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FAQs About Goldfish Compatibility

Need to be housed only with other:
Cool to coldwater animals that like hard, alkaline water... are messy... tolerant... aren't mean... NOT Chinese algae eaters!

With: Crayfish? With tropical fishes, invertebrates, plants, amphibians...? Chinese Algae Eaters?	No No. NOOOO!
With other goldfish, koi... types? Sizes? With other goldfish of a similar shape, size?	Maybe not! Sure, usually; if there's room.

Goldfish (maintenance; compatibility) -09/02/08
Hello all,
<Hello,>
Firstly a quick thank you to you all for your patience and dedication to answering all the questions put to you - having fairly recently become best friends with a Black Moor I have spent several hours scouring your site for all the info I can. However, I wondered if you would mind giving me some advice?
<Do our best...>
I have a little moor in a 10 gallon tank, he's only an inch or so big at the moment but the rate at which he eats his veggies it can't be long before he grows.
<Indeed. These fish grow rapidly, and Black Moors routinely reach about 20 cm/8" within 2-4 years. He'll need something that 30 gallons quite soon, and with a decent filter.>
It's just little old him on his own - maybe he likes it (he seems happy enough) but I'd like to get some friends for him.
<Friends are precisely what he wants. These are schooling fish, and much as Goldfish enjoy human company, your specimen will want at least one other pal of its own kind. Preferably another fancy Goldfish rather than something faster like a Comet or Standard. A Fantail Goldfish for example would get along great with a Black Moor.>
Before doing so I know we need more space so I shall be upgrading to a 32 gallon tank in the next month or so and keeping the smaller tank as a spare for quarantine/hospital duties. My question is what else can I add to the new tank that's interesting but won't overload it?
<Depends a lot of the temperature and water quality. By default, keep fancy Goldfish together in their own system to avoid problems with losing out at feeding time. Comets and Standards often eat all the food before the poor Fancies get a chance! If the tank is maintained at a fixed 18-22 degrees C, which is fine for Goldfish, you can add certain subtropical species, such as Corydoras paleatus. But the water quality needs to be good, and Goldfish being big and messy tend to put a heavier load on filters than the average community tropical fish. So by all means consider tankmates of other species, but review filtration carefully, and check that the nitrite concentration in the tank is zero. I'd recommend a decent external canister filter offering 6 times the volume of the tank in turnover per hour. So for a 30 gallon tank, buy a filter rated at 6 x 30 = 180 gallons per hour. A little more won't do any harm, but don't go under.>
I had thought about a small school of White Cloud but don't want Fat Tony (as the moor has been named) to eat them! Is there anything else with a bit of character?
<Minnows can work, provided the water doesn't get colder than 18 C, and generally Goldfish aren't predatory. But there's always a risk. Much better choices in unheated tanks are Rosy Red Minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Weather Loaches (Misgurnus spp.). If the tank is heated to 18-24 C, then your range of possible tankmates can include various subtropical fish like Peppered Catfish, as mentioned above. Very small catfish might be at risk of being eaten, but adults should be fine.>
Finally, Fat Tony has a small hole on his dorsal fin - 1-2 mm long between the first and second ray (is the right term?). It has been there since I got him and doesn't seem to get any bigger. There are no signs of any infection (no redness, no white fluffy spots) and he swims around merrily and playfully so I think he's fine, but like an over-anxious parent I just wanted to check what you thought?
<Likely mechanical damage, and should heal over time. Do keep an eye out for secondary infections, in which case treatment with something like Maracyn or eSHa 2000 will be required. Otherwise nothing to worry about.>
Thank you so much!!
J
<Cheers, Neale.>

Tail biting, goldfish incomp. borne of crowding likely 6/5/08
Hi,
Can you help?
I have recently adopted 2 young comet goldfish but the smaller one of the two seems to constantly bite the other ones tail leaving it ragged and sore looking. Why is it doing this and how can I get it to stop???
Thanks
Debbie
<Hi Debbie. Assuming your aquarium is at least the minimum recommended size for Goldfish -- i.e., 125 litres/30 US gallons -- adding a third Goldfish should help this situation. Goldfish are schooling fish and need company, but sometimes when we keep too-few schooling fish their hierarchy goes wrong and the fish become aggressive. Cheers, Neale.>

Got Prob. -Goldfish/Tetra compatibility 05/31/2008
Hello Dear Neale,
<Please be a friend to Wet Web Media and don't send messages all in capital letters!>
All my fish are doing well but Neale, I got a problem that I got two tetra fish in which one is doing very well, but the other one is in problem because it never comes up to eat and never moves freely in the aquarium until, unless the light is off.
<Most tetras are schooling fish: they are only happy when kept in groups of 6 or more.>
And all my other goldfish, they have recovered a lot from Finrot but their tail seems like a small Tetra has bitten its tail, but I studied the goldfish can live with Tetra.
<Some tetras WILL bite the fins of other fish. In particular Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (called the "black widow tetra" in England) and the various "serpae" tetras in the genus Hyphessobrycon, such as Hyphessobrycon eques. But many other tetras will bite fins given the chance. In the wild, these fish eat the scales and fins of other fish -- so there's no way to stop them biting big, slow-moving fish. It's in the genes! So no, you cannot keep Goldfish and tetras.>
And why my one Tetra is scared always even doesn't eat anything.
<Likely scared, shy.>
Thank you Neale
ALI ZAHEER
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Got prob. - 05/31/08
Hello dear Neale,
<Hello!>
Firstly I want to apologize for my mistake that you mentioned, thank you.
<Not a problem.>
I am very happy that you answered my questions. Neale one of my tetra is Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.
<Ah! A very VERY bad fin-nipper!>
But other is different so should I remove both or just one?

and please can help me which small size fish would be better to keep with my goldfish.
<Really best kept alone, or perhaps with Weather Loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus). Some people keep them with Zebra Danios (Danio rerio) or White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes). Both these species do well in subtropical tanks (18-22 Celsius) which is ideal for Goldfish. Peppered Catfish (Corydoras paleatus) would also do well in a subtropical aquarium. All three of these species are SCHOOLING fish; keep Danios and Minnows in groups of at least 6 specimens; and the Catfish in a group of at least 3 specimens.>
Take care. Thank you
Ali
<Cheers, Neale.>

RE: GOT PROB... goldfish... reading - 6/3/08
Hello dear Neale,
<Hello again!>
Thank you so much for guiding me, ill remove both tetra and I am going to keep goldfish alone I have one black moor, 1 red white goldfish and 2 orange goldfish.
<Sounds good.>
They all are very small almost of 2 to 3 inch. I hope they will do well alone?
<Yes, should be fine.>
Neale if your fish lay down at gravel what does that mean is it suffering from white spot situation?
<Not really. Goldfish sometimes rest at the bottom of tanks anyway. Especially the Fancy Goldfish varieties. But most of the time they should be swimming about; not "gasping" at the top or "sitting" on the sand.>
Because my black moor and red white goldfish some time sit down on the gravels for some time, mostly when filter running from long time and mostly when light is off at night.
<Do make sure the filter is running ALL the time. It should not be switched off! When water stops flowing through it, the bacteria die.>
So what do you think that are fine or not? And when they sit down and I go closer to them they start to swim very actively.
<Sounds to be fine. Provided the water quality is good, and the fish exhibit no symptoms of illness (white spots, ragged fins, etc.) then I would not worry.>
I hope they are fine. I change half water every week. Please guide me.
<Do please read all the MANY articles on Goldfish here at Wet Web Media. Do go to the Freshwater section and scroll almost all the way down. You'll find DOZENS of articles and FAQs on Goldfish, covering just about everything there is to know about them!
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwlivestkindex.htm
>
Thank you and take care
Ali
<And you too, Neale.>

My Butterfly Tail, GF hlth., CAE incomp. 5/17/08
Hello! I have 4 goldfish, 1 (Bertha) who is quite large, the size of a baseball without the tail and then a calico looking goldfish Gecko), an orange fan tail (captain Golden Eye) and then MiBello my black googly eyed guy. My mother in law bought us an algae eater (the smaller cat fish looking ones) he has been in the tank for over 6 months now, but I recently noticed him attaching himself to my googly eyed guy.
<Is a Chinese Algae Eater, Gyrinocheilus... needs to be removed immediately. Not compatible>
And then today I noticed that MiBello is slow with a filmy look to him and gold spots showing through his normally BLACK scales...I instantly started to research and so far he doesn't have any of the symptoms of ICH or VELVET. I saw that you had a similar question on the website, I read that and went to the site suggested but still found no answers. Please help! I love my Googly MiBello and want to make him better.
Thank you!
Marilyn Rosa
<Translate this "love" into action... Read re the use of CAEs on WWM... Remove it and all will likely be fine. Bob Fenner>

New company? or impossibility? Goldfish comp., using WWM – 04/21/08
I bought two small gold fantails today and put them in with a large gold fantail.
<... in what size, sort of system?>
When I put the small fantails in with the large fantail it started chasing and what looked like biting the small fantails. Is it just that the large fantail has been alone and it was new company? or is it not possible for small fantails to live in the same tank as large fantails?
Alicia
<Should be compatible (in time) if there is sufficient room. Read on WWM: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Tank Troubles, Mixed tropical and Goldfish sys. 4/9/08
I am an experienced saltwater fishkeeper and I have set up a freshwater tank at my place of employment. It is a 55 Gallon with an oversized BioWheel filter and carbon media, it is only about two months old. I sped the cycling process along with "used gravel and filter media" from my LFS.
<Very good.>
The water tests at 0ppm for ammonia, nitrite, chlorine, about 15ppm for nitrates. I have an African Clawed Frog that I hand feed ReptoMin pellets and a dojo loach that eats a sinking shrimp pellet everyday.
<Fine, but do vary the diet and use (wet) frozen foods like bloodworms as well, or even live foods or chopped seafood. Plain dried food seems to cause problems with constipation, and in any case most animals get bored with it.>
Finally I have 3 fantail goldfish approx 3" each, I feed fresh blanched spinach and zucchini as well as sinking goldfish pellets every other day. I feed sparingly, I am a big fan of fit fish.
<Great!>
Anyway the crux of my issue, I have had a few fish deaths which I find strange. I had one goldfish pass, he grew weak and unresponsive until his death. My boss added two guppies and three platies ( against my better advice) and one of the guppies and two of the platies have passed away. They acclimate fine they seem healthy and active, and eating. Then I will find them dead within the next couple of days.
<When a random selection of fish die within a short period, it's almost always an environmental issue. So check temperature, pH, nitrite at once. Fish have varying demands in terms of temperature, and outside their preferred range quickly develop immune system, dietary problems. The pH will give you a quick handle on whether water chemistry is stable, and the nitrite will tell you about the filtration system.>
No apparent disease is at work, there is no outward sign of it anyway, the goldfish and the guppy and platies all appear healthy. Is there some water parameter that I am not taking into account?
<Not sure. Which parameters have you considered thus far?>
I realize that guppies and platies are tropical fish but can't they also acclimate to subtropical temperatures?
<Not as such, no. While it is true that one Platy species, the Variatus Platy fish Xiphophorus variatus is a subtropical fish, the fancy Platies sold are hybrids that require completely tropical conditions. Guppies are tropical fish, period.>
The temperature of the tank is a steady 67 degrees F.
<Too low.>
Please let me know if there is something I am missing or if a certain number of fish deaths is normal...I haven't lost any of my SW fish in many months, and years. So I am a bit perplexed. Thanks so much in advance.
<Cheers, Neale.>

