Keeping fish alive...

[Clanger]

Right, I need a bit of advice. I live in someone else's house as a lodger, and they have fish - which clearly are not looked after. The tank is filthy, and it regularly gets low and the pump makes a noise, so I keep topping it up (rightly or wrongly) with lukewarm water.

I notice that there is no food, and at first I gave the poor starving fish bread crumbs from the toaster, telling myself they are not really my problem...

Though I recently went to the pet shop and bought them the real stuff...the smelly flaky stuff.

Thing is I no zilch about fish (apart from how to cook them for my dinner), I personally think they are a bit pointless as pets, but I still cannot allow them to starve to death...

How often should I feed them? And does anyone know where to get food for them cheaper than a teeny tiny pot for £2.99!!!? As they are not mine, I don't wish to spend so much money on them...

Ta muchly for your input.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[neil.]

Are they goldfish? If so, it sounds like the tank could do with an overhaul. In that case, you'd need to take the fish out and put them somewhere else for 24 hours, scrub the tank clean with a scouring pad to get any green crud off, then fill it with cold tap water. Put some water conditioner in to neutralise the chlorine and let the water acclimatise to room temperature overnight with the cleaned pump/filter running. Once you put the fish back in, the water will go cloudy for a few days as various bacteria build up to deal with waste and nitrates (it's a whole little eco-system in there). It will become clear after a week at the most.

Then just change 1/4 to 1/3 of the water every couple of weeks and clean out the sponge in the pump/filter when you do it. You can get vaccum pump things off eBay for a couple of pounds that syphon the water out as well as suck up crap from the bottom of the tank. It's a 5 minute job and really easy. If you keep it up, you won't get crap building up in the tank and the water will always be clear. Feed the fish once a day, don't fall for them constantly looking hungry and 'mouthing' the at the surface - this might mean they don't have enough oxygen. It helps if you have air bubbling through the water. The pump might draw air into the tank through a tube, and you'll see bubbles coming from it if that's the case. If not, you can get a seperate pump or self-oxygenating stones to put in there as it's important that the water has enough oxygen for the fish to breathe.

If they are not goldfish, they might need completely different care and the water might need to be heated etc. Seek proper advice.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Poseidon]

With regards to feeding them... Give them as much food as they can eat within 3 minutes, after which any excess should be removed.

It's a rough guideline, but it meanes they aren't overfed
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[wizzzard]

Firstly well done you. It's nice to see someone still gives a damn and is willing to put some time into sorting out someone elses impulse purchases.

Pretty concise advise from neil and drewie already here so if I repeat anything my apologies.

If they are goldfish they are pretty hardy little things so dont panic to much about overfeeding them and things like that. Two to three times a day and as already said as much as they can eat in 3 mins. Fish food is going to cost that I'm afraid, like many things it is cheaper if you buy it in bulk but I really think they should be the ones buying it.

When you say the pump is making a noise is it an air pump putting the bubbles in or a filter sucking the crap out. If its putting the bubbles in you could just take it apart and have a look there may be a diaphragm flapping off or something. If its the filter it could probably do with taking apart and the filter material cleaning( in the tank water that you have taken out if possible so not to kill the bacteria).

Change water at intervals and amounts as neil says and you cant go far wrong.

Lastly punch your housemate and tell them to look after their own bloody fish properly
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[jack_zxr400]

Pics?
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Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[Luke_Retrofly]

Can you release them into the wild?

[ulster exile]

[Clanger]

Thing is, the person who they belong is the landlord. I do not want to rock the boat there, so trying not to interfere too much. When I suggested he might sell the fish and tank to one of my friends who would look after them properly, he got all defensive and told me they are not for sale, and despite the look of the tank, and the limp fish lying on reeds (not swimming), they are fine!!!!

But in 6 mths of living there, the tank has not moved, the crud is really evident, and yet my hands are tied. When I made suggestions to clean them out the landlady said they belong to the landlord and to leave it alone.

So the food I have bought to feed them is actually hidden in my cupboard and I have been secretly feeding them each night before I go to bed.

And no they aren't goldfish. Although one of them is orange. The others a small and see-thru with a line of black running down the side. The orange one is one of the limp ones which is laying on the reed looking rather unhealthy (in my 'expert' opinion ).

If they were any other animal, I would feel compelled to report them to the RSPCA. But they aren't. And as I have been told to unstick my nose from their business, I don't know what else I can do, except keep them alive!!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Flip]

[garth]

Come chuck em in my parents pond. I keep on buying more and lobbing them in, confuses them a treat.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[hellkat]

... fishy fishy fishy!
*taps tank with knuckle*

https://i033.radikal.ru/0810/63/a580535673b1.jpg


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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Clanger]

[cagiva gezzer]

Take a sample of water in a plastic bottle. Find your nearest aquatics shop and ask them to analyse it for basic chemical components.

Most do this for free. If it's un-balanced they will be able to provide some chemicals to help the tank out and/or tell you what is up.

Depending how big the tank is you may want to scoop out a pint or two of water a day and replenish it with some water that's been sat around for a few hours to warm up / gas off.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Clanger]

Update: the fish tank has finally been cleaned, I made reference to the fish laying on the greenery, and apparently they are supposed to stick to the tank sides and eat the fluff.

Anyway, it seems my constant remarks have paid off. At least you can see through the glass now.

And I have continued to feed them a small pinch of food every few days for my own peace of mind. So all is good (whilst I'm still living there!)
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[hellkat]

Bugger, I spent all my karma today already.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.