newbie needs goldfish help. thank you

[komodo182]

Bummer.

well my media is arranged as such.
Bottom; 20 sponge
Middle; 20 carbon
Top; 20 biomaxx

I have two more addition sponges and carbon, each.
because I bought a 3 pack of those.

Biomaxx was more expensive per pack, so I only got one.

The pet store may not tell you this if its the pet store i think it is. Don't replace the biomax! Don't rinse it under tap water!

There is a chain of pet stores in my area that are also in newfoundland that sold my buddy biomax (a new pack every month for several Aqua Clears) for about 6 months. He was advised by them to replace it monthly

I also don't use carbon (expensive waste in my mind, unless you are removing meds), but that is a personally choice. I personally would replace the carbon with more biomax.

 

[Laticauda]

You don't need carbon in the filter. I would reserve those for after you treat with medications.

I've never had to replace a sponge, could you return those for your money back?

 

[crucial09]

The pet store may not tell you this if its the pet store i think it is. Don't replace the biomax! Don't rinse it under tap water!

There is a chain of pet stores in my area that are also in newfoundland that sold my buddy biomax (a new pack every month for several Aqua Clears) for about 6 months. He was advised by them to replace it monthly

I also don't use carbon (expensive waste in my mind, unless you are removing meds), but that is a personally choice. I personally would replace the carbon with more biomax.

It says on the box to replace it every 3 months. I already know that is BS. I asked my ex's dad. He keeps 1,000$ sting rays, many different species, african cichlids, arowanas, and an asian looking cat fish
He told me that biomax never goes bad.

And I kno not to replace all my media at the same time, and not to clean it with tap water. I will rinse the sponge out, and maybe the carbon, with the tank water I siphoned out.

You don't need carbon in the filter. I would reserve those for after you treat with medications.

I've never had to replace a sponge, could you return those for your money back?

Well I have carbon in it right now to obsorb water impurities.
Doesn't it also cut back an any tank odor?

And as for the sponge. those were like 3$ for the 3 pack. Very cheap.
And I can use one to clean the algae off the inside of the tank.



This is to all.*******************
Is it mating season for goldfish?
My small goldfish has a white is bump coming out of its reproductive area.
I looked on the gab site and that should be the females convex.
It releases a chemical that make the male nudge the female in that area with his head. correct?

The other goldfish doesn't have that any convex sticking out, however I cannot see something like a hole there that the males should have.
The believed "male" is nudging the believed "female" in her private area, and following her around.

 

[mshill90]

This is to all.*******************
Is it mating season for goldfish?
My small goldfish has a white is bump coming out of its reproductive area.
I looked on the gab site and that should be the females convex.
It releases a chemical that make the male nudge the female in that area with his head. correct?

The other goldfish doesn't have that any convex sticking out, however I cannot see something like a hole there that the males should have.
The believed "male" is nudging the believed "female" in her private area, and following her around.

Your goldfish are not mature enough to breed. They don't really hit maturity until they are about 3".

 

[crucial09]

Your goldfish are not mature enough to breed. They don't really hit maturity until they are about 3".

Well will the male nudge the female anyways? even tho he can't mate?

I believe I can sex them correctly now.

 

[mshill90]

Well will the male nudge the female anyways? even tho he can't mate?

I believe I can sex them correctly now.

It may just be their grouping instinct. My goldfish and koi do that all the time.

 

[crucial09]

It may just be their grouping instinct. My goldfish and koi do that all the time.

could be. time will tell I guess.

The believed female does have a small convex tho.

 

[mshill90]

could be. time will tell I guess.

The believed female does have a small convex tho.

They are too small to sex.

Goldfish and Koi are both harder to sex.

Male GF have more pointed fins, as females have more rounded fins.

 

[knifegill]

Feeder goldfish are badly stunted and a one year old fish my only be two inches long. Are yours from good stock or are they cheap feeders?

 

[postshawn]

Ok, I have some of those goldfish too. The thing is you need a bigger tank. Sure you can wait until they get bigger. That's if they live that long. They can't heal properly without the required space. They may heal and they may not in that 10g tank. For these goldfish they need about 15 gallons for the first one and 10 gallons for everyone after that. If you don't want them for too long then the 10 gallon may only provide them with a year or two of life and you can move on. Pet stores don't tell you about this because most times they don't know or don't care since they are basically feeder fish and they figure they won't live long anyway. That's why they have so many diseases and even the non feeder goldfish kind of get put aside for care to the tropical fish. If your ex's father has all these big expensive fish then maybe you should see if he has a larger tank that he can loan or give or sell you.

The temperature you have it at is close to the top of what goldfish like. Goldfish are cold water fish (compared to "tropical" fish) and nn my experience goldfish like between 62-74 degrees F. Mine is right around 70-72 so it should be fine. But don't add other tropical fish because it can be stressful for one or the other depending on the temps of the tank.

Just because the fish were clean looking in the store out of a bunch with 25% dead doesn't mean they are disease free. Can you walk the street and tell who is sick and who isn't? Same with fish. If they were in that tank they may be clean and maybe not. So just be aware of that and that they probably came with whatever is wrong with them. But getting them out of that situation is the first step for survival.

I know you are trying to take care of them the best you can. And I give props on that. That's how I started with the ones I have, well my fiance wanted to save them from their fate.

As for the issues with them, as stated they are some of the most hardy fish out there. One of mine when it was young had a large hole in it. It was about an inch and a half, maybe two inches. It had a whole the diameter of a common sharpie marker. The LFS (Local Fish Store, not Petco or Petsmart) told me just marine salt. So I added a bit of marine salt, forgot how much exactly. And sure enough in about 3 weeks time you couldn't even tell the fish had a hole in it. Now that same fish is almost 7 inches and my largest goldfish currently. It's been about 15 months since the hole. The fins will heal on their own. Things that might cause them to get hurt like split fins could be bad quality fake plants, sharp rocks, aquarium ornaments that are too small (mine swim anything they can wiggle through), etc.

Anyway good luck with your fish. I hope it goes well.