goldfish panic

[calamitygin]

9 days ago my dh came home with a large biorb and 2 goldfish for my dad. Lovely. He tells me that the tank doesn't need cleaning for 4-6 weeks and that we need to get some "other stuff" to do this. Low maintenance then. Except I thought this was a bit long to go without changing the water so I've been googling and grrrr am I cross with the pet shop. Am I right in thinking that it's the cleaning of the biorb (yes! I've been reading about these too!) that happens 4-6 weeks but that water must be changed weekly? help! there is a filter/pump but it's been 9 days with no fresh water so that's what I need to do tomorrow but how?!? no idea what to do and husband not around. v confused by what I've read on web about how much water to take out, what kind of water, temp and something about dechlorinating? I am on a school trip so no chance to get special stuff but can do the water in the evening. I'd it OK to just take out some water and replace with tap water for now until I can get whatever it is I need? I don't want them to die.

obviously we're going to have to get a big get tank soon as biorbs are touted on here as no good.

please get back to me asap as I'm surprisingly attached to them already and I'm not a pet person and dd will be distraught if they cark it.

for my dd not my dad. sorry for rambling largely incoherent mis-spelt post but I am banging this out on new phone in the dark at half past mid night and in a bit of a flap

Yes, the pet shop have spouted utter shit- not cleaning for 4-6 weeks?! You do need to do weekly water changes. Biorbs are slightly different because they have chemical filtration as well as biological and mechanical filtration (stay with me, I get less geeky). Basically there are granules in the filter than remove harmful ammonia from the water. Unfortunately this gets pricey. Fortunately such granules are unnecessary in a properly stocked and maintained tank.

Now for the seriously bad news- biorbs are not big enough for goldfish. Even the biggest one. Which size did you get? A 60 or 120 litre can be stocked with some small fish. Anything smaller than that is no good for fish at all really.

For now, don't replace with tap water. Wait until you can get some dechlorinator. If there's a big supermarket near you then you might be able to get it there, my local big Tesco sells it.

Let me know how big the biorb is and what your plan is for the fish and I can talk you through your options.

yes I know about biorbs now having read up about them. I can order dechlorinator today or get to a pet shop tomorrow so is it OK not to change water until then.

I am awful at judging capacity and after reading last night thought that I had at least a 60l but having dug out the box this morning I see it is only a 15l so cross WHY are pet shops allowed to sell these?

thanks for help talking me through it would be great

Sadly there's no law to prevent it. People have successfully got a refund by quoting the 'not fit for purpose' bit of the Sales of Goods Act. Worth a try. It pisses me off no end that the industry does this!!

If the pet shop manager puts up a fight (which he shouldn't) then there are a couple of RSPCA articles that might help you out- Goldfish bowls and this press release about fashion accessory tanks.

If you DD is attached to the goldfish then you'll need to get them a proper tank. (Make sure you're sitting down for this bit) They get enormous and need pretty serious filtration because they crap so much. If they are fancy goldfish- fat, round ones with long fins- then you'll need a 40 gallon tank. If they're common goldfish- the normal shaped ones- then you'll need closer to 60 gallons, or ideally a pond. The goldfish sold in shops are babies and are only a few months old. They grow into whoppers and they don't grow to the size of their tank. http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_74/goldfish-size-life-expectancy.htm This will give you an idea of their adult size.

I'm really sorry for your DD that the pet shop have been such bastards :( I had goldfish as a child and so many died because of the bullshit I was told by the shop. It's heartbreaking for a child to lose their pet.

it's not right is it? DH said he thought maybe one of these might be too small but took the advice of the pet shop who said that this would be "fine".

I think the best plan would be to get a bigger tank - we have space in the kitchen though for the next couple of months they will have to stay in the biorb - with christmas approaching we need to keep spare cash for that. Will they be ok for a couple of months if we keep on top of cleaning and water changes? She is totally attached and only 2 nights ago was crying her eyes out in bed because "they will die and I will miss them".

Right so I have ordered some dechlorinator and some testing strips to arrive tomorrow.

Your poor DD :(

They might be for a couple of months if you keep on top of the water changes (you'll need to do it probably every other day), an alternative is to find temporary accommodation via freecycle or ebay to keep the cost down.

oh good idea re ebay and freecycle. I've just emailed dh and we've agreed that we'll have to get a bigger tank asap and eventually move to a house with a pond! We're planning on moving out of London next year anyhow so might as well put "pond or space for pond" on the list of requirements!