New to this, am I doing it right?

[fish_are_friends]

I have looked into finding them a home. No luck. I will be keeping them. As for you trying to discredit the only person who seems to want to NICELY help me, that's quite rude.

I will try to make a trip out to a pet store of some kind soon. I did find a petsmart that is close by, I did not realize it was there. I will stop by and ask them questions as well.

As for the ammonia level, it has been coming down in the past weeks. It was in the danger level. It has come down to stressful.

Again I AM DOING THE BEST I CAN!

 

[fish_are_friends]

Thanks for telling me I will die soon. That helps the situation.


As for my 5g. I have found homes for most of them. I am keeping my 4 guppies though.


As far as my puffers are concerned. I am locating new tanks that I will have to keep hidden to the extreme. The biggest I can go is 29g. And I am not even sure I can do that.

As for what town I am living in? I live in Myrtle Beach. Our petsmart (that I just found out was here) does not take puffer fish. I will not take them back to walmart. They have 20 puffers in a smaller tank than I have mine in.

 

[jrc3]

...As for you trying to discredit the only person who seems to want to NICELY help me, that's quite rude. .

I feel that I tried to "nicely" help you.

Ignore anyone "tearing you down" about your purchase. When you say "no one will take them", what do you mean? Just call around tomorrow to some "ma and pop" fish stores and ask if they will take the fish in. Most will probably even give you a little credit for them. I would take them ALL in and look for something else to put in your 10g. I would recommend 1 or 2 dwarf puffers or a male betta. They both have great personalities and look forward to seeing their owners.

And I wouldn't worry about the salt at all right now.

Also keep in mind that PufferPunk and the other members see two or three people a week in the same position that you are in over at **************. It seems like half of them take our advice and the other half's fish die and they are never heard from again. The advice given has less to do with opinion, and is mostly based on actuall experience and observing the end results of others. Frankly, I don't know how she has the same zest for giving up the same, needed advice to others so frequently. She and everyone over at TPF have the fishes best needs at heart and treat people with respect when giving sound advice.

Also, I know it is hard to follow the advice of others when it is the complete opposite of what you want to hear. But facts or facts and a 10g is far too small for 1 adult GSP let alone 3. To quote PufferPunk, "dilution is the solution to pollution", and the ammonia (fish waste, the pollution) cannot be diluted enough for those fish in a that small tank.
-----------------------------------

I have 2 dwarf puffers in a 10g and they surf the front glass whenever I'm around. Their tank sits right by my computer and I will sit by them for a long time and the second they see my eyes when I look in the direction of their tank, they com running to the front glass.

I also have a betta fish in a 15g and he pretty much does the same thing. He is always out in the open and that tank sits on the end of my kitchen counter and he follows me where ever I go around the tank. He's always getting into something exploring his home and watching the shrimp.

 

[fish_are_friends]

Hey DA show me where anyone but me said anything about Dwarfs. Those are GSP's. I think you are nothing more then the OP trying to make it seem like someone is defending them. Kinda funny how your first post is in this thread.

LEARN TO READ before you open your mouth, go back to your hole

Just saw this. I did not make a new account just to make it look like someone was defending me. I have my account and that's it. It would be pointless to make a new account just to post on here. I came here for advice. I am doing the best I can with what I am allowed to have in my dorm.

I am going to try to get a bigger tank for my boys but I can't make promises.

And just so EVERYONE knows, my boys are doing just fine today. They are happy and healthy. Not bored, hungry, lethargic. No stress lines or anything. The ammonia level is down a little more today.

 

[J-P]

I recently did a walk through for a person who had placed a GSP in a 10G.
It didn't turn out well for the fish and the owner was heart broken.

Pufferpunk knows what she is talking about.

 

[Pufferpunk]

J-P, That was a single GSP in a 10g?

 

[purplecandle]

As I see it we are at a stalemate. But, I feel sorry for the fish...so I would like to offer an olive branch the original poster..

A ten gallon is just too small, and aquarium salt does not a brackish tank make..

But we can help you keep them alive until you can upgrade to a better situation or re-home them.

No need for bio class- The Nitrogen Cycle. Fish produce ammonia. With out a cycled tank the ammonia is not converted into less toxic nitrates and nitrites...See, like a circle..ammonia to nitrites to nitrates..

Ideally you would have a liquid test kit to help you monitor the levels..You want 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and <10 nitrates...

What "does" the cycle: Bacteria! Bacteria live in your filter media..so you should not change it. Yes, the filter makers want you to buy new ones every week..but really they should simply be cleaned lightly and changed rarely.

Until you have a cycled aquarium, you should change the water a few times a week. Asked your friend for used (wet) filter media to start the cycle in your tank. Then buy a proper test kit so you can monitor your levels.

Remember that fish keeping is a science, not a hobby like knitting. You have to learn to do it right. I know you mentioned a 10-13 year old gold fish, but gold fish can live substantially longer than that.

Everyone must start from the beginning. Some people start out thinking they know everything and end up killing fish, please do not be one of those people. Remember this is a science. It takes skill to do it right. You must learn those skills.

I know you think your friend knows what she is doing, but plain and simple she/he does not. Fish keeping is full of people who "think" they know what they are doing...but no one who knows what they are doing would advise you to change your filters every other week Because doing so takes away your bacteria and will kill fish...

Now, what else do you not understand or need help with. Ask and we shall help.

 

[Pufferpunk]

PC, This tank has been running with those 4 fish in it for 2 months. I'm afraid the bioload is just too much for this system to handle anymore...

 

[fish_are_friends]

That is today. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to re-home a sick fish & it is not if, but when they will get sick in that tank. I do not suggest trying to put 3, 29g into a small dorm room. Have you signed anything that states you only are allowed 10g? If you have a contract with the dorm & break it, it is possible you could be tossed out.

Try this place: http://local.yahoo.com/info-1349237...kqRQE4qwGwfuHNcIF;_ylv=3?csz=Myrtle+Beach,+SC

Kudos to you for making that 5g livable for the guppies. Why weren't they enough?

I would not have 3 29g tanks. I would only have one. And yes I signed a contract for my dorm and it states we are only allowed to have fish and a 10g max.


As for the guppies not being enough. They aren't truly mine. They belonged to a roommate that does not fully live with me. I just take care of the little guys and was given extra fish to put in with them.

 

[purplecandle]

Even if it is too late for the GSPs...we can always educate before the next fish is bought. (I am in a good mood today)

Hopefully the OP will listen to us and maybe be able to keep the GSPs alive until he/she can upgrade..