Hiya From Orlando Florida

[Kelly0727]

Hello So I'm not really new to fish keeping. I have a 60 gallon aquarium with 2 senegal bichirs, 3 African Brown knifes, and one gourami (the gourami was a rescue) But recently my neighbor moved out and left 2 ten gallon aquariums at the edge of the road waiting to be thrown away. Of course being addicted to fish keeping I snatched them as soon as possible. But turns out they also had fish in them!!!

They both had about 3-4 inches of water in them and clovered in algae and live plants. One ten gallon had a dragon scare pk betta, and a snail (there were 3 snails but 2 must have died.. only shells were left) along with a vase inside with yet another betta. Then the other ten gallon had a mustardgas betta with nipped fins and amonia burn on the tips, along with baby guppies! Of course I couldnt leave them in that nasty water though.. I have the mustardgas betta in my 3 gallon healing tank with the snail to keep warm.. the guppies I had to put in a bowl of clean water (the poor things..) and the other two bettas I have in vases. (I'm hoping to get a divider before heading to work today so I can put them in one of the 10 gallons)

So here are my questions..

For my 60 gallon, I have huge pebble gravel which is becoming a pain to clean.. but I dont want to mess up my water cycle having to take everything out including the fish to change the gravel.. Is that the only way?

Also for the others.. because it gets so cold at night I want to get them into the ten gallons quickly.. but that means the tank wouldnt have been running for a month like I like it. Would it hurt the fish? Or do you think they would be ok.. Also one of the bettas seems to have a bit of a large belly.. Is it normal?

I would post pics of my 60 gallon but it will have to wait until after I put everything back, into their place. My senegal bichirs things its a game moving everything around XD Pics will come later!

 

[D1s]

I carnt believe someone would do that, tthat is crazy.

 

[Kelly0727]

I know! But the neighbor was a jerk... I had to call animal control on him once before because his pit bull had pups and he let them run all over the street! I wouldnt have mind so much because everyone loved them.. but it was raining and really cold.. Someone had to do something.

But now I have yet another betta.. I went to petsmart today to look for 10 gallon dividers (which they didnt have) and I noticed they got all new bettas... Now I know that their halfmoons weren't actually halfmoons. But this one had extra long fins.. So maybe he is a halfmoon.. or maybe a double tail? Either way I had to get him.. he had so much fin damage.. and he was kida swimming to his side until I picked him up. He's perked up since then Going to be putting him in one of the 10gallons all by himself to heal

He doesnt really look that green in person.. but in the photo you can see his fins well

Here is my 60 gallon even though its a mess... the senegal bichirs just love moving things around!I also forgot to mention I also have a african spotted leaf fish.. who has a white spot on him 0_0 No longer thinking about changing the gravel.. more of what to cure the tank with now *sighs*

There are the 2 ten gallons. Notice one still has the water in it... thats all that was there! and look how dirty it is!! So glad I found them..

 

[XeroTolerance]

to the forums! I am glad that you were able to rescue those fish!

 

[minnnt]

Welcome to the forum. You could seed the filters in the smaller tanks with some media from your existing filter that is running the 60G.

Well done for saving them!

 

[Kelly0727]

Thanks, and I'll try doing that! I'm so mad about my 60 gallon right now.. I spent 4 hours cleaning it and now in the picture it reveals all the small spots I missed.. Dang algae bloom. lol I'm trying to get my pictures of them loaded up. But issues with my camera at the moment.

 

[SteelerLuke]

A big well done for saving those poor fish, I really do take my hat off to you. I don't know how anyone could do such a thing to defenceless animals!

 

[colleen0309]

The problem is, people don't see fish as pets, or they see them as disposable pets. If the neighbor left a box of kittens on the side of the road, people would be up in arms, but since it was only fish... I hate that mentality! Good job rescuing the fish and good luck!