Hi Everyone,

I was so relieved to find this board, I feel like a bad mother at the moment to my 2 new fish & wondered if anyone can help point me in the right direction.

I'm new to keeping fish but Basil & Sybil (1.5 inch long comets) are very much part of the family so I'm desperate to know I'm doing right by them.

My tank has been cycling for 4 days (12" tank with a Fluvel 1 plus filter). Everything is going by the book but the fish seem to be starving! We're feeding them approx 4 - 5 flakes each of good quality food 3 times a day and it's gone in a frenzy within 20 seconds of it hitting the water. They then spend quite a while scrounging round the top of the tank looking for more. Other than this they appear fine, often lively, sometimes quiet, very nosey & come up to the tank side to see you etc etc. My gut feeling is we're not giving them enough but the last thing I want to do is overfeed especially while the tank is cycling.

Am I being a bad mother here or have we just got a pair of greedy fish?

Many thanks,
Mandy

im not certain, but most goldish will always seem hungry for more, personally i think you are feeding them fine if its three times a day, but a 12" tank, that seems like a 10g, can u give us a little more info on the tank? the bare minium for a full fish lifespan is 10g a fish, maybe 20 per fish for the comets since they swim faster and more,

Best of Luck to you though, have fun with your new tank

Thanks so much for replying so fast!

Yes, the tank is 10g but I'm currently watching every biOrb on Ebay so I shouldn't think it'll be long before they've got a posh new HUGE home It gets addictive & compulsive this fish keeping doesn't it?

Can't believe how long I spend watching them though, wouldn't like to estimate the hours I've clocked up glued to the tank since Monday. We've got 2 son's under 2 years & the stress relief from looking after them that the fish give is better than any relaxation CD or yoga class! There should be a free goldfish voucher in the coupon pack they give you when you leave the maternity ward with baby. Hence I want to be extra sure I'm not making them miserable or compromising their health.

Thanks again,
Mandy

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Am I misunderstanding, or did you mean something different? You're feeding 4 to 5 FLAKES? Just individual flakes of food per fish? How are sure who eats what? Does that make sense what I'm asking?

I may be wrong, but I've been under the impression that you should feed them what they can eat in 2- 3 minutes. For my guys in a 12 gallon tank, that's usually about healthy pinches of flake food, or the bottom of the net full of brine shrimp (about a dime's worth).

Yes, 4-5 flakes per fish 3 times a day. Following instructions on food tin & in the book I've got. They definitely get a decent share each as I stand & make sure. I really don't feel it's enough but extra cautious of over feeding.

its better to underfeed then to overfeed

Yes, it's in goldfish's nature to be perpetually looking for food, you're doing the right thing, most newbies to fish keeping kill their fish with kindness. If you're feeding your fish 3 times a day, that's fantastic, but keep the portions really small, giving them lots of food to process means there's going to be more waste going into your tank and because it's still cycling the water parameters are going to go bad very quickly. A happy, healthy goldfish is a slightly hungry one! Fish get a whole heap of problems if they are overfed and become obese.

Sorry to ask, but the Biorb is a bowl that only holds about 15gals isn't it? I've see the ad5 around for them, I don't want to sound like a party pooper, but don't be fooled by the adverstising pictures that show the bowl housing up to six goldfish, this is non sustainable! again, most dedicated goldfish keepers suggest at least 10 gals for one fancy goldfish, or 20 gals for single tailed varieties. Goldfish produce a lot of waste that is toxic to them, so many goldfish in such a small amount of water makes the water toxic very fast!

If you're keen on keeping goldies (let me tell you, I know all about being hooked!) I would suggest getting something a bit larger if you can afford it, you'll never regret it!

I will agree with the others who have replied that underfeeding is definately better than over feeding. I would say you are doing a great job feeding them. Goldfish will always apear hungry most of the time. Feeding time is what they are always looking forward to.

Welcome to Koko's and there are so many people here that are so helpful with any questions you may have, and there is also tons of info here. And yes this hobby gets very addictive. Good luck with your Comets.

Oh yes you can say that again!! (Not to mention a little expensive--especially when starting up.) But they are so fun and worth the time and effort as I'm sure you are finding out!!

