cycling with goldfish (NOT feeders)

[birmansandbettas]

A friend offered to loan me some goldfish to cycle my new tank. He's had them for three years and they're 4-5" each.

I keep seeing warnings not to cycle with goldfish, but the main argument seems to be that feeders carry disease. That isn't relevant to my situation.

Are there any other reasons not to use goldfish?

 

[msjinkzd]

because its not good for the fish and will stress/potentially kill them. Why not just get some seasoned filter media from your friend instead

 

[Warborg]

It sounds like the fish are 'wanted' pets so I'd advise against it. At this point any fish would do. The reason why people use 'baby' feeders is the thought that they may live in the new tank and NOT end up being food for someone's tank.

Ex: I bought 10 feeders once because all I had in 125 gallon tank was a 7 inch pleco. As of now 6 of them survived(2-3 years later)

 

[msjinkzd]

my point is why use fish at all if you can get seasoned media from the friend

 

[Darth Scohin]

^Agree^ Especially since your friends has goldfish....

Using fish to cycle is not really about the diesease as more of it has to do with the nitrogen cycle NH4-NO3-NO2 and the "Fish" are what produce the NH4-Ammonia but there are MANY other ways to cycle such as using pure Ammonia or litterally feeding the tank fish food...
But the greatest method is to use old filter media from another tank (your friends) and putting it in the tank or running a used filter with the used media...

 

[sostoudt]

pee in your tank to cycle it, man that never gets old

no its fine to cycle with them but depending on how big your tank is i see no need to use 3 at that size, you risk killing your friends fish.

as said above it may be your friend trying to get rid of them.
really goldfish are great fish but they may not fit in your plans for the tank

i would ask for some media also.

 

[100gallons]

Its ok to feed your fish goldfish, but not stress them? I cycled my 100 gallon with 12 feeders and non of them died and the tank is now up and running. I have done it like this for years,

 

[sostoudt]

Its ok to feed your fish goldfish, but not stress them? I cycled my 100 gallon with 12 feeders and non of them died and the tank is now up and running. I have done it like this for years,

i would think most of the people that answered dont feed there fish feeders. also you shouldnt feed goldfish anyway they will slowly cause malnutrition problems

 

[Lupin]

I agree with Rachel. Just use the established filter media. Ask your friend for that. No need to use the goldfish and subject them to harm. IMO, it is hypocritical of some of us to bother using fish for cycling purposes yet we keep other fish and don't even bother to subject them to this similar situation the goldfish are placed in. Oh well...I am biased since I keep goldfish myself.

 

[msjinkzd]

I don't keep goldfish and I do feed live. To me I see no purpose in cycling with fish if there are alternatives. Adding media introduces both types of bacteria needed to cycle your tank and is quicker than using fish.