Molly attacking Goldfish 4/7/08
Hi WWM!
<Hello>
I have a 10 gallon tank with one butterfly goldfish, one creamsicle Molly and 2 Mickey Mouse Mollies.
<Too much and incompatible life in this tank.>
I didn't know until now that mollies are not supposed to be in the same tank as goldfish because I've never owned fish before.
<Read before you purchase livestock next time.>
They seemed to be getting along for a couple of months, however, for the past month or so, the creamsicle Molly has been attacking the goldfish by constantly "biting" or "nipping" its back fins causing them to become frayed.
<Common behavior for a molly.>
The goldfish seems very upset and unhappy and tries to hide from the Molly but can't escape it. Can the goldfish die from this?
<Can contribute to its demise.>
What should I do?
<Separate the fish, provide a more appropriate habitat for them.>
Thanks,
Antoinette
<Welcome>
<Chris>

Re: sickly goldfish 4/1/08
too late its dead
<Well, please learn from this. You can't keep Goldfish in a small aquarium, and you can't mix them with Algae Eaters (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) -- Algae Eaters attack the goldfish and rasp away at their skin. Do have a read of the basics of Goldfish keeping here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/goldfish101art.htm
Cheers, Neale.>

Sick goldfish, CAEs - 3/5/08
Hi,
I have a question and wondering if you can help. I have a big goldfish that is 4+ years old. We got him at a carnival. He lives in a 20 gallon tank with two mollies and an algae eater. He has been sick for over a week. Usually I can get him better, but this time looks bad. He has been swimming upside down and sideways, and now his eye is bloody and clouded. He is also missing scales. I'm thinking maybe the other fish "picked on him" when he was sick? Now he is laying on his side at the bottom of his "sick tank". He is barely moving. Is there anything I can do?
thanks
Rachel
<Hello Rachel. First, tell me what the "Algae Eater" is. The common or Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) is a fish that becomes increasingly aggressive with age. Adults often attack their tankmates, and many specimens have been observed to scrape the scales and skin from slow moving fish. They are simply not acceptable tankmates for community fish. I'm concerned because the missing scales could easily be caused by this. In any case, whatever you do, you will need to do the following:
- Check water quality (a 20 gallon tank is too small for Goldfish once they get above about 8 cm/3", so I'm guessing that's at least one factor).
- Use a combination Finrot/Fungus medication such as Maracyn or eSHa 2000.
When you use medications, be sure and remove carbon from the filter if you've been suckered into using this stuff. Do read the article linked below for more Goldfish basics; if you're not doing everything outlined therein, that's probably where you're going wrong.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish101art.htm
Cheers, Neale.>

Goldfish eaten by other fish 2/22/08
Hi, our daughter came out of her room screaming and crying after finding her favourite goldfish "mini me" was on the bottom of the tank with only an eyeless head and skeleton attached.
We had noticed that over the past week it had been spending most of the day in a ship wreck that the other larger fish cannot go into but it looked healthy. Occasionally it would come out and swim around feeding and the others didn't react at all so we thought it may have been sitting on eggs (is that what they do?)
The other 5 goldfish are about twice it's size even though they were all purchased at the same time 8 months ago. We now have a very different opinion of the other fish as we didn't know they were cannibals. Are there any signs we could have looked for to prevent this from happening? Would Mini Me have died before it was eaten? We have another fish that is the same size but always sits in the corner away from the others, should we remove this one before it becomes the next meal?
Thanks for your help
Jessica
<Hi Jessica. Goldfish don't eat small fish, of their own kind or others. What almost certainly happens was the one goldfish died, and the others ate the corpse (as would any snails in the tank). So, since you have a dead fish: review water quality! Do a nitrite test. Unexpected deaths for no reason don't happen... they're caused by something, and water quality problems are common. Five goldfish will need a big tank as they mature (certainly upwards of 180 l/50 gallons) and if the tank is too small, fish will die off one at a time until the "carrying capacity" of the aquarium is reached. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: goldfish eaten by other fish 2/23/08
Thanks Neale. I have no idea how big the tank is in capacity but sold to us by an expert who imports fish and runs a large centre and a friend so I think we can rely on him.
<I can't stress the importance of finding out the size of the tank: not that I want to doubt the good intentions of your friend, but the retail side of the hobby often has a very different view of what the fish need compared to those of us picking up the pieces when things go wrong! Deducing the size of your tank is easy. Half empty the tank (which you should be doing every week anyway). Now, look how big your buckets are; it will be written on the thing somewhere (typically 3-4 gallons). Count the number of buckets that go into the tank to fill it up. Double that number, and there's the volume of your tank! Groups of Goldfish need something around 200 litres/50 US gallons.>
Maybe we don't change the water enough as I read on your site that it need changing by 20% once a week, we don't do that, more like every 4-6 weeks.
<Way too little. 50% weekly, especially if the tank is on the small side (i.e., less than the number quoted above).>
Also how do you get rid of the waste matter if you only remove 20% water each time, or
are we meant to remove the fish and do a whole clean out once in a while and replace the stones?
<The filter should remove much of the solid waste, especially if it is adequate to the task. Goldfish are very messy animals -- they're herbivores, and produce a lot of faeces. Minimum, you need a filter offering 4 times the volume of the tank in turnover per hour, and realistically I'd go for 6 times. Buying a filter that isn't up to the job is a false economy, because you end up with a cloudy, smelly aquarium no-one wants to look at. Now, solid waste is ultimately removed by cleaning the filter media. Do that monthly by squeezing it out in a bucket of aquarium water (you need to take care not to kill the filter bacteria, which running the thing under a hot tap would do). You also remove solid waste during the water change. Using the hose pipe, scoot about over the gravel, stirring it up and siphoning up the waste. A quick stir with a stick of some sort usually helps. Do remember though: the solid waste isn't what kills fish; it's the invisible nitrite and ammonia that does that.>
I also read they need vegetables, are you talking the weeds? we don't have any in the tank at the moment so should we get some more? We only have fake ones.
<Do see here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm
>
By the way your web site is a God send to our family as it is sooooo informative, thank you. And Sarah will be so happy her fish wasn't killed by the others!
Thanks
Jessica in Australia
<Glad we can help. Cheers, Neale.>

My Oranda fish lost it's eyes -02/20/08
Hi guys,
I searched the site but couldn't find my answer. My Oranda fish is the only Oranda in a 55 gallon tank along with 3 goldfish and a Koi. Three weeks ago I noticed one of my Orandas eyes missing and now today another one. I have seen all the fish at one point or another pick at his fins but, HIS EYES? Why do they do this and can he survive like this? Will the others continue to pick at him? So concerned!
Thanks
Concerned new fish mommy!
Have a wonderful day!
Jessica
<Hello Jessica. Eyes are -- after fins -- the bits on a fish easily damaged by fighting. So the best thing a "concerned fish mom" would do at the first signs of aggression between fish is to separate them so this couldn't happen. It is unusual for goldfish and/or Koi to be aggressive towards one another, but they can be boisterous, and it is ALWAYS recommended that fancy (double-tail) goldfish are kept in different tanks to single-tail goldfish and Koi. In other words: Orandas, moors, Ryukin, etc. should all be kept in different to tanks to plain goldfish, comets, and Shubunkin's. I'm guessing that you didn't do this. If you didn't, you know now! As for therapy: treat with an anti-Finrot/anti-fungus medication first, to prevent a secondary infection. Do also check the water quality, specifically nitrite, to see that there isn't a problem there. It is entirely possible that minor damage (that could have healed) quickly turned bad because of poor water quality. There should be zero ammonia and nitrite in the system. In addition, check water chemistry for the same reasons. Goldfish need hard (10+ degrees dH) and basic (pH 7.5) water conditions. Will the eyes grow back? Obviously not. Can he live without them? Yes, provided he is kept alone. He will navigate using his lateral line and forage for food by touch and olfaction, but the goldfish with eyes will be able to out-compete him at feeding time. The result will be a lot like dinner time at the home of Phineas. Cheers, Neale.>

Starting from scratch! As in w/ no knowledge... Betta, Goldfish incomp. 2/6/07
Question: Good day,
My birthday treat is to start all over again since my fish died after Christmas.
<...>
Please give me a list of EVERYTHING I need to purchase for a 10 gallon tank and how many fish should I have in it (I had 2 goldfish & 1 beta fish prior). I would like to get 1 beta fish and 3 gold fish (very small ones).
Plus, what should I do for feeding of the fish when I take a week's vacation which happens twice a year!!
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL ASSISTANCE!!
Your blessings from heaven comes in 2007!
Elfrieda
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsubwebindex.htm
and the linked files as you peruse the index... on FW set-up, Bettas, Goldfish... Bob Fenner>

Sick Molly... env., mis-mixed with goldfish 12/07/2007
First I would like to thank all of you. Any time I have a question some one always answers me. So thanks. Now onward. I have a 10 gallon tank. I have 3 mollies and 4 goldfish. Now I know they like different water situations and found this out after the fish were bought and put together (need to do my homework, I know). However, every fish was doing fine but now ALL my mollies have what appears to be fluffy white spots on them. Not sure if it's a bacteria or a growth...what can I do? Also is the water contaminated now to, so if something does end up happening to my molly's will it contaminate the next fish? Thanks so much.
Laura
<Hello Laura. The Mollies have Finrot and/or fungus and need to be treated with a combination Finrot/fungus medication. This is extremely common when Mollies are kept in freshwater. In addition, Mollies are acutely sensitive to Nitrate, and Goldfish are veritable Nitrate factories! So you WILL need to separate them. Please do read our article on Mollies and act accordingly:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/mollies.htm
Hope this helps, Neale.>

