Re: [GSAS-Member] Goldfish compatibility

[Shamus Young <machismo@eskimo.com>]

Thanks to all who responded.

I don't think there's any chance of getting a larger tank. It took enough
cajoling to get her to take a free 20g tank to move the fish out of it's
3g.

I look at this more as damage control than advising her on the perfect
goldfish setup.  The fish is in a better home.   If she wants companions
and is set on getting them, then steer her towards fish that are actually
compatible.

I'll push the zebras over white clouds.  I'm a little reluctant to push
corys, since I've always thought of them as tropical.  I also seem to
recall that she's got standard aquarium gravel in there, and IIRC, you
want a fine substrate with Corys so they don't damage their barbels on
the gravel.  I'll confirm the substrate compatibility before I push
loaches or corys.

Has anyone tried mosquito fish?  The cold water livebearer?  it sounds
like they might move too slow.  I guess there would be concerns about salt
content of the water.  I don't know what goldfish like regarding salt, but
from back in the dark ages when I raised livebearers, I added salt.

Shamus

On Thu, 10 Jul 2008, Trish wrote:

> Hi Shamus-
>
> I have goldfish, in a 55 gallon now. And with them, I keep the weather
> loaches, and also some cories....with no heater, all get along just
> fine, and have been together in different tanks through about 5 years
> now....started smaller of course, as small as a 5 gallon with the
> goldies, and up to a 30 long, with weater loaches, and now to the 55
> gal.....I have 6 long finned goldies, and I think 5 weather loaches,
> along with 5 or 6 cories......Goldfish are quiet dirty, so have 2
> filters on this tank, a submersable fluval, and also a magnum canister
> filter.....so good filteration is a must with goldies.....
>
> Now with your friend, she has a 20 gal with 1 golfish, they say goldies
> need about 10 gal per fish, so she COULD add another, but given since
> she tried that already, and the one killed it, maybe adding another
> wouldnt be good.....she could add say 2 or 3 common Do Jo's {weather
> loach}, and say 4 cories, this would be about it.....BUT to keep in mind
> a larger tank for the future. The Do Jos like to be in groups, the more
> the better, as well as the cories...no less than 3 I would guess.....The
> green cories, seem to do the best with the colder water.....from what I
> have experienced....I have several other types, but the green seem to
> adapt the best.
>
> Any other question feel free to ask!!
>
> Trish
>
>
> --- On Thu, 7/10/08, Shamus Young <machismo@eskimo.com> wrote:
>
> > From: Shamus Young <machismo@eskimo.com>
> > Subject: [GSAS-Member]  Goldfish compatibility
> > To: "Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat" <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> > Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 12:12 AM
> > Howdy:
> >
> > I've got a friend who inherited a goldfish in a small
> > tank, circa 3 gal.
> > She's accquired a 20 gallon tank with an eclipse hood,
> > and moved it into
> > that, which is a positive step.  It's about 3"
> > now.  I don't think it's a
> > special type.  No long fins or weird eye things, but I
> > don't know
> > goldfish.  To me, it looks like a large feeder goldfish.
> > There's nothing
> > in there now but a few decorations.  She tried to introduce
> > another
> > goldfish, but the one she has killed it.
> >
> > She wants to add companions.  I've pointed out the
> > temperature thing, and
> > I know a few cold water fish like white clouds and zebra
> > danios, but don't
> > know if they are actually compatible with goldfish.  The
> > one article on
> > goldfish on the krib didn't really talk about
> > companions, and I got mixed
> > messages about it by just googling it (go figure).  One
> > site recommends
> > zebra danios.  The other says that they will out-compete
> > the goldfish for
> > food.  Another site recommended weather loaches.
> >
> > She seems determined to put some companions in there.  In
> > an attempt to
> > avoid trial and error and get an informed opinion, I'm
> > asking the group
> > for recommendations for goldfish companions.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Shamus
> > _______________________________________________
> > GSAS-Member mailing list
> > GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
> > http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member
>
>
>
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