Gradually changing Water?

Question

I have 2 wild caught baby catfish each about 2 inches long...and im getting ready to set them free

Do i need to gradually get them used to lake water, or can I just dump them in

If i need to do it gradually how long should i do this, and at what ratio from tank water to lake water

oh, and i caught these catfish in the same lake im setting them free in

I've had them for about a month, and just recently moved them inot my larger tank with my oranda goldfish. the reason im letting them go is because i think at night time they attack my goldfish because since the catfish have moved in with him, hes had scales pulled off, and red marks on him, so im hoping if i remove the catfish, the goldfish will get better

Answer 1

Hold them in a large bag with tank water. Every 5 minutes, add 1/2 a cup of lake water to the bag... After about 20 minutes, you can release him into the lake. This is only okay because that is the lake where you found them. In any other situation, that would be unacceptable. Thank you for specifying that this is the same location.

Nosoop4u

Answer 2

it should be fine adding the straight back to the pond, depending on how long you have had them in the tank.

You should really add them right in though. Place them in a net and add them and slowly move the net back and forth to get water going though their gills.


The real proper way is to do what your saying, draining some of the tank water and replacing that with lake water.

But it should really be that big, catfish tend to be very forgiving and can adjust.


if your going to do the tank water and lake water mix, generally 50 % of the tank is fine. and about 3-4 days is what i would do.

Answer 3

just let them sit in the water for about 20 minutes