Indoor Pondfish... comp., hlth. 11/5/07
I have 2 big Koi (about a foot in length), she's one of them, the other is a boy, 4 smaller Koi (2-3 inches) and a gold fish. I have seen one of the 3 inch ones nibble on her side a little bit, but I don't know if its eating her scales. I also saw the foot long boy suck on her fin a little bit, but it looked like he was doing no harm to her. I may possibly be able to provide a picture, I'm not sure, but if you're interested, let me know. I think she's also getting some red on her.
<Koi -- like all over Cyprinidae -- only have teeth in their throats, not behind their lips. So they can't "bite", and as such are unlikely to cause any harm by "mouthing" one another. It's just possible they might suck at dead skin tissue out of curiosity, but I can't see how Koi (or Goldfish) could actually cause damage to healthy tissue in the first place. So, provided the fish are healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about this particular behaviour. On the other hand, if the fish are developing red patches, that can indicate some other problem. Koi are especially sensitive to poor water quality, and neither Koi nor Goldfish will do well if the water is soft and acidic. So, check water quality and chemistry. Reflect on other maintenance issues, such as diet and whether predators might be getting into the pond and causing physical damage. Cats and herons will both damage large fish even if they fail to kill the fish. Leeches, fish lice and various other parasites can sometimes get into ponds and cause physical damage. Hope this helps. Neale>

Re: Indoor Pondfish... comp., hlth. 11/5/07
Well, the thing is, my Koi are in a tank inside the house not outside, so they're not really exposed to any predators. Should I take her to a pet store and get her checked out or should I just treat the water like there's something in there? So you don't think there is anything wrong with my fish? except maybe the patches?
<You're keeping Koi indoors? In a tank? How big is this tank? Koi are (obviously) big fish. Maximum size is around 90 cm/3', and even an average specimen will exceed 60 cm/2' in length. They are also fast-growing fish: a well cared for Koi will be reaching that sort of size within 5 years or so. (Koi were, after all, originally bred as food fish.) As a result, they generally do not do well indoors except in indoor pond-type arrangements in conservatories and the like. In an aquarium you'll have problems maintaining the good water quality Koi need. So, before discussing anything else, let's have some Cold, Hard Numbers! How big is the aquarium? What sort of filter are you using? How often do you do water changes, and how much do you change each time? What is the water chemistry (especially the pH and general hardness)? Have you done a nitrite test? When kept in anything other than optimal conditions Koi are subject to a wide range of diseases that can cause 'red patches' on the body, such as Finrot, fungus, Fish Pox, slime diseases, etc. A photograph will help. Treatment depends upon identifying the disease and also ensuring water quality is sufficiently good that the Koi can heal itself alongside whatever medication you use. Under good conditions Koi live for decades and show a very high degree of hardiness and resistance to disease. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Indoor Pondfish... comp., hlth. 11/5/07
well my uncle just gave us the Koi and the tank is a 10 gal and we're working on a pond for outside. we have 2 filters. I don't remember the names of the filters, but one is for a 20gal and the other is for a 50 gal. Since I've had them for about a week or so, we've changed it once and we changed a little more than half of the water. maybe 3/5 of it. am not sure about the water quality and the pH level. my mom or aunt might know so I cant tell you. ill try and get you a picture of the fish as soon as possible. thanks!
<Hmm... Koi can't be kept in a 10 gallon tank, and even a 50 gallon tank will be nothing more than a temporary holding tank. I think you said one of the Koi was about 30 cm long -- such a fish cannot be kept in a 10 gallon tank, end of story. So my guess would be that the water quality is very poor. Ammonia and nitrite cause all kinds of problems, and these will be at the root of your problems. Build the pond ASAP. Cheers, Neale.>

Ryukin Goldfish Guidelines 11/4/07
Hello! Can I ask questions about this goldfish?
<Yes.>
What plants can be compatible with this fish?
<Anything tolerant of cold to subtropical conditions, but with the caution that Goldfish will view most plants as potential food. So while Elodea and Egeria enjoy the same cool, hard, alkaline water conditions as Goldfish, Goldfish are apt to simply eat those plants. This isn't a bad thing though: Goldfish are herbivores in the wild and at least half their diet should be plant material of some sort. The fact people don't do this all the time explains the sick, constipated Goldfish you keep seeing and we keep being asked about. So you can simply add new bunches of Elodea or Egeria as you go along. If you want something permanent, there are so options. Under good lighting, subtropical Vallisneria and Sagittaria do well with Goldfish. Java moss and Java fern will be OK at 18 C or more; both of these are inedible. Anubias is another inedible plant, but it needs at least 20 C to do well. Most Goldfish keepers opt for silk or plastic plants.>
What are the preparations and basic/advance care for this fish?
<Learn to review this web site before asking "tell me everything" questions, my friend. Start here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish.htm >
Tnx..!
<Cheers, Neale>

Help me with my goldfish... Error in placing "feeders" in a tank... 10/24/07
Hi, my nephew won these fish at a carnival and I just so happened to have started a tank about a month prior with only a algae eater in it

and he asked if I could add these two fish to my tank. So I did,
<A mistake... such "feeder, comets" are notoriously unhealthy... invariably infested with a few types of parasites, infectious agents... now your system is as well>
and now the one fish has black spots on him and is losing all of his fins, they are deteriorating. And as of this morning, he is getting a white egg textured film on top of his head and off the back of his tail. I am new to the whole goldfish thing, so could you help me find a cure. thanks so much!!
Amber
<Much to relate to you re developing a course of treatment here... As stated, your whole tank, all the fishes there... are subject to a myriad of pathogens... Best for you to start reading... Here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshdisease.htm
and the linked files above... till you understand what you've done, what you're up against... You will need to sequentially treat the system, all fishes for bacterial, protozoan, worm et al. diseases... Bob Fenner>

Algae fish sucking on goldfish 10/3/07
We have 2 goldfish and an algae fish. They have been in the same tank for about 6 months. Today the algae fish was attached to one of the goldfish and now the fish is floating on his side at the top of the tank. It seems like you can see through him and his fins look flat and torn. My question is do you think he was sick or did the algae fish kill him? Also, should we worry for the other goldfish? Thanks, Denice
<Hello Denice. What you describe is actually very common. Under no circumstances should "algae fish" -- by which I assume you mean Gyrinocheilus aymonieri -- be kept with goldfish or any other large, slow moving species. Apart from eat the mucous from the skins of large fish, as they get bigger they become increasingly hostile, to the point where they can, do batter tankmates to death. Despite their widespread sale in aquarium shops, these ARE NOT GOOD AQUARIUM FISH. Most aquarium books say as much, so please let me remind you of the importance of researching a fish BEFORE buying it. The guys in the pet store often have no clue, and ultimately only care about making a sale. If you can, return the fish to the store. They are, of course, tropical fish, and unless your goldfish aquarium is heated to around 22-24 C, your specimen of Gyrinocheilus aymonieri will not last for very long. Cheers, Neale>

Goldfish Capability, actually comp. with Platies 9/5/07
Hi there,
<Sweet Melissa>
I've had two plain goldfish for the last three years. They've always been very healthy (no diseases ever). Recently though, we had an earthquake and a log (fake) moved and pinned one of the fish. Sadly, it died before we found it. So we now have one plain "feeder" goldfish in a 12 gallon Eclipse tank.
The tank's temperature is usually between 75 to 78 degrees and the pH is usually 7.2. She's been doing fine on her own so far, but I'd like to add another fish or two.
<Will need more room...>
I don't really like fancy goldfish, and the "feeder" goldfish I find in stores always seem to be in grotesque conditions and unhealthy.
<Yes... too often the case>
I have considered getting one and just keeping it under a longer quarantine, but I also wonder what other options I have. I've found conflicting research about fish compatibility. What do you think about adding two female platies?
<Mmm, a possibility... these livebearers do "like" similar water conditions... In fact, many folks use platies in warmish outdoor ponds to nip at string algae...>
I know these are tropical fish, but they seem like they could be compatible with a goldfish. My current fish is about 2 in. and is pretty docile (she's been with some guppies before and did fine).
Basically, I want to add some variety to my tank, but I don't want to jeopardize my current fish's health. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Melissa

Aggressive goldfish, sys., comp. 9/5/07
Hi, I have 2 goldfish called Slippery Benson and Hedges. Benson is your average goldfish - orange in colour with a short tail and fins, Hedges is a pinky silver colour with a red splotch on his head (and one red eye-he's so cool!). Their bodies are almost exactly the same size, although Hedges' slightly fancier tail and fins make him slightly larger. They have lived together in their 20 litre tank (which is about 4.5 UK gallons and 5.5 US)
<Need much more room than this...>
which has plenty on interesting stuff in it for about 3 weeks but recently Hedges has started chasing and nipping Benson. Sometimes they're totally fine, sometimes not. Why is this?
<Natural behavior somewhat... but can be trouble here due to crowding, no where to get away>
Slippery Benson was given to me as a present in a bowl but i felt sorry for him so spent a ridiculous amount of money on his cool new home and bought him Hedges for a bit of company. I can't afford anything bigger (and have no more room for a bigger tank) but couldn't bear to part with them now - what should I do?
<Determine your priorities apart from your emotions... What is more important, the health of the livestock, or?>
Could Hedges do Benson any real harm?
<Yes. Bob Fenner>
Faithfully,
Antonia

