Help! Fish Emergency...

[GardenGeisha]

I wonder whether the aquarium thermometer could have stopped working? It does seem to be inching nearer 50 F this afternoon, I think. I was thinking of baking a pizza to help warm up the house? I didn't want them to get shocked from going to outside temperatures in the pond of about 40 F to suddenly much warmer in the house. I could put a heater in the living room, but the manager at the store said he'd keep the temperature about the same as it is now. Until it gets really cold outside and a heater is needed to keep the pipes from freezing?

I'm thinking with the temp at 47 F or so in the aquarium, they should not eat, since eating creates poop and poop generates ammonia. Do they poop at that temp without eating? I am thinking I am seeing poop? Without food, though, perhaps the ammonia that generates cycling will not be created? But if they can't digest food at 47 F, I should not feed them? Everything I've read says they can't digest food at water temps under 55 F. I did buy some fall food earlier for outdoor fish that is said to be safe to eat at temps down to 39 F. Could I feed them that now?

I gave them an aquarium salt bath, which they seemed to enjoy. It is said to provide electrolytes and boost their immune systems.

So many variables! I am so confused by it all.

Many sites say the Top Fin Bacteria Supplement is no good. Others say it is a lifesaver when you put fish in an aquarium without cycling the aquarium first.

 

[so lucky]

Trust me on this: you don't have to leave the heat off in your house to accommodate the fish. They will adapt. They adapt to outside in the pond in the summer when it is 100 degrees out. May not be ideal, but they adapt. They will be fine at normal house temps. (65 to 75 degrees). The water will warm slowly enough that it won't stress them.

Edited to add: Keeping fish is kinda like any other thing you get into. There are going to be people who have very strong opinions, and try to convince you theirs is the only way. And you know how the internet is; you can get downright paranoid if you believe everything you read. Sort of like having a pain in your stomach, then after researching it, you decide you must be dying of some rare disease.

You are doing fine, just take a deep breath and turn the heat on, and enjoy watching your fish.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I don't live in the house, so the cooler temperature in the house doesn't bother me. I don't want them to get ick, though, and I read they tend to get ick at lower temperatures. But if I turn on the heater, not living in the house, it could blow the circuits in the middle of the night, causing the filter to stop working. Especially since I am now running a heater in the solarium to keep the plants from freezing. I am hoping running the toaster oven to bake the pizza does not cause the heater in the solarium to blow. Always things to worry about.

Is there a problem with keeping the temperature cool in the house? The blooming dahlias seem to be loving it. I had to move them in, because it's so cold out. And they are just now covered with buds and blossoms, so I don't want to sacrifice them to Jack Frost.

I have another thermostat up and it's registering 44 F in the house. Linn says her fish stay in the pond outdoors until later in the season, so I can't think why it would bother the fish, unless indoor fish are more subject to getting ick?

 

[Smart Red]

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?

When do you bring yours in? December?

As I said, BAD FISH MOMMA! So far it has been one bucket for all the fish. Change water about every two weeks. Seldom feed them because of the temperature in the sun room. Yes, they usually are swimming around on or near the bottom -- or at a higher level -- until they see a person when they all dive to the bottom.

When I first started bringing the fish inside, I had a 55 gallon tank. It was hard to clean and keep clean. The bucket system is much easier. Never thought of having several buckets! That may be a good option if the fish are bigger when I get them in. I bring mine in sometime before the water freezes. I'm hoping the Grands will transfer the fish to my bucket for me this coming weekend. Old ladies are not good at crawling around on their knees on the limestone rocks that surround my pond while seeking gold hiding in the bottom muck.

It cannot get too cold for goldfish! As long as the pond doesn't freeze solid (as in stock tank which I have done) they will survive just fine. The temperature problem arises with sudden changes in water temperature such as taking them from the outside pond and putting them into tap water right away. Since I have country well water, I have no problem with chemicals dangerous to fish.

Me thinks you are over-analyzing your fish problem. In the end, goldfish are nothing more than glorified carp!

 

[so lucky]

OK, I didn't understand you weren't living in the house. Couldn't figure out how you could stand it, lol! Just keeping the temp in the 40's will be fine. At least goldfish are not a tropical fish. They won't eat as much when the water is cold, as their systems slow down.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I checked the thermometer and without heat it is now 50F in the house. I did plug in a small heater on low, but I think I'll turn it off. I don't think the dahlias will like it. But do you think it would make the fish happier and help jump-start the cycling in their aquarium? I am worried about them. I have never done the aquarium thing before... Lots to weigh in the balance-- fish versus flowers, etc.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Linn, When you kept your fish in the 55 gallon aquarium, did you keep its water as cool as you now keep the fish in the buckets in the sunroom?
And did you lose any fish in the aquarium method?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Linn I meant to ask you exactly how often you do feed your wintering goldfish in the 40 F sunroom? Did you say twice a month?

 

[GardenGeisha]

The fishies are still alive this morning. I put the heater on low in the house last night and the house temp is now 53 and the aquarium water is at 50 F. The fish seem happy.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Tested the aquarium water and it still registers 'ideal.' Linn, I loved your description of crawling around on the rocks. That is exactly how it was, and Brother Fred, the black fish, was hiding in the last inch of muck! Made me giggle and giggle.