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new 10 gallon

8K views 46 replies 12 participants last post by  aunt kymmie 
#1 ·
hey i just set up a new 10 gallon on 9/17/08
it looks good but i think my shark is lonely
i have 2 goldfish, 2 guppies, and 1 shark.
every one has a buddy but him (i know, but im worried about these things :p)
should i get another shark to be his pal?
 
#2 ·
Umm, what kind of shark? Frankly I can't think of any fish referred to as a "shark" that's going to do well in a 10 gallon tank. Also aside from Bala/Silver Sharks they are loners for the most part. Getting another one would be a bad idea.
 
#4 ·
Ah, shows what I'm paying attention to.

Yeah, the shark is iffy but the goldfish are a definite problem. A single fancy goldfish needs something like 15 gallons of water at a minimum. They are large messy fish and require an overfiltered tank. Also goldfish are cold water fish and do best in the low 70's to high 60's water temp while the shark and guppies are tropical fish that need a heater and do best in the high 70's.

Could definitely use some more details about your set up or pictures.
 
#5 ·
I get my water tested a lot, and yes, my ammonia is high most of the time. I just add prime then it's back to normal. It's not to messy... I have a Penguin 150 and it really gets the job done. I will try to post some pics... I just need to figure out how to! Thanks for all your help so far!:)
 
#7 · (Edited)
Prime won't return things to normal. If added in the right amounts it will detoxify it but its still there.

Questions:
1) What kind of shark?
2) What kind of goldfish?
3) What are the sexes of the guppies
4) How "high" are these ammonia readings?
5) How are you measuring the ammonia, test strips, liquid test kit, fish store testing?
6) How do you maintain your filter? Cleaning, cartridges, et?
7) How often do you change the water?
8) How often do you vacuum the tank?
9) What temperature is the tank?
10) Do you have a heater?

I'm honestly not even sure where to start really.

The goldfish will outgrow the tank, RAPIDLY. It's too small to comfortably hold even a single gold fish much less two and other fish as well.

As far as I'm aware there is no freshwater shark who will do well in a ten gallon tank. Most of them get into the ~5" range with bala's getting to over a foot.

You've got cold and warm water fish in the same tank. This means one of three things. One the tank is to cold for the shark and guppies but just right for the goldfish. Two it's too warm for the goldfish but just right for the others. Three, it's at the perfect temperature to make everyone miserable.

Messy doesn't refer just to bits floating in the water. Goldfish make a LOT of ammonia waste, far more than other fish in their size range. Two goldfish in such a small tank will place a tremendous strain on your biofilter even if the water is crystal clear.

Ammonia is toxic to fish, it burns their gills. A high reading isn't something to dose a little Prime and be fine with, its a serious health concern for the fish.

From the pics you posted it looks like you've got a male and a female guppy in the tank. The female is likely to be harassed by the male, a lot. Typically you want to keep two to three females per male so that the males amorous attentions are spread around and some of the girls get a break. I wouldn't add any fish to your tank though. Also since you have a female and a male be prepared for them to start making babies. Lots of babies.

These questions are being asked because right now with the information you've given it looks like you're in for either a lot of dead fish or a lot of miserable ones.
 
#8 ·
Yes, yes, yes, that advice is very good. Also, please don't feel that we are harassing you, we just want to make your experience with fish a good one, and unfortunately due to a lot of bad information out there the setup that you have now is really destined to fail. I just wanted to make sure that you realize that we are only saying these things because we want what is best for your fish and for you too, not to be snooty or mean. Can you return the fish or find new homes for them? The guppies are fine and would do well with other smaller tropical fish. If I had to make a guess, I would say that you have an irridescent shark (the type that is commonly sold in stores). These guys along with your goldfish get huge and besides their enormous waste production will simply get too big to move in that tank very fast. I'm sorry for your rocky introduction to the hobby, but if you make some changes it will turn out for the better.
 
#9 ·
hi. sorry no response for a while. i went to see family for thanksgiving! i get my ammonia tested at a fish store. i'm not sure what type of shark it is. i have both a male and female guppy. my ammonia level is just a little high, but could be a threat if i don't do anything. i change the filter cartridge every month. i do 50% water changes every other week, i don't vacuum the rocks ever:-? i have no heater and finally the tank is kept roughly around 73 degrees f. its a bala shark. i think i answered all your questions. i will try to post some pictures soon!;-) oh and my goldfish are fantails! hope this helps!
 
#10 ·
Bala sharks get absolutely huge - over a foot and sometimes up to 16" in length. They're also active swimmers and need to be in a school to thrive. In other words, they need to be kept in a huge tank, much bigger than your ten gallon. They really need to be kept in a six foot (or eight foot, really) tank for long term care.

There's no need to replace your filter cartridge unless it is physically falling apart. If you replace it, you're throwing away all of the beneficial bacteria that have built up inside of it. Instead, when it gets gunked up you can just swish it around in some of the water you remove during water changes.