Mystus leucophasis question 8/3/07
hi all.
just to forewarn you this is my first fish tank since childhood, the other day I got the notion that I wanted a fish tank. I went to the store and purchased 3. two Ryukin and a Mystus leucophasis only about and inch long). the worker at the store had told me that they were fine to be together, so I took them home and gave them names. this morning I noticed that my Mystus leucophasis wasn't swimming upside down, so I thought it good to research this species...one to find out if it is in fact compatible with the Ryukin, and two just to know more about it. I did discover that they are aggressive and, for me, going to be a bit more maintenance than the goldfish. I think I'm asking for some basic info for a beginner on the catfish and if the 2 are in fact going to live together peacefully. and I am using spring water (at the stores suggestion)
and my water is reading at 83-85 plus degrees most of the time. is it ok if at night I put the air conditioner on and the temp goes down to 78. if this is a problem how can I fix it. perhaps ice cubes?
:o)
I haven't done any ph readings but after reading some of your letters to others I am going to get some tools for that tonight.
thanks for any help
faith
<Hello Faith. Okay, there are a bunch of issues here. To start with, impulse buying of fishes is never a good idea. Fish are animals, not shoes, and when you make a mistake it's the animal that suffers, not just your wallet. But to your credit, I'm pleased you've done some research now and are looking for help. Anyway, yes, Mystus leucophasis is completely and utterly incompatible with your fancy goldfish. Even assuming it doesn't eat them (by no means impossible, given Mystus leucophasis can get to 30 cm in length) it could still hassle them at feeding time or damage them when acting territorially. Mystus leucophasis is also a tropical fish, whereas goldfish are not. At 24, 25 degrees C you might be able to keep them together, but that's really a bit too warm for goldfish to be happy in the long term. Water chemistry, to be fair, isn't a big deal for either fish. Mystus leucophasis is very adaptable and inhabits a variety of waters. Anything between pH 6 and 8, and running from "soft" to "hard" on whatever hardness scale you're using will be acceptable. Goldfish prefer alkaline pH (around 7.5 is ideal) and "moderately hard" to "hard" on the hardness scale. I have no idea why you're using spring water. Sounds insanely expensive. Both these fish will adapt to most kinds of tap water. Avoid water from a domestic water softener though. Always add dechlorinator to the tap water before adding it to the aquarium. Do not add salt. Check the pH and hardness of the water from your tap before using it, so that you have some idea what your local water conditions are like. More than likely it will be fine, but if you happen to live in a soft water area, you may need to harden the water. See here for more: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwh2oquality.htm . As well as a pH test kit and a 'General Hardness' test kit (which measures in degrees dH usually though sometimes milligrams per litre calcium oxide or calcium carbonate) you should also own a nitrite test kit. Ideally, you'd have an ammonia test kit and a nitrate test kit too, but the nitrite test kit is a good starting point. This tells you something about the quality (as opposed to the chemistry) of the water. You want a nitrite value of zero. Anything else is bad, and the higher the number, the worse the conditions, and the more likely your fish will get sick. Beyond this, I think you want to spend a little time browsing the beginners' articles over here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsetupindex.htm . Hope this helps, Neale>

Re: Mystus leucophasis question Attn: Neale 8/3/07
Neale,
Thank you so much for you very helpful response. I have decide to return the Mystus leucophasis for now, until I am better equipped at handling one. Also I will be switching to tap like you suggested and buying all the testing equipment necessary and doing more beginners research. I do agree that impulse buying animals is cruel and unusual punishment to them and shouldn't be done. I've learned my lesson, hopefully not too much at their expense. Thanks again
Faith
<Happy to help. I think you did the wise thing. Big catfish are amazing animals and truly wonderful pets; I've had one for 15-plus years and we've both become rather fond of each other. But catfish should be researched first because you're buying an animal that will place certain demands on you. In the meantime, enjoy your goldfish, read around about other aspects of the hobby, and I dare say before long you'll have the experience and interest necessary for keeping catfish, angels, seahorses, or whatever! Cheers, Neale>

Goldfish... comp. - 7/23/07
Hi-
I have 2 fancy goldfish in one large aquarium. I also have a small Comet goldfish in a separate, smaller aquarium. I want to put the Comet in with the fancies but I know this could be a problem, as the Comet might get all the food since they're faster than fancy goldfish. To complicate things, my 2 fancy goldfish each have only one eye. I want to move a Betta fish into the aquarium currently holding the comet. what should I do?
-Molly
<Hello Molly. Comets do indeed swim faster than most fancy goldfish. It depends on the fancy goldfish about how bad this will be. If the fancy goldfish are black moors or plain veil-tail goldfish, then it could be fine, assuming the tank is nice and big and you take care to make sure everyone gets a meal. Adding lots of veggies (which you should be doing anyway) helps, because then goldfish can graze slowly through the day. If the fancy goldfish are the really deformed sort like celestials or bubble-eyes, then no, don't mix them. Goldfish and Bettas can't really be kept together. Goldfish like water that is not so warm as Bettas. Goldfish like around 18C, a subtropical temperature, while Bettas want 25-28C, which is very definitely on the warm side. Some folks mix goldfish and tropical fish fine, but I wouldn't recommend it. (Though goldfish can mix well with *subtropical* fish like weather loaches and sunfish, but that's another issue.) Whenever you force a fish to live at a temperature above or below its preferred range, you end up shortening its life and/or making it more sensitive to disease. One last thing. Why do two of your fish lack their full complement of eyes? That's pretty unusual, and would seem to indicate some sort of problem. Cheers, Neale>

Re: Goldfish 8/1/07
Thanks for your reply!
I'm not moving the Comet in with a Betta- I meant I was moving the Comet out and a Betta in.
I moved the Comet in with the fancies and all is well so far.
I found the two fancies at local pet stores the way they are-each with only one eye.
The sales girl said they would "just pitch them" so I figured it was my duty to step in and rescue them.
Thanks again!
-Molly
<Sounds cool. Just keep an eye on them all, and make sure the fancy goldfish get some food. It's easy for them to lose out at feeding time even with both eyes working, but for fancy goldfish with just the one eye...! Good luck, Neale>

Deceased goldfish's brother– 7/10/07
Hiya,
One of our goldfish died over the weekend and his brother has been behaving rather strangely since, swimming around in a very hectic way. I've looked at the sites and know that goldfish aren't schooling fish so he shouldn't be lonely but they were living together for nearly two years. Do you think he will adapt to living on his own or should we get him a companion? Thanks for your help! Laura.
<Hello Laura. I have no idea why web sites are saying goldfish aren't schooling fish. They are. Almost all Cyprinidae are, and goldfish prefer to be in as big a group as possible. So yes, your lonely survivor wants a pal. I'd personally consider 3 specimens a good baseline. Ideally, pick goldfish of similar build so they can compete with one another at feeding time. In other words, if you have a plain goldfish, then don't get fancy goldfish, or vice versa. Please check your aquarium conditions though and try to establish why one fish die. Goldfish can live for decades, and any fish that dies in 2 years died too soon. So review tank size, diet, water quality, water chemistry, etc. There are some useful FAQs and articles here all about goldfish that you'll certainly find interesting. Cheers, Neale>

New goldfish aggression 6/5/07
We bought a 3-inch Oranda yesterday to keep our 8-inch long fantail
<Wowzah!>
company after the loss 2 months ago of another fantail who had been with the big guy for 7 years. The tank is 55 gallons and no other fish live in it. The water quality is good, Ph and ammonia and nitrite levels fine,
<Mmm, how about nitrate accumulation?>
and there is a good bit of fake plant cover.
Soon after introductions were made, the little Oranda began chasing the big fantail and then head butting the larger fish's abdomen. This seemed to continue through the night, and this morning worsened when the Oranda began nibbling one of the fantail's pelvic fins---which resulted in some shredding.
<Yikes... sounds like a frisky reproductive bit here...>
We separated the fish with a tank divider,
<Good>
but this negates the whole purpose of bringing home a new companion.
<Well... for now>
We suspect that the fantail is a female now. Her anal vent is convex and suddenly very obviously oval-ish, and the leading edge of her anal fin seems quite thick. Maybe Lancelot wasn't the most appropriate name for her all these years after all.
<Heee! Perhaps the new one can be named this and the old renamed Gwenivere?>
We also know that it is now breeding season---early June. So we suspect that the aggression might be breeding behavior, although the little Oranda doesn't seem to have tubercles on his gills. We also live on a busy street, and big trucks roll by frequently during the day. We've read that thunder storms might stimulate aggression, and the fish might mistake the noise for thunder. We also suspect that the little Oranda was probably stressed by the move, perhaps feeding into the aggression.
<Possibly...>
The question we have is whether we can safely reintroduce the fish in a day or two. The fantail means a lot to us, and we don't want her hurt.
Thanks very much.
Gina and Mike
<I'd wait a week or so here... till the larger fish has a bit of time to rest, heal... And be present for the period of time for a while after they've been re-introduced. Bob Fenner>

Re: New goldfish aggression – 06/07/07
Dear Bob,
Thank you so much for your good advice regarding our Lancelot and new Oranda, Opie. We will attempt to reunite them this Sunday. We have attached a picture of their first meeting.
<Yikes! I'll take the fish in the foregd.>
Thanks again,
Gina and Mike
<Mmm, goldfish are so "autistic" that they don't necessarily recognize their own kind... often it seems taking them and most anything newly introduced as "food"... We'll see if these two can get along... likely so. Bob Fenner>

Re: New goldfish aggression – 6/12/07
Dear Bob,
Just a brief note to let you know that Lancelot and Opie are getting along famously. We kept them separated for a week as you suggested, and the tank has been aggression free since the big reunion. They spent the week often engaged talking through the screen. After the barrier came out, Lancelot (the larger fish) wouldn't allow Opie to get close enough to chew for a few hours and then displayed some forceful shoulder nudges to show everyone who was who. And that was the extent of it. They have even now begun to establish a joint sleeping routine. We're still working on coordinating the feeding equitably but have no doubt that we now have a harmonious family---finned and footed. Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement! And thanks also for the marvelous resource---we have often turned to Wet Web Media for information on our little guys, and we wish you and everyone there the very best.
Gina and Mike
<Ahh! Thank you for this update. BobF>

