Adding new fish

[Cate Colgate]

Hi! I have a 10 gal. tank with 4 goldfish. They've been together now
for about 2 years (all from the same pet store purchase). I'm
thinking about transfering them to a larger tank (20 gal?) and adding
a few more fish (possibly mollies or guppies or something like that).
Will my goldfish crew be able to handle being around new smaller fish,
or do you think they may harm the smaller fish because they aren't
used to being around other fish?

Thanks in advance,
Cate

[Mel]

Hi Cate,
First of all it is recommended that goldfish have at least 10 gallons each
in order to be happy and healthy so I really wouldn't advise getting any
more fish for the 20 gallon.
Secondly, mollies actually need brackish water to be happy so are
incompatible with goldfish, and guppies are tropical fish so they too are
incompatible.
Mel.


"Cate Colgate" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi! I have a 10 gal. tank with 4 goldfish. They've been together now
> for about 2 years (all from the same pet store purchase). I'm
> thinking about transfering them to a larger tank (20 gal?) and adding
> a few more fish (possibly mollies or guppies or something like that).
> Will my goldfish crew be able to handle being around new smaller fish,
> or do you think they may harm the smaller fish because they aren't
> used to being around other fish?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Cate

[Donald Kerns]

Cate Colgate wrote:

> I'm
> thinking about transferring them to a larger tank (20 gal?) and adding
> a few more fish (possibly mollies or guppies or something like that).
> Will my goldfish crew be able to handle being around new smaller fish,
> or do you think they may harm the smaller fish because they aren't
> used to being around other fish?

Good move getting more tank space for the goldies, they'll appreciate it
and your work load may go down a bit. (Besides 20 gallons is a good
minimum size for long term temperature stability, but I digress.)

Bad move adding new fish of any kind directly to the tank. They will
very likely bring in new cooties that will make your existing fish
sick. (or your existing fish may have cooties that will make the new
fish sick...)

IF you were to have enough room and IF you were adding more goldies, you
would want to quarantine the new fish by themselves for 3 or 4 weeks to
make sure they don't have any obvious cooties.

Mollys like saltier water than goldfish do. If guppies can fit in the
goldfish mouths, they will. In general mixing goldies and other fish is
not really advised...

-D
--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law

[T]

From time to time I fed my gf guppies.. Seemed to quite enjoy the snack.
Mollies are brackish water which the gf would not enjoy.. The more room the
better.. Maybe look at even a larger tank if you can afford to.. Think about
filtration to.. Over filtration would help a lot...

Tim..


"Donald Kerns" > wrote in message
...
> Cate Colgate wrote:
>
> > I'm
> > thinking about transferring them to a larger tank (20 gal?) and adding
> > a few more fish (possibly mollies or guppies or something like that).
> > Will my goldfish crew be able to handle being around new smaller fish,
> > or do you think they may harm the smaller fish because they aren't
> > used to being around other fish?
>
> Good move getting more tank space for the goldies, they'll appreciate it
> and your work load may go down a bit. (Besides 20 gallons is a good
> minimum size for long term temperature stability, but I digress.)
>
> Bad move adding new fish of any kind directly to the tank. They will
> very likely bring in new cooties that will make your existing fish
> sick. (or your existing fish may have cooties that will make the new
> fish sick...)
>
> IF you were to have enough room and IF you were adding more goldies, you
> would want to quarantine the new fish by themselves for 3 or 4 weeks to
> make sure they don't have any obvious cooties.
>
> Mollys like saltier water than goldfish do. If guppies can fit in the
> goldfish mouths, they will. In general mixing goldies and other fish is
> not really advised...
>
> -D
> --
> "Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
> that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
> proof." -Galbraith's Law

[Cate Colgate]

"Mel" > wrote in message >...
> Hi Cate,
> First of all it is recommended that goldfish have at least 10 gallons each
> in order to be happy and healthy so I really wouldn't advise getting any
> more fish for the 20 gallon.

Yes, it appears that you were proven right given my recent SOS post
about my sick fish!

> Secondly, mollies actually need brackish water to be happy so are
> incompatible with goldfish, and guppies are tropical fish so they too are
> incompatible.

Good to know. Thanks!

Cate

[Cate Colgate]

Donald Kerns > wrote in message >...
> Cate Colgate wrote:
>
> > I'm
> > thinking about transferring them to a larger tank (20 gal?) and adding
> > a few more fish (possibly mollies or guppies or something like that).
> > Will my goldfish crew be able to handle being around new smaller fish,
> > or do you think they may harm the smaller fish because they aren't
> > used to being around other fish?
>
> Good move getting more tank space for the goldies, they'll appreciate it
> and your work load may go down a bit. (Besides 20 gallons is a good
> minimum size for long term temperature stability, but I digress.)
>
> Bad move adding new fish of any kind directly to the tank. They will
> very likely bring in new cooties that will make your existing fish
> sick. (or your existing fish may have cooties that will make the new
> fish sick...)
>
> IF you were to have enough room and IF you were adding more goldies, you
> would want to quarantine the new fish by themselves for 3 or 4 weeks to
> make sure they don't have any obvious cooties.
>
> Mollys like saltier water than goldfish do. If guppies can fit in the
> goldfish mouths, they will. In general mixing goldies and other fish is
> not really advised...
>
> -D


Thank you for your advice, Donald. I appreciate it!

Cate

[Cate Colgate]

"T" > wrote in message et>...
> From time to time I fed my gf guppies.. Seemed to quite enjoy the snack.

I'm a bit too soft hearted to feed them anything live, especially
since I got the gf from the "feeder fish" tank.

> Mollies are brackish water which the gf would not enjoy.. The more room the
> better.. Maybe look at even a larger tank if you can afford to.. Think about
> filtration to.. Over filtration would help a lot...

Thanks!

Cate