

but he's coldwater!!! WHAT DO I DO???

 

[DarkEntity]

sell him?

 

[paul_219]

Lol how didnt u know what type of fish did u bought.

 

[catxx]

get a pond. or sell him to someone with a pond.
it's not fair keeping him in a tank.
koi are pond fish, i've seen enormous koi pushing 4ft long.
apparently ghost koi carp can grow to weigh about 30lb
that's a LOT of fish!

to only be 4" after 2 years means he's getting stunted.
koi live a very very very long time, japanese stories tell of koi over 200 years old.
keeping him in a tank will shorten that to about another year left in him?

 

[Gatorbait]

Lol how didnt u know what type of fish did u bought.

Because he didn't.

He only made the same mistake as 90% of every beginner aquarist does. Now he's trying to come here and ask for advice and do it the right way. No need to ridicule him.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Well, quite a few of us have similarly embarrassing stories to tell, so are hardly in a position to cast the first stone). I imagine once he has been in tropical temperatures for a long time, he will need acclimatising gradually, rather than just thrown into a pond. The way I look at it, you have two options:

find him a new home (sell him to a shop, advertise him on here etc) and turn your 60 ltr tank into a small tropical community tank

turn your 60 ltr into a tropical community and set him up a pond in the garden

 

[morganism]

Hmmm. Thanks for the advice.

So nobody has recommended, "leave him in there, he probably feels like he's emigrated to the Bahamas"

I would love to find a pond for him. Even better get my own pond but i live in a 1st floor flat, so no garden unfortunately.
Do you think my LFS would take him? (my new LFS seems really good!!) Should i slowly lower his temperature before i sell him? Do you think i should mention the tropical life he's been leading?

I'll try and go to the LFS at the weekend.

 

[catxx]

an LFS that specialises in pond fish would be best for him.
there's usually one around somewhere near you. koi are very popular!

 

[fenwoman]

Hmmm. Thanks for the advice.

So nobody has recommended, "leave him in there, he probably feels like he's emigrated to the Bahamas"

I would love to find a pond for him. Even better get my own pond but i live in a 1st floor flat, so no garden unfortunately.
Do you think my LFS would take him? (my new LFS seems really good!!) Should i slowly lower his temperature before i sell him? Do you think i should mention the tropical life he's been leading?

I'll try and go to the LFS at the weekend.

once again I cannot offer to help as your profile doesn't tell me where you are I have a large pond I could have offered in Spring but as you see from my profile (hint) I am in Cambridgeshire. If you are anywhere near and can bring it here once the weather gets warmer, he can go into my pond. I would not recommend putting him to an outside pond at this time of year as the severe temperature drop will not be good for him.

 

[morganism]

Hi Fenwoman,

I agree, putting him straight in a pond at this time of year would be a bad idea. I also appreciate the kind offer of a spot in your pond later in the year. I'm in E. Sussex, so we're in the same country at least (i'm gonna pop my location in my profile for the future)

As said, i'm going to pop to the LFS at the weekend and see what they say.