Guppies can definitely be kept in a tank your size, but goldfish cannot. You would really need something on the order of a 40 gallon breeder for two adult fantails. Also, as was mentioned, you can't house tropical fish (the guppies and shark) with coldwater fish (the goldfish) and expect both types to be healthy.
 
#11 ·
I would strongly suggest you heed everyones advice here chromis. Good luck. If I were you, I'd either get a bigger seperate tank for the goldfish, find them new homes, or give them back to the store. I'd also find a new home for the shark. And research what fish are compatible with one another and their needs, before buying any more on a whim.
 
#12 ·
Those goldfish are just beautiful, and I can see why people would want goldfish... I was going to do a goldfish tank at first until I read more about them and saw all the other beautiful freshwater fish that wouldn't be nearly as difficult to maintain....
 
#14 ·
Any quality fish store (or even the big chain stores) should take the fish off your hands for you if you are unable to care for them. You might not get any money for them, but losing out on a couple bucks worth of fish is definitely less expensive than having to buy huge aquariums in order to house them appropriately.

Or, if you've got a friend or relative with large tanks (or even ponds for the goldfish) then you could give them away. You could also post an ad on craigslist offering to give them away to a good home.
 
#15 ·
I really appreciate all your advice, but I love my fish and I would be very sad if I of rid of any them! I have even taught them to do tricks. It turns of that I can give them back. I just don't have the heart to! I don't want them to be miserable but I just don't know what to do!
 
#16 ·
Hi, it is sad when mistakes are made in fishkeeping. The best thing you could do is return the shark and keep the goldfish. They both have totally different water requirments and should never be mixed. The tank is too small for either fish, but the goldfish will tollerate it better than the shark if you really must keep them.
 
#19 ·
Right now they might look okay because you haven't had them for a long time. Ammonia works slowly, but it is damaging them right now. Also, Goldfishes and sharks gets big, and if they are kept in a small tank, their growth will be stunted and it will dramatically diminish their lifespan. Keep in mind, goldfishes can live up to 15-20 years, but in a small space they probably won't make it to 2 years-old, and the ammonia will more likely end them before that!
 
#20 ·
Well, your tropical fish would probably color up more when placed in a warmer tank. Other than that your goldfish and shark will soon get too large to move much at all in a 10 gallon tank. It is really not much of a life to be hardly able to move around your home. Not to mention the crazy levels of ammonia they will generate. I know that you are attached to them, but giving them up would be much nicer for all your fish if you are unable to provide for them in the long run. Try craigslist, at least with that you would know where they are going and choose someone who you know will take good care of them. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(
 
#21 ·
Miserable is sort of a catch all term.

Temperature wise, someone in that tank is unhappy. If you've got a heater the odds are the goldfish feel like they're sitting in a house in the middle of summer with no AC. If you don't then the tropicals feel like they sitting in a house in winter with no heater. They're not in danger of death due to temperature but they are out of their comfort zone and not happy. They'll be stressed, the temperature won't give them a disease but the stress on them will make them much more susceptible to catching something.

Space wise the fish will get crowded. You've got three fish in there that are going to get big. In fact the shark (can you get a picture of him?) if he's a bala (very shiny silver) could get big enough that his nose could touch one end of the tank and his tail the other. The goldfish are going to get big enough that they'll take up a big chunk of the space all on their own. They won't be able to get away from the other fish or relax. You're not likely to see any normal behaviors when they are this packed together. Some fish get more agressive, some hide more, none of them will be happy. This crowding will stress the fish as well. Stress weakens their immune systems and... disease.

Waste wise, again you've got some very big fish in the tank that will make lots of waste. Now if your biofilter can eventually grow to handle them (and that is a VERY BIG if) you're going to be on a razor's edge. With that little volume of water per fish even the slightest upset in the biofilter can lead to a huge ammonia spike and potentially dead fish.

As it was said, happier healthy fish will be brighter in color, more active, and much more robust. We're not trying to be downers but what you've got going is not likely to end well and in a tank that size you're not likely to lose one fish you're likely to lose them all if something happens. The goldfish need to go back as does the shark. Guppies can make for nice fish to watch and if you don't want to deal with the babies then either the male or female need to go back as well. It's rough, its not fun, but its for the best. There's a lot you can do with a ten gallon tank that will still be sustainable and you'll enjoy. In a few years when you've got a few more bucks you can get yourself a tank and have some goldfish in an environment that can support them.
 
#24 ·
Your shark isn't infact a bala it is a red tail. So i believe they are solitary fish and don't need a partner to thrive. I also if i am correct they can be kept in a 10g but most not be kept with that many fish. they are also semi-agressive fish and should not be kept in a community tank. SO you not have to return him but you would probibly have to return the goldfishes and maybe/maybe not the guppies. Good Luck!

~Cam
 
#26 ·
I think they are one in the same. I've always called them terracotta clay pots. I *think* terracotta refers to the color of the clay?? I'm sure the pots you have in the tank are fine but someone else will have to confirm this. I know I have seen these pots being used by fish for spawning in cichlid tanks.
 
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