Urgent fish help please!

[GoneFishing99]

I just found these in the street, in a jar. Have brought them home and put in the tank inside the jar to acclimatise(??)

Advice on immediate next steps please? Will buy a bigger tank urgently but just want them to survive this part.

Go to pets at home and ask. They are open.

A pump for starters. The water needs to be oxygenated.

They look like fantails. Fresh water fish that should be fine short term in the tank. You might need to keep an eye on nitrate levels and other bits (been years since I owned fish) but until then, they're hardy pond fish.

You only need to leave them to acclimatise for a short while, an hour tops as it's only a small jar.

Put a bit of tank water in the jar (might need to take a bit out first) then add them to the tank.

Thank you so much! This is calming me down thinking they won't immediately drop dead maybe.

Have googled fantails thank you! Is the bulging eyes one also that sort? Google suggests it might have something wrong with it?

The levels might spike dangerously in the water if youve just chucked it in with the chemicals quickly. Poor little sod. Weve just set one of our tanks back up for fish, its been running about 2 weeks and still not ready. He cant stay in the jar though so its one or the other. Hope he does okay!

Poor fish.

Are there any specialist aquatic pet stores near you? If you don't really want to keep them, my first thought would be whether I could just give them to them, and they'd know how to look after them and possibly sell them, which I'd be fine with. They might also have information if there's a problem with fish abandonment in your area and know if there's something that can be done.

Or else they'll probably be able to sell you appropriate tank, filter, food etc if you do want to keep them.

But this was quite unexpected OP, as I'm sure it was for you.

I was expecting one of the 'the use by date on the fish in my fridge is tomorrow, but I always err on the side of caution, AIBU to throw it away' type threads that's a little overprevalent on here.

I haven't put any chemicals in yet as don't have any, or food, friend is kindly going to lend me some (she's a beginner so not sure on best course of action either), should I keep them in tiny jar for now till I get chemicals, so I can let the chemicals settle? They look so squashed though

@BarbaraofSeville I want to keep them, I actually did already want fish, wasn't thinking it'd be such a surprise though.

Here’s the funny eyes one, is that a problem or just the type of fish?

Thanks so much for your help everyone!

You will need a big tank for them, they look like they're a fair size!
You can get something called safe start which will make the water safe for fish to go in straight away.
I would definitely be contacting your local aquatic shop for advice (not Pets at Home, they're shit!)
Good luck and keep us updated!

Also I think Mr Bigeyes could be a celestial eyed golfish, but i'm not an expert!
We're just in the process of setting up our own tank ready for some fish for our 5 year old and she saw one of these in the book we ordered and thought it was hilarious!

Could be a Telescope eye fancy goldfish, rather than diseased. Hard to tell as they do look very prominent. I would find a fish keepers forum or facebook page to ask on.

if your on Facebook look up a page called tropical fish keeping UK. I would also advise against going to pets at home if you can help it, their advice is awful! Try and find an independent fish store local. I don't have any experience with goldfish as I keep tropical but Assuming the water in the jar came from their original tank you might get away with pouring it into the tank with the fish for now until you can get some dechlorinator. Be warned, it's a massive learning curve this hobby lol 😆

Oxygen and a product to make the tap water safe are urgently required - not sure about the water temperature (my fish live in a pond). A reputable pet shop will advise and sell you the necessary bits. Thank you for rescuing them.

They are called telescope goldfish.
Quite hardy, don’t need a heater as they can live outside.
You will need to aerate the tank eventually.

Kind neighbour brought me some food which they went mad for. Kind friend bringing me some chemicals in a min. Oxygen I am working on. How long do I have to sort that do you think?

Ye dont just dump them in tap water, hopefully theyre in some for of tank water at the moment. Id call or go to a local aquatics shop, they sell already done water sometimes

Hi OP.

The funny eyed one is a telescope goldfish and the other a fantail.

They don’t need a heater and short term they don’t need a filter either.

The priority is adding a chemical called dechlorinator to the water.
I use the one by API called API tap water conditioner.

Because you haven’t got a filter yet and because the tank is small you need to change around 70% of the water daily otherwise the ammonia from their urine will build up to life threatening levels quickly - make sure you add your dechlorinator to the new water!

Long term, they need a filter and a bigger tank.

All fish benefit from lots of live plants - duckweed is a really good one for goldfish as they eat it and it’s extremely nutritious for them.
Hornwort, elodea and Anubias and java fern are good plant choices

Keep an eye out for signs of low oxygen - lethargy and gasping at the surface.
If you see that you need an air pump, air line and air stone or bubble wall to oxygenate the water.

Fancy goldfish (like telescope and fantail) are very prone to swallowing air and their swim bladders malfunctioning.
Feeding lots of plants - duckweed, boiled and skinned peas, blanched cucumber etc and soaking pellets before feeding so they sink will prevent this.

Also, it is not advisable to put fancy goldfish outside.
They are better suited to indoor aquariums

Also re oxygen.
Cold water holds more oxygen than warm.
Goldfish are coldwater fish but a lot of people do heat the water slightly for fancies.

In an emergency you can add oxygen by scooping out a cup of the water and pouring it back in from a height

Buy some flourish prime. It's a water conditioner and also stops the harmful effects of ammonia and nitrites.

For those fish you'd need a 140l tank minimum plus a filter (goldfish are known to produce a lot of waste)

The Facebook group mentioned above is great and will talk you through what you need to do. (look up fish in cycle for more info)

One more thing...
I notice the new tank has gravel.
It is much safer for goldfish to have either no substrate or sand.
Gravel is a choking hazard as they like to sift through the bottom.
Remove the gravel.

Thank you so much! They have chemicals now including the anti poo ones. Will take the gravel out. And I'll do that pouring a high cup thing now too.