fishlover78

Hi everyone, I was told that you could cycle a fish tank with feeder goldfish. I thought this was kind of inhumane because it puts lots of stress on the fish and wanted to know If it is recommended or discouraged. also If you do cycle a tank with them, because they are kept in such wretched conditions before you bring them home can't they bring diseases into the tank before you even have the fish you want in it? Any input would be greatly appreaciated! -fishlover78

Lucy

You're right, they can introduce disease to your tank.

IMO cycling with fish is highly discouraged. It's putting the fish at the risk of ammonia and nitrite poisoning and as you said, stress which can bring on a host of other illnesses.

I'll also throw in the fact that it's easier to cycle fish less. Assuming the person cares about these fish, they'll have to do water changes through out the cycle in an effort to keep them healthy.
With a fish less cyle you don't have to worry about water changes and risking the lives of God's Creatures.

capekate

Lucy said it all!

fishlover78

thank you everyone, I don't think I'll be cycling with feeders because of the stress and disease factors, and besides what do people do with them after they are used to cycle (I hope to God they don't just flush them)?

Randall

Well considering they are feeders..........................feed them to other fish.

But another point is that most people keep tropical fish.And feeders are either goldfish or minnows,both cool water.So if you do go the feeder route,you can cycle the tank without heat to keep the feeders more comfortable,but the cool temps are said to make the cycle take longer.Or heat the tank as you would when you get your tropical fish,which is not good for the feeders,causing stress and more possible disease.

fishlover78

not using feeders

sirdarksol

Not all feeders are goldfish or minnows. Guppies are one of the most common feeders out there.

But, fishlover has said that feeders will not be used to cycle the tank.

To answer your last question, fishlover, sadly, people who use feeders to cycle their tank probably are flushing them. Some people build their setups around one breed of hardy fish that will cycle the tank (I have a book that offers no options for a new aquarist to cycle a tank other than "with fish," and the author suggests building a setup around hardy fish). People who are using feeders, however, are doing so because they're "expendable" and once the tank is cycled, there's nothing more for them. Hopefully they find a friend who needs some feeders, or give them back to the store, but those things take effort.

fishlover78

man, I feel bad for all those flushed fish they could be someone Else's joy and friends. anyone who is reading this if you don't already know this never flush live fish, before they die, they can be breathing toxins, never mind the fact you are smothering the fishes body in toxins. that would be like someone breathing in and swimming in bleach. please, never flush live fish, no matter how much they're worth. -fishlover78

GouramiGirl1221

There are ways of using feeders to cycle without being inhumane. I used feeder goldfish to cycle my tank because I couldn't find ammonia without other additaves locally. I didn't do water changes, but I used Tetra SafeStart, so the ammonia and nitrites never got above .25 PPM throughout the process (I was prepared to do water changes if necessary, but it ended up not being an issue). I did keep them in cooler water and just added some warmer water before acclimating my tropical fish. After I took them out, I gave them to my friend who keeps oscars to feed to her fish.

Beeker

My goldfish were sold as "feeder" fish. They now happily reside in my 75 gal. tank watching tv with me, digging up their decorations and throwing them, playing in their bubbles, etc. Oh, btw, they are also 12 years old and about a foot long. My babies.

soldieroffortune1974

If tou know anyone with naquarium,you can always ask them for their used filters,the bacteria u need is in the filter. That's 1 of the best and fastest wys to cycle an aquarium.

fishlover78

I know they can become very big fish, and smart too. I inherited some from the science lab at school, they were no longer wanted so I saved them and they are Temporarily in my (I know you all frown upon this) moderate temperature tropical tank with some community tank until I have a 10 gal. set up for them. which I know they will grow out of! -fishlover78

fishlover78

yes that's how I started my tank I have now, the store owner gave me one of his old bio bags from a whisper power filter and that really helped the tank through the cycle. -fishlover78

Barbrella

Totally agree. No fish (even a 0.50 goldfish) deserves to be deliberately subjected to being burned with ammonia, poisoned with nitrites, then disposed of by flushing or feeding to other fish. Even feeder fish deserved to be treated humanely, IMO.

Just because some fish are cheap doesn't mean they suffer less.

fishlover78

your absolutely right right! -fishlover78