3 replies to this topic

[TurboHamster]

Hi everyone!

 

I've already posted this on Fishlore, (no one responded    ) just want more opinions! 

So, the situation is my neighbor across the street is offering her 52ish gallon aquarium (4 feet long, 21 inches high, 1 foot wide) to me. It has one black moor goldfish in it, she wants me to take it with the tank as well. It has a hang on the back filter, couldn't see a heater but there might have been one. There's also an air stone in there I believe? I wasn't able to look at it too closely.

She says that since she put volcano rocks inside, she hasn't needed to "change out the water", as she said, which probably means the poor goldfish is living in filthy conditions with no water changes, although I admit the tank looked pretty clean.

When she went to our house to look at our tanks, she pointed at my 10 gallon and said she used to have more goldfish in a tank smaller than the 10 gallon, but they all turned black because of the ammonia buildup in the tank. The black moor in the 52 gallon is the only surviving one.

So, my situation is:

I have 3 fish tanks. A three gallon betta tank, a ten gallon tank with 3 male guppies, a 20 gallon long with 6 harlequin rasboras and a female guppy (she was unknowingly given to me when I bought the rasboras at Petsmart, she was a little fry so they didn't know that they gave us a hitchhiker guppy fry)

My mom (Let's just say I'm between ages 10 and 16) says that she won't allow me to have four fish tanks, also she is very much agreeing to this new fish tank. So, that means that I have to get rid of/give away one of my tanks. Here's my plan.

I move my betta to the 10 gallon guppy tank. The guppies go to 20 gallon, I get them 3 more guppy friends because of the extra space. The harlequins and female guppy go to the 50 gallon with the black moor goldfish. The three gallon is now empty, I give it away to a friend (she's very excited to get this tank, she thinks it's "cute", she's had fish before)

My only concern is, will the harlequin rasboras be happy with the black moor? I know goldfish prefer cooler temperatures than rasboras do. Also, will the black moor goldfish eat them? He's not one of those tiny feeder goldfish, but not HUGE either. If they aren't compatible, what should I do with this extra tank and still get rid of the three gallon?!

Another thing I'd like to ask is if the harlequins will be okay with the goldfish, do you think I should add more harlequins, or maybe add a different type of fish just to give the tank more stock? (it's 50 gallons, the goldfish will take up 20 gallons, the harlequins about 15, so there is still 17 gallons worth of stocking available)

And lastly, do you think my plans (moving the fish to the different tanks) will be okay? Do you think I should move different fish to different tanks?

Thank you!!

 

Edited by TurboHamster, 15 April 2021 - 04:15 AM.

[Robin~]

I definitely wouldn’t put harlequins with goldfish—like you said, their temp requirements are very different. Harlequins are tropical and require ~80F, while goldfish prefer 60-70F. Honestly, I’d recommend only keeping the goldfish with other goldfish (speaking of which, I’d definitely get the goldfish a buddy—they’re very social fish and need at least a friend or two).

As for the other fish, this is tough if you can only keep three tanks. Ideally a second 20g would be nice, but if that’s 100% not possible I’d stock the male guppies with the harlequins and cull the female guppy (I know, kind of harsh, but guppies really need companionship and you wouldn’t be able to provide it without having two separate tanks). Then the betta would live in the 10g—honestly I’m not a fan of housing anything other than bettas and 1” schooling fish in 10gs.

[3 little hams]

I am not an expert on fish but I do keep some but you could divide the 52 gallon tank up into parts for each on the fish I am not sure if that would work but just an idea!(obviously the goldfish will need enough room for another buddie if you did do it) Also I would wait at least a week for responses on fish lore because it takes much longer for them to respond on that forum. 

[ChinchillaDude]

I think the black Moor should stay in the 50+ gallon tank. Add 1-2 fancy goldfish friends. I have only kept goldfish with dojo loaches and nerite snails. I wouldn’t add rasboras because the temperature difference. Also a small suggestion maybe remove the lava rocks if too sharp can scrape a goldfish’s fins.

Between the 10 gal and 20.. I’m going to wager the male beta although not viewed by many as community fish I have had them with various schooling fish among the top 2 for me were harlequin rasboras and glass catfish. And ottos if they count as schoolers.

10... betta albeit 1 lucky bettas as I think they do well in < 5 gallons.
20... guppy trio and the Harlys?