How long till they outgrow this tank?

Question

I have 3 swordtails in a ten gallon but in about a month they will be moved to a 20 gallon since they get to 4 inches
But my friend is having a problem because she didnt realize a goldfish needs a large tank, so is there any way I could instead keep the goldfish in the 20 and wait another 2 months to get another tank for my swordtails?

Ok im not sure of the age of the swordtails, but they are about 2 inches

The goldfish is currently in a 10 gallon and water changes are done every week and she does not have a space or money for another tank. It is young. She just wants someone to take it that can give it a larger home cause it isnt doing to well

Answer 1

Yes! They'll be fine in a 10 gallon for a little while!

Answer 2

Swordtails usually don't get that much beyond 3" (body length), and only live 2-3 years. A goldfish can live for 20+ years, and depending on the variety, they can get to be 18-23 inches! In two months, The goldfish won't grow that much (depending on the size/age - a young one may get half as long again as it is now). Leave the swordtails where they are and give the bigger tank to the goldfish, or your friend purchase a larger tank than she has now when the fish is large enough to need it (and it will need something larger than a 20 gallon eventually.

Answer 3

You can keep the 3 swords in a 10 gallon no problem or you could just put them together. Gasp, trops and goldfish! I'm a goldfish enthusiast (13 tanks full and growing) and I do have some swords in with some of my goldfish tanks. They don't mind cool water and thrive in the high ph that golds also like. They shouldn't get past 3 inches. My concern is that the goldfish isn't doing well. Golds should be active at all times and the slightest amount of listlessness usually calls for aggressive treatment, it takes a lot to knock out a healthy goldfish.

Answer 4

first of all, how old are the fish???

i'd go with your plan of putting the swordtails in your twenty gallon, and then put the goldfish in the 10 gallon, as long as he's within his first 7-8 years. if he's older than that, then he does need a bigger tank asap (you don't want to stunt him).

tetra makes a product called Easy Balance, you just add it with the rest of your chemicals, then once a week after that, and it cuts down you ammonia build up so you don't have to change your water near as often (like once every 4-6 months), and it keeps the tank much cleaner. It works GREAT for goldfish, and others as well.

I have a very small goldfish (3/4" long) in a 5 gallon tank for now, he'll get a new tank pretty soon, and a 6yr old veiltail goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. I'm looking for a 29-35-40 gallon tank for the goldfish once the little one gets a little bigger, i'll put them both in there and get smaller fish for the other tanks.

just make sure you check all your water perameters VERY well, and keep on top of your water changes. you can (technically) over croud a tank without it hurting them, if you keep an eye on the water (ph, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) as long as the fish don't get stunted because of their size.

good luck, hope that helps......

Answer 5

So your swords would be in the 10 gal for another 3 months? That's not so bad if they are young right now, just be sure to do a 30% water change every 5-6 days to keep the water clean.

How big is the goldfish? If the goldfish is a baby and the swords are adults, it might work better to keep the goldfish in a 10 gallon for the next few months and then move it to a larger tank.

If $ is an issue, don't forget to look on craigslist.com and your local classifieds. You can find tanks and kits for really cheap.

Answer 6

fish don't grow that fast -- either of them will be fine in a smaller tank for a few months. your best bet is putting your swordtails in the 20 and have her get a bigger tank for the goldfish when she can. i keep 3 small goldfish in a 5 gallon and then give them away after about a year. i like goldfish but not a big tank. they do fine and are healthy and happy in my 5 gallon. good cleanings are more important. if she has a good filter and does 1/3 water changes and gravel siphons every week her goldfish will be fine for a long time.

Answer 7

I used to have loads of swordfish and they take forever to grow the last inch. I would say they are just fine for quite some time. Not perfect, but if they are OK now they'll be OK in 2 months.