ACF, Pleco and small goldfish (feeders) 5/22/07
I have had 3 small goldfish in a nice 10 gallon tank for 2 years. I have a top fin 10 filter.
<To start with, a 10 gallon tank is too small for adult goldfish, and at some point the pollution they produce will start degrading their health.>
Algae started to grow in the tank, so we were told to buy a pleco.
<Algae is not eliminated by adding any animals. The reverse in fact: more fish = more nitrate in the water = faster rate of algae growth. The "add a catfish" idea is a myth and cannot scientifically work unless the catfish ate the algae in the aquarium and then went out the tank and into the outhouse to excrete all the ammonia there instead.>
We went to PetLand discounts, got the pleco (about 1 ½”) and next to that tank were the cutest frogs. I never realized there were
under water frogs, or knew anything about them, but my daughter wanted one, so we bought one.
<No offense, but buying animals you know nothing about is hardly sensible and sets a poor example to children, i.e., that animals are toys not responsibilities.>
Now we realize it is an African Clawed Frog. We bought these 5 days ago. We feed the fish blood worms, so we figured the frog would eat this too. Anyway, we woke up today, and all 3 of our fish are dead.
<Oh dear. Dare one ask if you'd done any water tests recently? Usually when fish die "all of a sudden" the issue is water quality, not disease. Besides, your 10 gallon tank is WAAAYYYYY overstocked and the little filter overwhelmed. A Plec can reach 30-45 cm depending on the species, and needs a tank at least 30 gallons and preferably 55 gallons in size. Your goldfish potentially reach 30 cm and the record is 60 cm, so again, BIG fish.>
The frog and the pleco seem to be doing fine.
<Probably because the loading in the tank has "crashed" down to a safe level where the aquarium and filter can cope.>
Do you think by introducing the frog and the pleco to the tank this killed our fish?
<Most likely, yes.>
I feel so bad.
<Don't feel bad, but do try and learn. Fish and frogs are animals, just like cats and dogs, and you wouldn't impulse purchase a dog, would you? So, look over the site and read the articles on goldfish and Plecs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricariids.htm .>
I am going to go out and buy 2 more frogs, and just keep the frogs and pleco in the tank, and not add fish. Is this what I should do?
<Sounds about right. There are two kinds of aquatic frog in the hobby, a dwarf species that gets around 5 cm long and the regular species that gets to around 15 cm long. Both are interesting, hardy animals, but do research their needs.>
Thank you,
Laura
<No problems. Good luck! Neale>

Re: ACF, Pleco and small goldfish (feeders) 5/22/07
Thank you for your quick response. This morning when I woke up, the pleco was also dead!
<Oh dear. I'm afraid to say that this isn't uncommon. It sounds as if your aquarium was simply overloaded with livestock, and adding the catfish and frog crashed the system, rendering it inhospitable to life. Please stop are read some basic fishkeeping stuff on this web site or in a book. The importance of maintaining a healthy filter cannot be overstated. Many newcomers to the hobby do things like clean the filter media under the tap/faucet, wiping out the "good" bacteria that clean the water. Also, there are things like dechlorinating the water before using it that matter a great deal. So before you buy anything else, read a little more so you feel comfortable. The basics of fishkeeping are extremely easy to master, but if you ignore them... disaster!>
So now I only have the little frog :(. I am afraid the frog is going to die too.
<I hope note. Please do a big water change now (50%) and another tomorrow (also 50%) to flush out all the "bad" water. Make sure you use dechlorinator. Add tiny amounts of food (don't feed at all for the next 48 hours). Leave things to stabilise after this, for a week or two, checking the water quality with your handy new nitrIte (not nitrAte) test kit. Better yet, buy some of those little dip-sticks that have pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate measurements built into them. Once you're happy the tank is stable, then you can start adding more critters.>
I am so upset that we introduced these to the tank. Should I still get a few more frogs, because I read that they are social and like to be in groups.
<Indeed so, but hold off buying more frogs until you are safe the tank is stable. You want perfect water quality for at least 2 weeks.>
I will also buy a water test kit.
<Very good! Frogs are fun in themselves, and mix well with "oddball" critters like apple snails and shrimps. You don't even need fish, and in a tank of 10 gallons, dwarf frogs, snails, and shrimps would be practical and easy to maintain.>
Thanks again for your response.
<No problems, and good luck. Neale>

Goldfish and crayfish – 05/16/07
I have two goldfish in with my crayfish. The goldfish are much larger then the crayfish. The question will he still try to eat them?
<While crayfish are primarily plant eaters and scavengers in the wild, given the chance, they will eat any fish they can catch. In aquaria they can and do trap fishes in the corner of the tank. In a sufficiently large (deep) aquarium regular goldfish might be speedy enough to avoid problems, especially when fully grown, but fancy goldfish are much more vulnerable because they can't swim well. On balance, I'd suggest keeping them separately. Cheers, Neale>

Re: Three goldfish ~ all have diminishing tails & fins, and snail sel., algae eaters for goldfish sys., the cached view search tool on WWM 4/5/07
Mr. Fenner,
<Krista>
Today I learned something important about my situation and hope this will shed some light for you. Although my test kits were inline with the LFS water test, the LFS guy showed me that the pH was very acidic (6.4-6.6). (It's probably been this way for months.
<Mmm, and goldfish like...?>
I distinctly remember that square on the test strip always being the same color.
Perhaps I wasn't reading the results correctly or just didn't know what it should be.) According to the LFS, goldfish prefer a level closer to 7.6. Do you agree?
<Yes>
Could this have something to do with the diminishing tails & fins?
<Of a certainty, yes>
(Side note: All other levels were great: no ammonia, no nitrates or nitrites.) In addition to more frequent water changes, should I utilize an adjuster?
<Yes, I would... Is your tap/source water deficient in alkalinity as well as low in pH?>
I purchased API's pH UP, and I understand that I should use this sparingly to adjust the pH very gradually.
<Mmm, yes... best to use "outside" the system... In new/change-out water... adjust it... and store, use, mix in when you do water changes... Please read on WWM re pH, alkalinity... all of this and more related/necessary information is archived there...>
Another question: My fear of perpetuating the algae growth (more on this below) has kept me from having the hood light on more than 10-15 minutes every other day. Could this be affecting the pH?
<Yes...>
(The LFS suggested this, but I wanted a more reliable source to confirm it, please.)
Also, I've switched food to Ocean Nutrition Formula Two (per Sabrina's recommendation in her article). Amazing ~ the food I was previously feeding them was yellow and red. This is green, like plant matter. (Duh!)
<Much better>
As for the algae situation, I have three questions. First, the algae (if that's what it is) is a reddish-brown color. That doesn't seem to fit the description of BGA. Could the color of this growth be related to the color of the previous food source?
<... please read: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwbgafaqs.htm
and elsewhere on WWM re Cyanobacteria... the color is not indicative...>
Second, I read your article and learned about inputs and their controls. If I understand correctly, there are minimal inputs in my system. I feed the fish sparingly (every other day), and severely limit any light sources. What could I be doing wrong?
<... many possibilities... all posted...>
Third, would you recommend an algae-eating organism to assist with this problem?
<Perhaps a snail... not a fish... again... this is...>
I'm a little wary of introducing other species into my aquarium, especially when those I have seem so content with one another. However, if a snail or something would eat up all of this algae . . .
1) Can I keep a snail in an aquarium without live plants?
<Yes>
2) If I only purchase one snail, they won't reproduce, correct?
<Mmm, depends on the species... Some are ... where might you read?>
3) Would a brackish snail simply die (if it was improperly labeled at the LFS) or could it cause other problems?
<A truly brackish snail is not a good choice>
4) Does the potential of bringing in a dangerous bacteria (with the snail) outweigh the current inconvenience of the algae?
<Not IMO/E, no... though, where/when in doubt, a good idea to keep isolated... in quarantine for a few weeks... in a simple glass jar... with water from the tank...>
5) Are shrimp another acceptable option? Sabrina seems to like them, but are they compatible with goldfish and coldwater? (I had
difficulty finding articles relating goldfish and shrimp that didn't refer to goldfish diets. grin)
<Mmm, there are coldwater shrimp, but these are not readily available>
6) Loaches and goldfish are not compatible.
<Some are... like the Dojo/Misgurnis...>
7) Plecos and goldies ~ a very messy combination.
<Not advised>
8) Your recommendation, please, if indeed you think it would be helpful?
<Pomacea/Ampullaria... as posted....>
Thank you again for your time and attention. I've found the articles and FAQs to be very educating.
<Good>
I'm learning so much! (Side note: It would be helpful when doing searches if the links took one directly to the reference rather than to a huge page through which one must search for the reference. Am I doing something wrong or is this just the way the site is set-up? My only criticism so far!)
Krista Goodin
<Thank you for this. Only the search tool/copy on our specific: http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/question_page.htm
page will present the cached versions... highlighting search terms... Or using Google outside WWM... a deficiency in G's adsense software. Bob Fenner>

Fish with no eyes - got a pic! 2/27/07
<Missing from a fancy goldfish... from? Incompatible tankmate/s? Physical trauma? Poor water quality, rough handling...? BobF>

Eyes missing this morning from my new fancy goldfish 2/28/07
I bought 2 new fish 2 days ago for my 90 gallon aquarium which had one koi 12"
<Oh oh...>
and 6 goldfish 2-4 inches. They were both fine yesterday. This morning the white with gold one was OK but the dark brown one with the big cauliflower head looked like the top of his head exploded and his eyes are gone! I was horrified. Do you have an idea what might have happened? (I have one other brown one in the tank.) I have him alone now in a small tank.
Thank you!
Nancy
<Unfortunately this was likely a matter of the koi, or possibly the larger extant goldfish "sucking" on the head, eyes of this new fish (or possibly another unmentioned tankmate, like a Chinese Algae Eater)... The eye-less individual may well be able to be trained to take prepared foods and live a good long while, though blind. Bob Fenner>

Re: fish with no eyes - got a pic! 2/28/07
Yes, with a very big head until it got chewed up.


