Today I did research for my mom because she bought goldfish without learning how to take care of them first and I pointed out that they're suffocating (swimming at the surface for air) so my dad went and bought a 10 gallon tank for them but he hasn't set it up yet. I'm sorta worried they won't be able to deal with it long enough to make it to the new aquarium. About how long can fish go like that before they give up and die?
2007-03-11 14:21:19 · 9 answers · asked by Lisa 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
SInce gold fish are also air suckers this could take a long time, but it can also do sever damage to the fish. As was mentioned keeping a 20-25% dechlor water change will add much needed Dissolved Oxygen to the tank. You can also add Hydrogen Peroxide to the water to add Dissolved Oxygen. (Yes this benefits your fish as well as adds oxygen without harming the fish, even if they are stressed)
Get the new tank up quickly, since it will need to run a few days before you can put your fish into it.
Also, how many goldfish and what size bowl? You may want to consider using pitchers and seperating the fish into their own containers until your tank is ready. This will also help with the Oxygen / overcrowding problem.
2007-03-12 03:33:01 · answer #1 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First off, I must congratulate you for doing your research. Here's the child teaching the parents! I love that you took such initiative! Goldfish in improper water conditions can live for 1 day or 1 week, but if you do daily water changes of 25-50%, that will help considerably and they could last for as long as you need them to. If you do a fishless cycle and do it with dedication at optimum conditions, you can get a tank cycled in as little as 10 days. It can also take up to 3 week for a fishless cycle and cycling with fish can take 4-6 weeks. My comment is this. If you have fish in less than ideal conditions in a bowl, then their environment can't be any worse in a 10 gallon tank. You may just wish to get the tank set up tonight and do a cycle with fish. If you are careful with your water changes and getting the tank set up well, you might not lose any at all. Alternately, you can see if your filter has a diverter on it that you can attach a tube to and you can start the filter and just insert that tube in the bowl and get some oxygen pumping in the water that way. Good luck with you new fish and I'm proud of you for wanting to be a responsible pet owner!
2007-03-11 22:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Make sure the bowl in which they are is not full to the brim but more with the waterline under the neck, which gives it a larger surface area. Fish do come up to the surface as a natural thing, its not really something to worry over, of cource a bigger tank is always a positive but ten gallons im guessing wont even have a bigger surface area so it wont change too much except volume and filtration.
2007-03-11 22:14:41 · answer #3 · answered by Richard E 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For now you can help by scoping some water out of the tank and pouring it back into the tank letting it splash a little as it goes back in. Do that several times in a row and it will help the fish get the oxygen it needs. Also, keeping the water really cool will help alot too. You can try putting some bowl water in something like a soda bottle or water bottle (clean of course). Fill the bottle about 1/2 full and shake it a while. Once the bubbles settle some pour it back in the tank. If you can do these things several times the goldfsih will be ok until you can get the tank set up.
MM
2007-03-11 21:32:06 · answer #4 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can do a partial water change with dechlorinated water, perhaps 25%. I hope you have a filter for the new tank. It is going to have to cycle with the fish in it. That takes 4-6 weeks. Water changes will help. So will products like API Stress Zyme or Hagen Cycle to reduce the time to 3-4 weeks.
The fish may die. Maybe not. Consider this a learning experience.
Read some basic care guides. This is a free one:
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/basic/index.cfm
good luck!
2007-03-11 21:28:20 · answer #5 · answered by something_fishy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Goldfish are really Hardy fish so they'll probablly last longer than most other fish but I would get that tank as soon as possible or they will die. Good luck with your fish! Have fun
2007-03-11 21:32:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get that bloody tank up NOW by the way fish come to the top naturally. ever seen a fish pond
2007-03-11 21:33:46 · answer #7 · answered by chelsieleej 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how long but if you have some kind of filter your fish will be happier and will live longer.Filters keep the water fresh and if you don't have one algae will grow on it faster and you will have to clean it a lot. TRUST ME I TRIED IT ONCE.
2007-03-11 23:45:23 · answer #8 · answered by Blondie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good for you for doing the research!
Here are a few additional websites you might want to check in the future (or give your mom!):
http://thegab.org/Articles/
http://www.goldfishinfo.com/general.htm
http://www.goldfishparadise.com/
2007-03-11 21:35:35 · answer #9 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