May Have Made A Mistake. Please Help If You Can.

[gwells]

I rescued 2 goldfish about 15 months ago. They were tiny. I know now that they are Orandas. 
I rescued them from a pet store that went out of business and left them (and some frogs) in a concrete pond with no pump and hardly any water filled with fast food trash. Really disgusting. Later that day I went back to find them and was surprised to find 2 of these little guys. At first I had only seen one.
 
I LOVE these fish but knew recently that I had to find another home for them because I only have room for a 10 gallon tank. They got very healthy and playful. Plenty of filtration and constant water changes, but they were pushing 3.5 inches with tail and time to move to a bigger home. 
Anyway a very kind person offered to take them in his Koi pond and I transferred them yesterday. The hid a little at first but then began swimming around - very slowly. One was braver than the other. However, something just did not look right to me. They looked so small with the 18 - 24' Koi in the large pond.
I realize now that I may have made a giant mistake. They are so slow and kind of chubby little guys, I don't think they will survive in that environment. I also notice that the bronze oranda looked like he was having a harder time swimming. 
I hope I can undo this mistake if in fact is is a mistake.
 
Can I get some opinions, please. I hope it's not too late to retrieve them if necessary.
If this is the wrong forum to post this question, please direct me to the right one. 
 
Thanks very much in advance,
A frantic mom.

 

[techen]

Leave them! They'll live very very happily in a pond. That's where they come from so it's best for them.

You'd need a good 80gallon tank if you want to tank house them. Goldfish get very very big.

 

[This Old Spouse]

They should be fine. As techen said, that's the environment they were born to, not a 10G. They just need some time to adjust. 

 

[gwells]

Thank you very much for your reply.
I wouldn't keep them in my old tank if I retrieved them. I would have to find someone with a large tank who wanted them.
I was worried about them competing for food in the pond as there are about 12 large Koi (18" - 24"), maybe 6 small koi and some comet goldfish in there and they are so much faster that my little guys. I wondered if the bronze oranda got bumped by a large koi as the koi are lively, fast and strong.
You think that even though they are fancy goldfish they will be fine?

 

[fluttermoth]

Whereabouts in the world are you, gwells?
 
I'm going to disagree with the other members who've commented, I apologise to them in advance (techen; don't forget these are fancy goldfish; a minimum of 100l for the first fish, with an additional 40l for each extra fish)
 
In general, no fancy goldfish don't do at all well with either common goldfish or koi. The bigger. faster fish soon learn they can push the fancies out of the way and steal their food. On the other hand, if the new owner is careful so see that they do get to it, they might be better off in the pond than in a tank that's too small. They really do need at least 150l.
 
Also, depending where you are in the world, they might not be able to overwinter in the pond; they certainly can't in the UK.

 

[gwells]

I'm in Los Angeles, CA. If I retrieved them, I would not keep them as I don't have the room.  I would have to find someone that has a large tank or had the room for a larger tank. Thanks for your reply.

 

[fluttermoth]

Ah, they'll be okay outside then
 
The new owner just needs to make sure they're getting enough food

 

[gwells]

Sorry for the delay...
 
Thank you all for your supportive comments. 
You gave me confidence in the decision I made. I decided to leave them at the pond and let them have their chance at a better life. Even with the risks I realize they'll live better.
 
I sure do miss them, though. 
Before I rescued them, I never kept fish and had no idea what wonderful and endearing little creatures they are.
 
I sure do appreciate everyone at this post - you made me feel so much better.