Wanna have some fun?

[Vee]

I set up my 55 gal for dwarf cichlids. It's full of rocks and caves. It has been cycled for over a month now while I waited to have the money for a bunch of fish. At almost $10 each I'm looking at a $300 investment.

Anyhow....I was looking at the LFS the other day and saw that I could buy 60 feeder goldfish for the price of ONE dwarf cichlid.

So I did.:c2:

(see pic 1)

I put them in the tank and it was very cool to watch them adapt over the first hour. At first they simply huddled together, a golden ball in one small corner of the tank....just as they had at the fish store when they shared a tank with thousands of others. Then they slowly began to disperse....first one, then another began to explore around the tank. Within an hour, the tank was an active environment with a happy and lively population.

Then......I moved the one cichlid that I have from another tank into this one. The ensuing conflict was better than any television program.

It was less than five minutes before he had chosen the largest cave available for his own and began to aggressively drive the goldfish out. In another five minutes, there was a safety bubble around the entrance to his cave where most goldfish wouldn't stray. (see pic 2) Very cool.

Then, a while later, Mr Pete decided it was time to show him who was REALLY the boss and he snuck out of the far back reaches of said cave. (see pic 3)

Even a mean ol cichlid will run from an 8 inch Pleco!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

You do realize that those "feeder" fish are simply Comet Goldfish that will get huge? That tank is now seriously overstocked. 60 Comet Goldfish would be great for something like a 2000gal pond.

[Lady Hobbs]

Interesting. I hope you keep the cycle going while you waited on getting these goldfish or you'll have an ammonia spike. The tank looks nice.

[Vee]

You do realize that those "feeder" fish are simply Comet Goldfish that will get huge? That tank is now seriously overstocked. 60 Comet Goldfish would be great for something like a 2000gal pond.

I do.

They are simply there to keep me happy and occupied for a few weeks while I save money and to make sure the tank isn't going to kill my expensive cichlids.

They will be transferred to my friends tank for "feeders" before long.

[Vee]

Interesting. I hope you keep the cycle going while you waited on getting these goldfish or you'll have an ammonia spike. The tank looks nice.

I did.

And I'm closely monitoring it currently.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Ok. Just wanted to make sure. At first it sounded like it was a permanent setup. :) I do love the rock work, it looks great.

[Lady Hobbs]

That's good. Perhaps they might like to live in someones pond? Time to start digging? LOL

[Tolley]

heh that would have bene intresting to watch! Oh yeah and they match the tank stand and wall!

[Vee]

Ok. Just wanted to make sure. At first it sounded like it was a permanent setup. :) I do love the rock work, it looks great.

Gosh no, I've been working on a cichlid setup for over 2 1/2 months!



That's good. Perhaps they might like to live in someones pond? Time to start digging? LOL


No digging for me, thank you. I do have a friend with a pond, but he has to move the goldfish inside in the winter and he only has room for 4 -5 not 50+.

Big oscars and piranhas have to eat too you know.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Why does your friend move the Goldfish inside during the winter? It's really not necessary. I know people who live in Nova Scotia, Canada who have ponds and their fish do just fine over the winter. The key is simply not to feed them once the water temperature drops below 50 or 55.

[smaug]

Sounds damn cruel to me!Fun at the expense of another living creature is not my idea of the way to experiance the hobby of fishkeeping.

[Vee]

Why does your friend move the Goldfish inside during the winter? It's really not necessary. I know people who live in Nova Scotia, Canada who have ponds and their fish do just fine over the winter. The key is simply not to feed them once the water temperature drops below 50 or 55.


Cherry? Yes.

Orange? Yes.

Grape? Well okay, maybe not grape so much.

But fish flavored popsicles? No way, Jose.

[Vee]

Sounds damn cruel to me!Fun at the expense of another living creature is not my idea of the way to experiance the hobby of fishkeeping.


Lemme see.....one fish establishing and defending his territory from other fish....sounds like nature to me.

But then, you're right, nature is pretty cruel. I guess I should buy a seperate tank for each fish, eh?

[smaug]

Lemme see.....one fish establishing and defending his territory from other fish....sounds like nature to me.

But then, you're right, nature is pretty cruel. I guess I should buy a separate tank for each fish, eh?
great response!Where in the world do goldfish and cichlids share the same piece of water?Separate tank for each one?Fantastic idea,better yet,and almost as practical,turn back time and avoid such a decision in the first place:14:

[Vee]

Sorry, Smaug. Since I'm the only person in the world who has an aquarium with mixed fish species that don't actually occur in nature, I'll just go turn myself in to the aquatic police.

Maybe they'll get some fish counselors to help them with their emotional trauma.

In the meantime, why don't you start a committee at your local school district? I'm sure that there are kids playing tag on the playground somewhere....how terrible that all the others are having fun at the expense of the kid who has to be "it"? Wait, no.....ban dodgeball because someone might get hurt by that bully throwing a red rubber ball.

People with unrealistic expectations of the world are why I stick with my own kind.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

But fish flavored popsicles? No way, Jose.They don't freeze. The water doesn't freeze all the way to the bottom. Taking them inside is just not necessary. They do great during the winter. In fact, the warm up that happens in the spring often induces spawning, it's a natural occurance. Goldfish have a built in mechanism that allows them to do well, they slow down their metabolism drastically.

[Tigerbarb]

Yup, overstocked it is. Very nice tank though. Glad to see it with fish in it.

[Halelorf]

Why all the attitude and hostility? Take it easy, it's a fish forum. There is no need to be a jerk just because someone doesn't agree with your opinion or advice.

[invadertoast]

Why the attitude? It sounds a little irrisponsible to impulse buy a bunch of fish that you don't intend to keep, even if they're going to be fed off anyhow. Mixing species that would never share water in the wild is common, but the key is mixing compatible species. Why stress the goldfish and your cichlid if you don't have to?

On another note, your tank looks pretty awesome - nice job!

[Vee]

Why the attitude?

Gosh....probably because I'm....lemme see....cruel, irresponsible (that's how it's spelled by the way) and a jerk.

Thanks for all the help over the last few months. It's been fun. But now I have some small animals in my basement to go light on fire.:19:

[invadertoast]

Thanks, but I know how to spell. Sorry for not proof-reading every single response I make :rolleyes:

Seriously though - good luck with your setup, it really looks great and is gonna make an awsome cichlid tank!

[OscarFan]

My Oscar would have some fun in that tank. LOL. Those fish do get real pretty to when they grow..... I often do that to my ten gallon tank and they are cool to have until my Oscar eats them.