Help! Fish Emergency...

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, so lucky! Is that granulated food the same as 'time release food.' I have to go to California 5 days later this month and was wondering whether the 'time release food' would be good to have for them while we are gone?

 

[Smart Red]

I may not be the best of fish mommies, but they seem healthy and well-adjusted (for goldfish). I keep mine in a five gallon pail in the 40 Degree (F) sun room. Probably closer to 4 gallons in the container. Without much food, the water seems clear for quite a long time. When they seem to be surfacing, I move them into another five gallon pail (already temperature adjusted) and use the old water for my plants or just toss it in the garden beds. No pump, no pond dirt, no bio-filter, no TLC. According to DH, they are luck to be alive! It's a cold cruel world out there.

I do have a pet store that would take the bigger goldfish each fall as they sell for a higher price, but I rather learn to like my fish and enjoy watching them through the winter . . . as well as appreciating the super-powered water for my plants.

How many inches of fish? Of the 13 that over-wintered last year, 7 goldfish were three years old and the 6 minnows were volunteers brought into my pond by passing birds. The goldfish were each fat and about 2.5 inches long, while the minnows from that spring were long and lean, also just over 2 inches in length.

I still need to get mine in. We have had low temps, but nothing that would cause the pond to freeze hard, just a layer of ice crusting the top that is usually gone by noon or so. It isn't the cold water, but the thick ice that gets them. No way for O2 to get in and common pond gases to get out. Eventually the pond freezes solid and THAT is not a good thing fish-wise. I am hoping the Grands will enjoy that chore again this year.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, Linn! How often do you have to move them into a new pail of water?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Do you mean you keep all 13 fish in one pail containing 4 gallons of water? Or do you have 13 different pails containing 4 gallons of water, one for each fish?

I brought mine in because I was nervous about the possible fluoride in the water from the swamp cooler leak and recent refillings with the hose when it appeared the pond had sprung a leak... I am looking forward to putting spring water in their aquarium as replacement water. Diluting any fluoride that might be in their water.

When do you bring yours in? December?

 

[GardenGeisha]

I read that it is best to bring them inside before the water is colder than 55 F due to the shock factor. However, the water was in the low 40s when I did so. Because my house is unheated, I thought it might be okay to wait until now. I am going to go see what the aquarium thermometer is reading.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Just checked, and their water temp in the aquarium indoors is only about 45 degrees 5, comparable to what it was outside. So I shouldn't have to feed them; right?

I noticed they all seem to be staying near the bottom of the aquarium? Is this a bad sign that could signal some sort of problem?

Does the aquarium gravel need to be spread evenly along the bottom of the aquarium? When I dumped in the buckets of water it got moved around into humps of gravel with bare spots on the aquarium floor?

 

[GardenGeisha]

I just now tested their water for ammonia levels, and the test strip reads 'ideal conditions.' But I'm thinking maybe I should buy a nitrate/PH water tester strip kit, too?

Do you think the water current could be too strong, and that's why they are staying pretty much at the bottom? The store worker talked me into buying a filter that is for up to 50 gallons, although my aquarium is only 30 gallons. She said it would aerate the water better, given my having 7 fish in 30 gallons of water, which would be a plus. But could it be making the current too strong for them? And should I have the output of water from the filter covered with aquarium water? The aquarium water level is just below it, so that it cascades out of the filter a bit, hitting the top of the water in the aquarium?

I did move the gravel evenly over the bottom of the aquarium just now, because I thought I saw some fish poop on the bottom. Would they poop when they are dormant and not eating? I thought covering it with aquarium gravel might help prevent ammonia build up? I should have just sucked it out with the new gravel vacuum, though. I wasn't thinking clearly...

 

[GardenGeisha]

Called store worker. She thinks they need aquarium salt and an airstone-- lack of oxygen, and water should be up to the output.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Went to the store and talked to the manager. He doesn't think lack of oxygen is the problem. Thinks the fish are just adjusting, settling in. Didn't think the fancy expensive water was necessary-- thought spring water would be just fine. So I didn't have to buy an airstone. He did recommend freshwater aquarium salt and some bacteria mix. He thought a glass top might be good for the aquarium, too, to slow evaporation and allow more light in. I was pleased to hear he will do water tests for me for free!

 

[so lucky]

The water in your tank is 45 degrees? Good grief, girl! That means your house is about 45, too, doesn't it? I'd be frozen solid. Maybe the fish are cold? Do you plan to turn the heat on at some point? The colder the water, the more oxygen it can hold, so you won't need as much water agitation (airstone, etc) as you would if the water was warm.
And the granular food I spoke of is not the "vacation food" that you can get for the time you are gone. But many fish experts would tell you not to bother with feeding them if you are going to be gone only 5 days. It is easier to kill them from accidental over feeding than with under feeding.