Re: Eyes missing this morning from my new fancy goldfish 2/28/07
Thank you for the reply. Can you tell me how to feed it?
<Mmm, perhaps a "feeding ring" (can find, buy these at fish stores... maybe use one intended to hold a "worm feeding cup"... I would train this fish by "swishing" the water at the surface, lightly tapping the tank edge prior to offering food... may have to hold right in front for a few weeks... BobF>

Re: Eyes missing this morning from my new fancy goldfish 2/28/07
Oh, and is this aggressive behavior or are they just hungry?
<Much more likely the last... an unfortunate accident, by fishes having no teeth, not carnivorous... BobF>

Fish help! Goldfish comp., beh. 1/30/07
Hi WetWebMedia crew member,
<Jennifer>
First of all, thank you for your information on pet fishes. I was learning
<Was? No longer?>
a lot, and it helped me to take care of my two Black Moors. But now I have some issues I'm not able to find much answers on. The two Black Moors' names are Chocolate and Pudding (together, they're chocolate pudding).
<Clever>
The first problem, Chocolate is a much thinner goldfish with very long full fins. It seems like no matter what he eats, all the nutrition goes straight to his fins.
<Heee!>
I've had the two Black Moors for about a year now, but Chocolate has not grown a bit unless you're measuring the fins (2.5 inches in length, but its 30% body, 70% fin, and 1.5cm in width). On the other hand Pudding has grown nearly 1.5 times as big (now he is about 3 inches in length, and 1 inch in width).
<Perhaps in retrospect these Goldfish might have been named Laurel and Hardy...>
Chocolate has such a small body, with long fins. I mean the volume of both of his eyes is as big as the body. I'm just wondering is that normal? Is there anything I can do to enhance Chocolate's growth?
<Is likely normal... All goldfish "breeds" are resultant from a cross... are the same species... some with longer finnage, some of the fins split/doubled, some with bulbous eyes, some with more roundish bodies... differing color...>
The second problem, during December, I went on a family trip. I left Chocolate and Pudding with my boyfriend. Now that I have gotten them back, Pudding seems really violent towards Chocolate.
<Not good... happens at times when "not so fancy" varieties are mixed with fancier (rounder) ones>
At first there was just one split fin, I just thought it was an accident. But just last night I discovered that Chocolate has many split fins (total of 5). Then just today I saw Pudding bumping into Chocolate. It wasn't like swim into each other bump. it was more of tackling. Chocolate panicked so badly, he spent the rest of the day wedged behind the filter (where pudding can't reach him).
Chocolate only comes out to eat, then he hurries back behind the filter afterwards. I don't know how long that's been happening, but it's making me nervous. I was going to separate them, but I don't have a spare tank. Is there an explanation for this?
Sincerely, Jennifer
<Mmm, I do hope this is only a temporary, likely breeding behavior-related incident... Otherwise and just the same, I would separate these two for a week or two... a bit of rigid screen (perhaps a piece of louver (see Home Depot, Lowe's) broken into a partition in the tank>
PS: Thank you for helping me!
<Welcome my friend. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish and Algae eaters - 1/20/07
Hello Bob,
<Hey Susan, JustinN with you today.>
Here are a few questions I hope you can answer re: 30 gal indoor aquarium w/1 fantail, 1 Oranda, 2 Corys (just lost one beautiful Oranda w/dropsy :(
<I'm very sorry for your losses.>
1. Are there any cold-water algae eaters that would not outgrow a 30 gallon tank? If not, any suggestions aside from snails?
<Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here, my friend, but really there are not. I hear suggestions for Olive Nerite snails (Neritina reclivata) fairly often, but the problem here is the temperate issue, as you have pointed out. Assuming your Corys are Corydoras catfish, they too will likely eventually succumb to the subtropic conditions. Have a read through here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshcompfaqs.htm and the files linked in blue above.>
2. How long should I wait before I introduce another fish to the tank after losing one to dropsy a week ago?
<In my opinion, you are already full my friend. Your goldfish will likely grow larger than their current girth as is. Most serious goldfish keepers provide a minimum of 20 gallons per specimen, sometimes up to 30 gallons. Reason being, goldfish are very messy eaters, and high waste producers, beyond their large adult size. It is much harder to keep the environment stable and clean when you have more than this.>
3. Is it wise to put smaller fantails (3-4") in with larger fantails - my fantails are larger (5-6") and non-aggressive toward the Corys.
<No, I do not think any further additions of fishes would be wise here. See above for my rationale.>
4. Could my apple snail have introduced bacteria into the water which could have killed my Oranda? The snail smelled and I found it necessary to euthanize it, thinking it could have been the culprit. It had been dormant for a while but was still barely alive. It was over a year old and had passed maturity for quite a while, gradually slowing down to what seemed to be a hibernating state.
<The dying of your snail likely was releasing a good amount of ammonia into the water column, polluting your tank even further, but likely the large size of your fishes and quantity in a smaller volume played a role here as well.>
5. What type of fish would you suggest I add to my tank - preferably hearty fish that will not out grow a 30 gal tank.
<Only what you already have, sorry.>
Thanks much!
Susan Tervo
<Have a read through the links provided above, and good luck! -JustinN>

Re: Goldfish and Algae Eaters -- a follow-up - 1/22/07
Hi Justin,
<Susan>
Thanks for the 411 on my tank and accompanying links. I will keep your advice in mind.
<No problems, glad you found them informative.>
This experience I've had with my fish tank has proven very educational. I'm wondering if saltwater tanks are easier to maintain.
<Mmm, no... ease of care probably goes to a well planned tropical community tank, though maintenance exists with any kind of fish. Saltwater has a lot more parameters that must be monitored and kept tabs on. Not to imply its incredibly difficult, or that you need a masters in chemistry to maintain one, but if you are looking for simplicity in maintenance, marine aquaria is not it.>
I thought fantailed goldfish would be easy, HA!
<Messy little buggers, aren't they? Did you know that not only are they the messy little piggies we all know and love, but they also exude ammonia from their gills during their oxygenation process? Fun fact of the day!>
It sounds like you have lots of experience with fish.
<Probably about 2 years now, but most of that time has been face-deep in reading material!>
Keep it up.
<Oh, yes. Too much fun not to.>
Pray for me? :D
<Hehe, I don't believe this is necessary, my friend. You have the mindset to read and investigate before you move to action, and you are not put off by honesty. These are traits of one who can and likely will be very successful in this hobby.>
Thanks again!
Susan
<Any time, Susan, glad to be of service! -JustinN>

Re: Goldfish and Algae Eaters -- a follow-up - 1/24/07
Thanks again, Justin, for the 411.
<Anytime, my friend.>
Yes, I was aware of the emission of ammonia from goldfish. One more question - I have an Oranda which has always been a bit sickly (but I believe it will outlive every other member of my aquarium). This particular fish has what appears to be a tumor on its front spine. Occasionally, it will swim to the bottom of the tank, go belly up, and float to the top. It eats and otherwise appears to be quite healthy. I'm treating the fish for internal parasites.
<Do you have a reason to believe that internal parasites is a proper diagnosis here? Mistreating can be worse than not treating at all...>
If anything happens to this fish, and hopefully not, would you recommend introducing a smaller fantail to the tank or would it be better to get one of similar size to my other fish. Thanks so much again!
Susan
<To be honest with you, Susan, I can't in good conscious recommend another fish for your aquarium, regardless of outcome. Goldfish are simply that large and messy; many people won't consider keeping a singular one in less than 30 gallons -- myself included. If you absolutely must add another fish after such a situation occurred, the closer the size, the more likely for it to work long-term. -JustinN>

Red tailed sharks and Goldfish tog.
Dear Sir,
<<Hello, Lara. Tom with you.>>
I read your article about red-tailed sharks online. It was very interesting and informative!
<<Wish I could take credit for that one, Lara. Glad you liked it, though.>>
I used to have a red-tailed shark in a regular aquarium years ago.
<<A very nice fish, to be sure. A little tricky to get appropriate tank mates, however.>>
I was wondering if I could keep one in a tank with goldfish?
<<The problem here, Lara, is that it might work and it might not. Seems a bit noncommittal, I’m sure, but I’m from the “school” that doesn’t believe in mixing other species with Goldfish. The “safe” answer would be, “No”, but sometimes one can be too conservative. Red-Tails are territorial and can be a bit nasty with small fish. Goldfish don’t pose this problem, size-wise. Red-Tails aren’t “fin-nippers”, per se, though their behavior can leave you with this impression. You don’t mention what type of Goldfish you have (and, I assume you already have these) so I would advise the following. If you have a “fancy” variety of any sort, don’t go with the Shark. These Goldfish would be slow swimmers and, perhaps, the subjects of aggression from the Shark. If you have Commons or Comets, it might be worth a try. These will grow large and Red-Tailed Sharks do better, behavior-wise, with larger fish. A lot of this will depend greatly on the size of your tank, the number of fish in it, the water temperatures (should be mid-70’s F. if this is to be successful) and, ultimately, what you’re prepared to do if things “go South”.>>
I heard that goldfish need to be in aquariums full of goldfish only.
<<By and large, Goldfish have different requirements than other fish do. They’re adaptable to much colder temperatures than tropical fish are, for one. They require much larger tanks than the majority of hobbyists think they do. For example, I wouldn’t place a single Goldfish of any variety into a tank of less than 30 gallons. They’re “messy” and place a very sizeable bio-load on a tank which is a big reason for large quarters. Small tanks simply don’t provide enough “stability” where water conditions are concerned. Diet is another factor. Goldfish don’t process proteins well. A huge reason for problems like Swim Bladder Disorder and constipation. Red-Tailed Sharks, though scavengers by nature, are omnivorous where Goldfish are largely herbivorous. Something to keep in mind if you go through with your plan.>>
Thank you for answering!
Lara
<>

My swordtails have been harassing my goldfish! Well, the two aren't compatible species, in many senses... 1/10/07
I have a 15 gallon tank with two 2 inch long female fantails, three swordtails, and an albino Pleco.
<The Pleco will soon outgrow that tank, as it can reach over a foot in length! Perhaps more problematic is that swordtails are tropical fish and goldfish are cooler water fish...the two aren't compatible. You need to have two separate environments; one cool for the goldfish, and one warm for the tropicals. Do read here for basic info. on the two very different types of fish you've got:
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile27.html
http://www.geocities.com/shtinkythefish/qgold.htm >
I have a male swordtail which is about two inches long (underdeveloped tail included) and two females which barely make an inch and a half, and lately I've been noticing the swordtails will nip and sometimes chase my goldfish.
<This is yet another problem of housing the two species together...>
I read on the internet that swordtails and goldfish don't tend to generally mix well...
<Mostly because each has very different environmental requirements!>
...but I was wondering if this will maybe lead to a fatality on the goldfishes part.
<It could. And, depending upon what conditions this tank is kept at (pH, temp., etc.), the swords could also become fatalities. Bottom line: you need to research any fish purchase prior to buying it. Had you done so, you would have quickly seen these two types of fish do not belong together. Here's a very nice by Bob Fenner on setting up a proper goldfish tank - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm - and I highly recommend a book entitled "A Simple Guide to the Freshwater Aquarium" by David E. Boruchowitz for basic info. on all sorts of tropical fish, including swordtails. Also, do read here for livebearer species info: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/poeciliids.htm >
The nips have never (that I've seen) punctured through the scales and their tails are practically intact but I was wondering if this was maybe psychologically harmful to my goldfish, as silly as it sounds.
<It doesn't sound silly at all...in fact, constant harassment can lead to a compromised immune system, along with physiological damage, etc. You need to separate the goldfish from the swordtails for a variety of reasons, as cited above.
Best regards,
Jorie>

