I Just Added My Starter Fish To My New Tank. Questions.

[royalsfan7]

I did some research before I set up my tank, but this is the first site I have read about fishless cycling...and I did not do it. I bought a 10 gallon tank, put the anti chlorine drops in, ran the filter for 24 hours, and then bought a Ryukin Goldfish based off of a pet store's advice of a starting fish.

I just recently read that they can get up to 8 inches long. First, that is too big for my tank. What would be suggestions what to do with it when it has outgrown my tank? I don't want to keep it in a tank it is too large and uncomfortable in.

Also, since I put it in my tank, it has only stayed on one half of the tank. It won't go to the filter side. Is that because it is on too strong or is the fish still just getting used to the tank?

I've read I can have up to 15 inches of fish in this tank when it is ready for me to stock more. Is that a good rule to stand by? I read the sticky at the top about good fish for a 10 gallon and gold fish were not in there. Did I make a mistake? Also, when it is read to be stocked, what mix of fish would you suggest?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I don't have anyone that I know that have aquariums so I have no one to ask.

 

[Honeythorn]

Take the fish back to the shop or re-home it ASAP with someone who has the correct sized tank. If you keep it in that tank you will stunt it's growth and kill it .

You cannot keep any type of goldfish in a ten gallon tank. At all. The petstore have either lied to you outright in order to make money, or they are absolutely clueless ( more likely ) . Either way the information they have given you on cycling and suitable fish to begin with is completely and uttely incorrect, and would result in the stunting and early death of your fish. Take the fish back and politely inform them of this, and ask for a refund. If the fish is healthy and feeding well, they have no reason not to take him back from you.

15 inches of fish in a ten gallon can be done if the fish are small species , you have a good filter ( by which I mean a filter with a lot of room for filter media/sponges ect , not strength of flow ) and you do regular weekly water changes. I have a 12 gallon tank and change 50% every single week , just to give you an idea of how much to take.



Here are a few more choices for you:


A male Siamese fighting fish

A group of 5 female siamese fighting fish ( not to be kept in the same tank as a male !!! )

Ember tetras

Galaxy Rasboros (around 6-8 )

Male Guppies (4-6)

Male Endlers (6-8)

Some peaceful bottom dwellers for this tank that can go with any of the fish I mentioned above are Pygmy cories. These are better for a 10 gallon than normal peppered cories as normal ones need more room. You could have around 6-8 pygmies on the bottom of a 10 gal.

If you fancy some invertebrates in the tank, then Cherry or Amano shrimp are nice, as are Golden apple snails.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with Honeythorn.

A single goldfish would need 30g to start. You need to get him re-homed.

You've found the right place to continue your research but with better information. The pinned topics are great.

 

[royalsfan7]

Yes, agree with Honeythorn.

A single goldfish would need 30g to start. You need to get him re-homed.

You've found the right place to continue your research but with better information. The pinned topics are great.

Thank you for the information. Should I do a fishless cycle once I take my fish back? I did not realize starting a tank was so involved.

 

[petertr]

Yes, agree with Honeythorn.

A single goldfish would need 30g to start. You need to get him re-homed.

You've found the right place to continue your research but with better information. The pinned topics are great.

Thank you for the information. Should I do a fishless cycle once I take my fish back? I did not realize starting a tank was so involved.

Neither does anyone - until they start asking. So don't feel bad about it.


Fishless cycling is certainly one way to get yourself started. Gives you time to research the species of fish you'd like to keep as well!

 

[OldMan47]

Fishless cycling is really quite easy. You set up the tank, add some ammonia and sit back with your feet up for about a month. Once in a while you need to add some more ammonia and every couple of days you do a test to see how things are going.
It gets much harder if you start doing a fish-in cycle. There are the daily water changes and the critical testing to avoid killing off your fish. Then when you think you have everything under control a nitrite spike or a pH crash will sneak up on you and undo all of your hard work.