Just wanted to say Welcome to Koko's!! You will learn so much here.

Just to support TiO's view, I've seen BiOrbs and while they look cool, the're not suitable for goldfish. Believe it or not a rubbermaid container (oh why oh why we didn't have them here in australia) is much better than those BiOrbs

Welcome to Kokos! I agree with everyone else that you are feeding them the correct amount, and its better to underfeed than to overfeed, especially since you are cycling. Speaking of cycling, do you have a test kit for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH? Those four are the most important tests, and the first three are EXTREMELY important to have when cycling with fish. Goldfish produce more waste than most other species, and them being in a smaller tank might make the process very difficult. You said you were on the fourth day...ammonia should be starting to get high by now, and ammonia and nitrites are deadly to fishies. If you don't have a test kit yet, I'd go buy one and test at least daily and to waterchanges accordingly to keep ammonia under .25ppm. What kind of dechlorinator do you have? Some dechlorinators such as prime or amquel will bind ammonia and make it less toxic.

Thanks very much everyone for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it

I'm rethinking the BiOrb now, we've plenty of room for a big tank.... my only concern is cat-proofing it (saying that, the cats haven't taken any interest in the small tank at all... yet).

I've got my tst kits & sat here right now tring to fathom them out. I'll be testing & water changing at the kids nap time. I'm using "King British Safe Guard" which is meant to "remove chlorines, chloramines, detoxifies heavy metals, removes excess ammonia" (but I'll still be testing) in the water.

Basil & Sybil are on the tank bottom busy rooting round in the gravel at the mo so hoping the kids get tired soon as it'll be the perfect time to start messing with the tank.

Thanks again for all the advice,
Mandy

Hi Mandy,

Sybil and Basil excellent names, glad to find another Fawlty Towers fan.
You find great support and advise on Koko's I started off a year ago with 10g and fluval 1, I've now got a 20g and fluval 4 which is great. I was worried about combining my cat with the fish but he has never taken any notice.
Good luck

Hi trundlecat!

I wouldn't worry about cat-proofing a tank as long as it's covered. I've had cats all of my life along with lizards, hamsters, birds, and now goldfish! I've found that they will show interest at first but then quickly give up once they can't figure out how to get to the critter. I've never had any Tweety and Sylvester relationships in my house, and I've had lots of different cats.
That being said, an uncovered tank/bowl is like a fishing pond for cats though. My friend had a betta in a bowl and his cat scooped it out and ate it.
But as long as it's covered I wouldn't worry about it.

Looks like you are off to a great start Yah, my cats pay no attention to fish. I even TRIED to show them but they were like put me down...STOP SQUISHING MY NOSE AGAINST GLASS I DON"T SEE ANYTHING INTERESTING! (jk ) They do show a little interest in my mice tho

Welcome!
I agree... Multiple smaller meals are better than fewer larger meals. and when you're cycling (getting your biofilter bacteria up to speed), more food results in more ammonia (which is toxic). If you haven't read up on cycling yet, see the link at the top of this forum. Also, Here's one I've written: http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/cycling.html

Please do post your water test readings when you get them run.

With 2 commons, the smallest tank I'd get would be a 30 gallon. As far as tanks go longer is better than taller cuz you have more surface area in contact with the air so you get better gas transfer. You'll need a filter that moves 10 times the gallons in the tank per hour. A filter with separate areas for mechanical and biological filter media would be best.

I agree on the compelling calm which comes over you and your kids when you spend time with these characters. I find I spend more time in the room getting things done now I have an aquarium there.

My only comment is to say, if the size of your gravel is anywhere near a tight fit with your goldfishes' mouths, seriously consider another substrate. I had a scare with one of mine when I just happened to find him...nearly dead...with a piece of gravel seriously, seriously stuck in his mouth. It was just happenstance I found him...10 minutes earlier or later...and he would have been a "gone er". I ended up getting 1 to 2 inch pieces of river rock and just put them over my gravel.

All that being said, they say comets are pretty tough cookies...and great for the kids. It takes a wee bit, but the tank will get into balance as to water chemistry and be much easier on you to take care of.

What a great memory you are making for your wee ones!

Welcome aboard...

Mrs. Raven