Glolight tetras not compatible with goldfish; need to read before keeping any fish 1/9/07
I am sorry about the last E-mail.
<Not sure what the problem/issue was, but let me try to help you with this one.>
I have 2 Glowlight Tetras in a tank with 2 small goldfish, it has no heater.
<That's not good. What's the temperature of that tank? The tetras you refer to are indeed tropical fish and require a steady tank temperature of 72-82 degrees F. Goldfish, in contrast, are a cooler water fish and thrive in conditions anywhere from 50 - 68 degrees F, again, provided that the temperature is kept stable.>
I was wondering if Glowlight Tetras normally live in coldwater.
<They do not. Keeping them in non-appropriate conditions will only weaken their immune systems, rendering them more susceptible to disease, thus shortening the lifespan...need to research and provide a proper environment for these, and all fish you are keeping. Do read here for some basic info. on the fish: http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile62.html
I moved them over because some of my tropical fish were eating them.
<I'm afraid to ask, but what were you housing them with? And, in how large of a tank? Please do your fish a favor and read up on the proper conditions and requirements of any and all livestock prior to purchasing...
Here's a great place to start: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsubwebindex.htm
Regards, Jorie>
Dylan

Re: Glowlight tetras not compatible with goldfish; need to read before keeping any fish- PART 2 1/10/07
Hi Jorri,
<Jorie...you're close!>
I was keeping the glowlights with silver sharks, they got massive and 2 clown loaches and 1 yoyo loach. The glowlights have been in the coldwater tank for about a year now and there going fine.
<OK, I'm glad to hear all is "fine"; I am now a bit confused about your original question, then, which asked "I was wondering if Glowlight Tetras normally live in coldwater...>. If everything's been going well for 1.5 yrs., why do you all of a sudden ask this question? In any case, as stated before, goldfish and Glowlight Tetras truly have very different requirements...
Regards, Jorie>

I'm a little curious. Fading goldfish color, comp. with Mollies 12/25/06
I have a beautiful fish tank filled with aquatic plants and gravel plus along with it is my wonderful fan tail, common goldfish, black moor, Oranda, and finally Ryukins. They all get along fine!! But my question is that one of my Oranda is very healthy but its red cap is starting to fade and turn to a yellowish color and I don't know what to do to help it!!!!
<Does happen to some goldfish... genetic, developmental... Good water quality, nutrition, are the roads to maintaining, retrieving color... if possible at all>
and my second question is that I really love balloon mollies and I did a research on them and found out that they are really peaceful fish just like the goldfish so I was wondering if pot belly mollies and other mollies can be in the same tank as the goldfish????
<Mmm, can... have similar likes in the way of water quality, agreeable temperaments... Though I still like the "looks" of all-goldfish set-ups. Bob Fenner>

Sad looking Oranda 10/24/06
Hi,
I recently bought this Oranda, along with a Lionhead. They are in a tank with 2 more goldfish, very small (4) black phantoms, catfish and one clown loach.
<An incompatible mix... the goldfish like cool, hard, alkaline water... are very "messy"...>
When I got them, the Oranda had a beautiful wen. Then I noticed about 2 days later, the wen looked like it was chewed on , pieces gone, the edges seemed white and billowy.
<Yes... the loach or catfish>
Called our local Aquarium, and they told us to add Maroxy to the tank.
<Typical Western ethic response... treating the symptom/s...>
I noticed the Lionhead seemed to be having same sort of problem. Then I saw the clown loach following the Lionhead and it seemed to be nipping on it, so I took the loach out of the tank. Well, this photo is about 5 days later, half water change, water quality is good, only thing is we had to raise temp up when we were treating the tank. It now has no wen and whatever this is it seems to be spreading. All other fish seem fine and the Oranda and Lionhead are all swimming good, eating well. Can you please help me with this problem. Thanks for any info.
<... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshcompfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Bala Sharks and Goldfish 10/16/06
<<Hi, Missy. Tom>>
I have a tricolor shark. And I used to have a goldfish in with it.
<<Not the best idea to mix tropical fish with Goldfish, Missy.>>
Well today when I walked past the tank I heard a loud sound like one of the fish jumped. When I looked over the goldfish was dead and part of his skin was off.
Do you think my tricolor shark did it?
<<Tri-colored (Bala) sharks are almost legendary for their non-aggressive behavior toward other species although, if kept in an aquarium that's too small - anything under 75-gallons is probably too small - their behavior might become questionable. These fish are "high-strung", for lack of a better way to put it. They actually do better in groups which really starts to force the required size of an aquarium upward, probably larger than most hobbyists would have room for or care to maintain. So, to answer your question, I'd say that it's possible that your shark was responsible for your Goldfish's demise.>>
I noticed a few times that the tricolor shark and goldfish were chasing each other. I was just wondering because my son wants another goldfish and I don't know if I should.
<<I wouldn't put another Goldfish in with the shark, Missy. Once again, if your aquarium isn't large, your shark may very likely injure itself by smashing into the sides and anything else in the tank. And for what it's worth, no Goldfish should be kept in a tank smaller than 20 gallons and, preferably, 30 gallons or bigger.>>
Thank you
Missy
<<You're welcome and good luck. Tom>>

Goldfish and Suckerfish 8/7/06
Hi!
<<Hey, there. Tom this afternoon.>>
I currently have 3 small goldfish, and lately there has been some algae growth. Is this due to the cycle of the tank, because it has recently matured?
<<One of the signs of a cycled tank is algae growth so I would say this is more than likely the case.>>
I was wondering if there was any types of algae-cleaners that I could buy to put in my tank. I have read that the common Pleco will suck on the goldfish. Are there any other types of suckerfish that would get along with goldfish?
<<Your information on the Common Plecostomus is correct. Unfortunately, there aren't any of the so-called Algae Eaters that will do well in a Goldfish tank. Very few fish will, which is why it's recommended that Goldfish stay segregated with their own kind. What you might look into, provided it's aesthetically pleasing to you, is the Olive Nerite snail (Neritina reclivata). I'm not a "snail guy" myself but these critters are used by many aquarists to control algae (something they do very, very well by all accounts).>>
Thanks!
<<You're welcome. Tom>> <http://yatfs.com/new_page_11.htm>

Black Moors Killing Other Fish... Can happen 8/3/06
<<Tom>>
I have had black moors in the past, and have had no problems with them. But a couple of weeks ago I got a new one and it has now killed 2 of my other fish by chewing on them until they can't survive anymore. What do you suggest I do?
<<You've got a rogue on your hands so you can keep it in a tank by itself or get rid of it. You're not going to "rehabilitate" a non-predator species that kills simply because it can and/or wants to. Sorry. Tom>>

Sick black moor... eaten by a CAE, poisoned with "medicines"... 8/2/06
We have a black moor and an orange and white fan-tail. They were both doing fine then one morning we looked and they had ick.
<What might have "brought this on?">
I have treated them for the ick
<With?>
and the gold and white fan-tail seems to be doing ok. He was gasping at the top of the tank some and scratching against the thermometer, but that stopped,
<Could be the protozoan, the medication, both, neither...>
from what I can tell, after doing water treatments and adjusting the ph.
<How?>
Unfortunately, the black moor, after the ick treatment got this white film all over.
<Poisoning... likely the treatment>
This was yesterday, today his pretty little fan-tail is about gone, and he is no longer all black, most of him is silver. We have a algae eater
<Not compatible. Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshcompfaqs.htm>
and he was chasing the black moor yesterday trying to clean him.
<No. Eating the goldfish... needs to be separated. Immediately>
Today, not only is he without a tail and mostly silver he is staying on the bottom of the tank on his side, and really doesn't want to eat.
<... would you? Poisoned, placed with a fish that is riding you, sucking off your body mucus, means for maintaining ionic/osmotic integrity...>
He gets lodged under plants sometimes, and when we remove the plant he floats to the top only to turn around and sink again to where he is laying on his side. I have treated for ick as I said
<Again, how? Realize that you are not relating facts, but opinions...>
and followed with the fungus treatment
<Of what make-up?>
like I was told to do and he seemed to be getting better, until last night. Is it possible that the algae eater has done something to make him worse
<Ah, yes>
or is there something else going on that I don't know? Please help, my children are very upset that their fish is sick.
JULIE COOPER
GEORGIA
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the linked files above. And do remove the CAE... Bob Fenner>

