I must admit I think I am doing some things wrong with my little guys.... I was reading about the salt baths for them....and here it goes hope no one laughs at me but what kind of salt do you use and how often and why and all that good stuff I was searching through here and I coulden't seem to find ne thing on the kind and why you give salt baths
Help me I don't want to make my goldies sick....the last time I had a black moor was when I was a kid and my mom just stuck him in a bowl and to my surprise he lived for 5 years in there we did have to get a bigger bowl though....I have learned a lot since and now I have mine in a tank....but apparntley I have to go out and get a bigger one now!!! oh well gives me good reason to buy more fish and more stuff for them...I am sure my husband will love me as these fish were suppose to be for our son.....
so any help would be apprieciated tons....by the way what do all those little icons mean under other memebers names? and when do u become a full member? Just curious

Della

Your a full member at 200 posts i believe. I think the icon things your talking about, like the one I have that says 1 on it, are awards. Mine is a one year member awards. There are also research awards, pic of the week awards, tank of the month, betta of the month, meant koko awards,..... and so on. Under frequently asked questions there is a link for the awards.

As for the salt questions. You can buy aquarium salt at any pet store.. i think about all of them. Its pretty cheap, and great to have. As for the salt baths, im not quite sure... I dont want to tell you one thing and be wrong, so im sure someone else can answer that one. How big of a tank is your goldie in?

Hey....must be a night owl also ahhh I really hate to say what size they are in but it's only a 5 gallon the girl at the petstore said that was plenty big!! And I come to find out it is not....So it's off to the store this weekend to get a bigger one for them...I think I will just get a 45 galloon or better to be on the safe side so I can add more some other time.....Also do u know of any other fish that I can put with my 2 goldies? I used to have gouramies and they both died so I just went to goldies instead......See these were suppose to be for our son..turns out mom is obssed with them now and I want more, husband is gonna kill me we have a min. pincher a cat, mouse and hampster....I have a husband and a 2 year old.....LOL
Thanks for your help though....I really can't believe how freindly and helpful everyone is here....
'
Della

Everyone is wonderful here! I do have to say, this has been the friendliest forum ive ever been too.. thats why i only come to this one now.

Well as for other tank mates in a 45 G that arent goldfish. Well, you could get a bristlenose or rubber lip plecos. I find them very interesting. Plus, they keep down the algea! Minnows also do great with goldies. ive kept lamp eyed tetras in with my goldies, as long as I kept a heater on the tank. Guppies are a big no. Anything that will fit in the goldies mouth, they will eat... I lost four albino tetras this way.... four in one day

Im trying to think of some other fish, but just cant off the top of my head. Snails can also be fun in a goldie tank. I have a ramshorn snail, and hes sooo pretty, and so fun to watch!

I was obsessed with goldies before my son came into the picture. hes 14 months now, and LOVES the fish. You've been bitten by the fish bug! All of us have! They are such wonderful, beautiful creatures!

So do you think I need to go ahead and get a bigger tank then?.....And are the other fish that u mentioned available at local pet stores?....I am not sure that I should trust what the people say at the pet store.....I was told that that tank was fine and that they were not opposite sexes...now I know that this is not true because I was watching them the last couple of days and sure enough they are in the process of breeding My son says that they are just sniffin butts like dogs do....
ne ways I am going to look into a nice big tank for my new freinds and some buddies for them also......I assume I will need a more powerful filter also? and live plants?
Thanks a lot......I will have to keep u posted on how it goes....I have never done a tank transfer before and I think I need some chemicals to put in also??? This is all so new to me and to tell u the truth I am kinda confused but I am sure everyone here will help me along and I will eventually be sucessful with my goldies......

Hi Della,

We seemed to have drifted a little off the salt bath question.

Try this thread;
http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...?showtopic=8382

Most of the answers to your questions are there. If you need clarification, just ask again.

Yes I have.....sorry..lol
Just have so many questions I could go on all night with all of them
Do u have any info on the salt bath subject? I will check out the link u sent me.....thanks a lot.

Della

You'll learn sooo much here! Everyone is soo nice, and so willing to help. Please, do keep me posted on how things go.