Platy Aggression Help: Not covered. Goldfish incomp. 7/29/06
Hello!
I have a question that I couldn't find answered on this page:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/platybehfaqs.htm --and if it's else where, I feel out of luck, I haven't been able to find anything at all about this (Maybe I'm using the wrong search words? *laughs*) I would greatly appreciate some input. (In other words, I would really, really, really love help) Forgive me if I over explain below, I figured more info might help obtain a better answer...
<Hotay>
I have 2 female platies, and 2 males. They don't fight with each other- luckily; 1 male sticks with 1 female. This is my first time having platies, I realize now the ratio is messed up, (thanks for that go to the store that sold them to me) but that's not the problem. The 4 of them really are fine with each other, hardly any chasing, the males just always tag along with their chosen girl, and in a month I had already seen fry- The problem is that the females, and the females alone, have recently started aggressively harassing my very fat bellied, round, fancy goldfish.
<... these fishes shouldn't be mixed together>
I'm, sadly, unsure of the type but, they're very slow moving and I have 2 in the tank. I doubt it matters much, but one of them is fully white and the other one is orange and white- these goldfish are about 3 times the size of the platies (and growing) and don't bother any of the other fish (I've always had great luck keeping gold fish with other community tropicals.
<Please read here re: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshcompfaqs.htm>
They always just seem like the silly stupid dogs of the group, happily looking for food in the gravel)
The only problem I've ever had with fish, besides the occasional human error accident, is that I've never had much luck keeping guppies alive for more than a few months, I think my water has always been too soft or something. I digress: Why on earth are my female platies being "evil"?
<Hard to say, state... want the goldfish to move out of the way? It's too tasty to resist?>
They're really plowing into my goldfish- even from the other side of the tank. They don't let up, even when my goldfish are on their fastest slow little run. This isn't just a, "Move out of my way! I want that algae tablet," kind of thing.
(Because the girls do that too, but I don't blame 'em there.) I know most people don't keep goldfish with other fish- so this might be a hard one for me to find good advice on.
The tank I have now is a 20 gallon long, it has a UVB florescent reptile light that the plants love,
<Neat>
moderately filled with leafy and fluffy live plants, it has these plastic mangrove roots that offer large hiding areas under them, pea sized gravel, some larger rocks, massive amounts of circulation/filtration (under gravel filter, a very small bubble screen, a Fluval 1, and a out of tank turtle filter that uses several levels of carbon and other filtration- the fish and plants seem to love it all) The ammonia is always at 0ppm, the Ph is normally around 6.4 (it fluxed some in the beginning, but always between 6.4 and 7.2), no nitrites or nitrates. I just
added some coral and sea salt today that took the ph up to 7 (where I think I wanted it.) It's soft water and the temp in the house is 78 (hot here) with no heating in the tank (don't know the tank temp. is, hoping you have some magical mathematical way of figuring this out if it might matter.) But it feels sort of cool, nice, to the touch. It has the 2 goldfish, 3 ghost catfish (glass fish? also new to me), 1 Cory cat, 2 danio's, 5 neon's, 4 platies, and 1 guppy that's been 1/2 dead for a month- (the others got tail rot, or something, from the store I think -which is lovely- but this one survived it.) This is a newer tank, I've only had it set up for 2-3 months, but everything has been peachy -Until- I went out of town for a week, my boyfriend fed the fish a lot more than I do (but the ammonia stayed at 0 is seems) and I can't figure out anything else that would have changed. They get flake food, about 2 pinches a day, and algae tablets here and there (for the Cory, the others just get to it before him usually)- I make sure I see everyone eat but I don't believe they are over or under fed. The more gravid one is much more aggressive than the less gravid one, but they both still bite and chase often. This did not happen when one was very gravid before.
Everything was fine, it had babies, then got pregnant again. (and yes, I'm 100% on which are girls and which are boys ;) The platies are now in a temp. cage. I don't want to put them back in with the others yet, I want to try to understand what's going on before I decide on doing anything else. I've always had tanks with goldfish, danios, neon tetras, angelfish (weirdly enough, they got along) Cory cats, and even sometimes guppies in them -all together, & in tanks some might consider crowded- (I had that whole list in just a 10 gallon when I was growing up- they all live forever too -the two angel fish even bred. It had those 2 angels, 5 Neons, 2 goldfish, 2 danios, 5 guppies, and 1 Cory- *laughs*) I don't consider this new tank crowded by my previous standards. They seem to have plenty of room and even their own areas if they've wanted to claim one. They're just the kind of fish I like and it's seem to have worked well enough for me before. But, like I said- this is my first time with platies, and my first community problem. -Just wanted to give an idea of my background with fish. Very few of mine, except guppies, and even ones bought sickly, ever die on me- even after years and years. (it's always their new caretakers when I have to move, *chuckles*)
Thanks again, especially for your time.
~Monica
<The goldfish really has to be moved into other quarters... Platies like about the same water chemistry, but can tolerate much warmer water longer... goldfish are "dirty" to a large degree... Not compatible with tropicals. Bob Fenner>

CAE help 7/27/06
Hello,
<<Hi, Caitlan. Tom>>
I recently purchased a Chinese algae eater as the pet shop people told me that they live well with goldfish.
<<I'd take that with a very big grain of salt.>>
I have 4 very hungry fantails. As opposed to the usual case, my fantails are ATTACKING the CAE? Is this normal?
<<If you expected the situation to be reversed, give the CAE some time to mature and it may very well be the case. I don't have any specific knowledge of the CAE's behavior with Goldfish but I do know that they become territorial, aggressive and, potentially, killers as adults around other types of fish. One of their particularly distasteful habits as adults is to attach themselves to slower moving fish and feed on the skin of the hapless victim. These creatures shouldn't even be sold to hobbyists, in my opinion.>>
I was hoping you could give me some advice as to what's an appropriate step to take in this case?
<<In your case, Caitlan, I'd take the animal back to the pet shop and get your money back. This fish won't "change its spots" and will turn out as Mother Nature decreed. I certainly wouldn't put your Goldfish in jeopardy - odd as that sounds from what you've described - over this fish. Personally, I'd think hard about accepting the recommendations from the folks at this pet shop, as well. A shop that stocks a fish with the reputation that this one has may not be the best place to do business.>>
Thanks for your help!
<<Don't know that I'd call it "help" in this case, Caitlan, but I don't think you'd get a different opinion from any of my fellow Crew members on this one.>>
With regards,
Caitlan

Otocinclus and Comet DON'T MIX! EMERGENCY 07/21/06
Hi, love your website, thanks for it, but I have a huge problem!!
<<Hi, back. You're welcome. Let's see what we can do. (Tom here, by the way.)>>
I woke up today to find my Comet munching on my Otocinclus! Actually, what I mean by that is that the Oto was lodged in his mouth with about 25% of it sticking out. He doesn't appear to be choking because he is still breathing.
<>
I got two new Oto's a couple days ago and since then they've both been lethargic with clamped fins, each was tiny, 1 inched guys and my Comet (Harry, don't ask) is about 4 inches long excluding his tail. He's always been greedy and
I think what happened is the Oto died and the Comet finally could catch him and did.
<<Not unusual for Goldfish to do this. They tend to be "opportunistic" feeders and your Oto gave Harry the chance he was waiting for...unfortunately.>>
No search engines helped me at all!
<<In fairness, it's not the typical inquiry.>>
At this point, Harry is moving slowly and keeps sucking or blowing his mouth, I can't tell which. This is a major problem and one way or another might solve itself before you answer back, but right now my main concern is lack of ability to eat or transfer air in the swim bladder, and of course lodging it in more and choking!
<<As long as he's moving water over his gills, he's not "choking". He may not be very comfortable but he won't suffocate.>>
Just in case he lives and for future references please help! I tried using metal tongs and I grabbed the protruding tail but I couldn't get it out, I'm sort of nervous of pulling too hard. How do I dislodge it, or can he digest the head soon enough and eventually pass it through?? (I seriously doubt it though.)
<<I seriously doubt it, too. Goldfish are primarily "vegetarians". Their systems aren't developed for dining on other fish. Likely the dorsal rays are getting caught in Harry's mouth as you try to pull the demised Oto out. You might try twisting the Oto one way, or another, to get the rays to "release".>>
And should I remove my other Otocinclus and my (very lively and quick) Algae eater?
<<First, if by "Algae Eater", you're referring to a common Plecostomus, I wouldn't worry about this. Harry isn't likely to be interested in a "lively and quick" tankmate. My concern here, without getting on a soapbox, is that many Otos are "captured" in the wild by the use of cyanide. I have no direct knowledge of these fish being bred in farms, though it's entirely possible that they are. In any event, the fact that both of yours showed signs of lethargy and clamped fins indicates, to me, that it's possible that they were taken with cyanide, a chemical that will, unfortunately, stay in their systems. Otos, regretfully, show an inordinate amount of "infant mortality", meaning that they often die within hours, or days, of being introduced into the tank. Fish that feed on the dead fish are going to be ingesting cyanide if the deceased fish contain this in their bodies. My recommendation is to get the Oto out of Harry's mouth regardless of what it takes and remove the other Oto from the tank. Easier said than done, I know, but you must do this.>>
Thank you for your time, and sorry my email is so long. This is my first major goldfish problem and I'm very anxious.
<<Not to worry. You're more than welcome and I completely understand. Tom>>

FW community tank... goldfish comp. 7/20/06
hello
could someone tell me if fantails or red caps eat other fish like tetras or guppies.
<Yes... someone could>
I seen to be missing several fish. I have a 29 gallon tank.
Should I move my goldfish to the outside pond on my porch.?????
Who is doing the cannibalism???
<Mmm, goldfish and tropicals are best kept separately... for a few good reasons (stated on WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshcompfaqs.htm
Don't generally pursue, eat small/er tankmates though, but may inadvertently "suck them in" while eating if they're very small... Bob Fenner>
<Oh, and do you have a Chinese Algae Eater? This is my number one guess: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/algaeeatersart.htm
Read here and the linked files at top. RMF>

Butterfly aka hillstream loaches 6/28/06
Dear Crew,
I've just found your site and love it! After doing lots of research online for my fish it's so nice to have so much information in one place.
<Ah, yes>
I do have some questions about the hillstream loaches since I can't seem to find much information anywhere on them. I have a 30 gallon tank with 2 very small fancy goldfish (1 black moor, Narvey, about two inches with its tail, (are you supposed to measure with or without the tail?),
<For science, w/o, for petfish, w/ most of the time>
and 1 calico telescope, Penelope, fantail about 1.5"). Sex unknown on both. They both seem to be healthy and happy. I'm considering either getting a small school of white cloud (5 or 6) or one more goldfish (I'd love to find a fantail panda). I have a bio-filter for a 20-40 gallon and a bubble curtain (mostly for aesthetic value). To get to the point what I want to know is are hillstream loaches compatible with goldfish, from what I've read they are temperature wise, but I've heard them compared to Plecos since they eat algae and kind of look like them, and since I've heard Plecos and other algae eaters are iffy I'm not sure if I want to add one to the tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Cynthia


Goldfish and swordtail compatibility? 6/20/06
Hi again Jorie
<Lise>
Sorry for bothering you a lot.
<It's OK - I'm here to help.>
My girlfriend's grandmother has gold fish and I asked her she wanted sword tails after they got big she ask if swordtails go with gold fish but I didn't know so I told her I'd ask the girl that helps with my fish.
<These two fish are not compatible - goldfish are cold water fish, whereas swordtails are tropical species.
I would strongly suggest that you do some more reading at this point, as many of your questions are very basic and fundamental. I don't recall if I suggested it to you already, but if not, I would highly recommend you either purchase or check out from your local library David E. Boruchowitz's Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793821010/sr=8-1/qid=1150753336/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4720261-3501636?%5Fencoding=UTF8) This book discusses the nitrogen cycle in a very easy way to understand, as well as different species of fish and which are compatible with which others. The only qualm I have about suggesting this book is the author tends to advocate overstocking tanks, in my opinion. Aside from that, the book is an invaluable resource.
I don't at all mind answering questions, but you must also take the initiative to research the basics on your own. Good luck, Jorie>

Black Moor Questions ... incomp. 6/14/06
Howdy. I have looked through your site and haven't found exactly my question, so here goes. I have a black moor (Lowly) who has been rubbing against my in-tank thermometer, and I've noticed he's also lost a few scales. He doesn't rub against things all the time, but often enough that I've checked him over a few times in the last week to see if there are any visual changes. There are no spots, no bugs, no lumps, nothing that would indicate the need for scratching. (in my opinion). He's only lost 2 or 3 scales on each side, and they seem to be roughly the sam