I would definantly get a bigger tank for them. Dont listen to what pet store employees say. Most of them know nothing, especially about goldfish! Goldfish need at least 10 gallons per fish. You'll need a bigger filter if you go with a bigger tank. If theres a walmart close by, one of the cheapest routes to go (this is what i did when I upgraded to a 55) was buy the starter kit! It comes with a tank, hood and lights, filter and heater. Although the filter isnt the best, you can use it, and buy another one. I use the one it came with and the old one from my 30 G that was meant for a 75 G. You;ll need to buy a test kit, to test the water to see how the cycle is. This can take up to and over a month. If your not sure what this is, im more then happy to explain it to you. Also, you can have your water tested for free at petsmart. Its kinda nice if you dont have the money to buy the test kits. Also, if you dont already have it, dechlorinator for the water. if you need help with anything, feel free to ask, or you can PM me also.

I hope i didnt confuse you at all. feel free to ask anything. Dont be embarressed. No question is stupid. When i started with goldies, i asked all the same things!

thanks so much jessica...I really hope I am not keeping u up at all?....it's almost 3 am here but I don't sleep well ne ways I always come down and goof round on here....
Uhmmmm what is pm mean?.....I have aol instant messanger..dunno what you mean exactly?.
I think I have a basic understanding of what I need to get to start up this new tank...but will my goldies be okay in what they are in for now if it is gonna take up to a month to cycle it?...I don't want them to be stressed in any way if at all possible. Am I correct in using distilled water?....or tap, yet another tip from the wonderful employess at petsmart....lol they said I could use tap and just let it sit overnight to let all the nitrates and chlorine outta the water???
I will be talking to you again soon....thanks again...u have been extremley helpful.

Della

It's probably in there thread somewhere but just to cut a long story short.

0.1% is general tonic level - harmless and can be used indefinitely but not necessary if there is no reason to use salt.
0.3% treatment level for some parasites like ich and costia. A few weeks exposure is okay
0.6% treatment for salt resistant parasites, regenerate slime coat - start to irritate the fish. No more than 2 weeks
0.9 salt bath level. First aid for parasites, kick start osmotic process - a couple of hours but depends on how the fish handles it
1.5%+ salt dip - strips slime coat, kill fungus, etc. 5-10mins MAX. As soon as they roll over, take them out of the dip.

OBTW, there are always variations to what is listed above. There is no one single answer.

Hope this helps.

HI Froggy and Welcome to Koko's!

Tanks need the fish in to actually cycle. You need a good dechlor like prime, novaqua, amquel etc. Preferably prime really. Spendy, but it doesn't give a false reading with the ammo kits and is concentrated.

There's no reason to use distilled water..... If ph and Kh is low or fluctuates, then simple Baking soda will correct it. The only time ro/distilled waters need to be used is if your tap/well water is really really nasty or you have a salt water tank.

No need for it to sit overnight either, Dechlors take and bind all that.

You should take a test straight from the tap for everything. Then, one from the tank on PH early am and late pm, especially if you have any live plants.......

Drop kits preferable to strips for accuracy! Ammonia, nitrite,Nitrate, KH & Ph

Now a bit of salt is fine to have on hand, really it can be your best friend and as captk has explained, it can be used medically as well. I do recomend a salt test kit as well. #1 item for the fishy medical kit -salt! That would be rock salt, sea salt, water softner salt 99.5% pure or better even as long as it has no additives/binders such as yps. Other things you might have use for you will probably already have in your home, like peroxide, iodine, epsome salts....

Hey thanks everyone for all the help.....I will be out this week to get a new tank for my goldies and get them all set up in a nice big home:)
I have already learned a ton from using this forum and plan to learn lots more.....I do have one more question though...we usually are gone on the weekends and I have those weekend feeders for them should I be giving them one for the weekend? and should I leave the light on all weekend? This weekend I feed them before we left and when we got home they seemed fine....I went over to check on them and both of them came right up to the top....begging for food:) kinda funny I thought...so any help on those 2 things would be awesome!!! Thanks a lot....
Della