Iluvatar

I really only have fish that dont really belong in such a small tank such as two kois and an arowana and I used to have a big common pleco. Just wanted to let people know since sometimes people tell me about stuff but I will hopefully work on it but I dont have sufficient money so I cant get apond or a bigger aquarium and I have this other aquarium that isnt set up with rat urine in it and the guy I got it from used to keep chickens in it and I dont really want to use it even if its washed. I might use itif it is really washed and it needs a lid and filter and other stuff.

sirdarksol

If it is true that you have two koi, an arowana and a pleco in a 20g tank, I would very strongly suggest returning all of them to the petstore. If they survive, they will be very, very uncomfortable. It would be the equivalent of a person living in a 4'x4' room his entire life.

Lucy

Huh?

gremlin

how big are the fish?

Iluvatar

The fish are not so big but I would say they will not so soon but not so late outgrow the tank. But my pond is not even started but have the basic idea of it just need to finish the garden then my dad can get a permit and building will start and the house also needs fixis here and there so it might take a while and I am scared that my fish will die in a small tank. I hope it is finished in time and I am amazed how fast they grow. The more you feed them the more they grow but I have my hopes up.

Angela_96

those fish need a bigger tank, and you are not giving them the home they need, I agree you should take them back to the store until you can afford the proper tank for them. how would you like to be stuffed in a closet w/ about 5 of your best friends for a few weeks until someone could afford a bigger room for you?

gremlin

The arrowana will get VERY big - the koi will continue to grow and will also get quite large. i would return these fish to the store and once you get a pond set up and running, then purchase goldfish (instead of koi). they are cheaper, just as pretty as koi, and more tolerant of varying water conditions.

Iluvatar

I really dont want them to go because I have had them for about four years and they were some of my first fish but the second type of fish I got they went from a ten gallon to a twenty gallon but I might be able to do something such as put them in a bigger tank but the main problem is there is not much space to put the tank and I guess they make a good addition to the living room but the tank is fifty five gallons. I think. I should really stop thinking and start making sure but that tank cando for now. Can it?I hope it can but it needs a real good wash before I add water and fish. I think it can do for a few months while they outgrow it. I will try to completely disinfict it and the fish arent that big but need thier space. They still have growing room.

fishonthebrain

is the 55 gal where the chickens and rats were? bit confused here. if so i think i read some where that it was unhealthy for a tank that had other animals in it for fish in it afterwards something about the urine possibly poisoning the fish. not sure cant remember to well

hockeyref88

Dude you need to think about what your doing because right now you are not doing the right thing for these fish. Take the fish back to the store until you can house them properly.

Iluvatar

I hope that image helps you decide. I really really dont want to give them back is it enough for now or a few months keeping in mind they grow pretty fast. They grew like that in four years and my friend's grew alot faster.

Shawnie

decide what? there's really nothing to decide.those fish are too big for that tank

Iluvatar

I know it but dont want to except it. I just dont want them to go.

Shawnie

well I know you dont want them to die...so at least try to get a bigger tank or see if someone with a bigger tank wants them..right?

Iluvatar

Can they be there for two more months? THen I will setup a larger tank for them. I wish they could saty there for two more monnths. I hope they can.

Shawnie

you can keep them there as long as you want, they are your fish..but they might not live..they have been in that tank for 4 years and Im very surprised they havent died...a single koi needs alot more space not to mention the arowana..you take a chance everyday of them not making it..but in the end, its your choice not anyone elses

Iluvatar

That dose not make me feel better but I dont think I can set up a tank in a porch or can I but I need something fast and my mom said that I should set it up on the porch but is that okay? There is not much room in the house and people could jump the fence and steel my fish but I have dogs dont I. I am still very sad. So sad that I dont want to post a sad face. Dont mind my signiture that sadens me more.

Angela_96

have you ever heard of a group called "monster fish rescue" ? they are put together for people like you to get fish off you hands when you cannot properly house them. your fish are widely known for not being housed in tanks sufficent enough. I would look them up and get in touch with those people, then you could feel good about giving up your fish, those people would baby your fish and find good homes for them.

Barbrella

The issue isn't always what we want, but what is best for the animals.

Do you know that arowanas grow to be 4 foot long, voracious predators that can leap 6 feet out of the water to catch prey?

Keeping one in such incredibly cramped condition is not humane.

Check out these arowanas in a 50,000 gallon tank and you'll realize you need to do the right thing.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...ad.php?t=74879

Iluvatar

So can I just sell the arowana and put the kois in a larger tank or pond?They get big too. Around three feet. Butthey havent grown much in my tank.

hockeyref88

Jonathon...........Everyone on here has tried to help you with advice about your fish........Right now what you have set up is NOT a good and healthy environment for your fish. The tank you have is WAY too small. The fish you have do NOT belong in that tank and do NOT belong together. Koi do NOT belong with preditory fish like Arowana's period. Now you can do what you want, but anything but separating them and putting them into much larger tanks would nothing but cruel. Koi really belong only in ponds. At this point its pure luck these fish are still alive so do them a favor and do the right thing and either get them into there own larger tanks or take them somewhere where they can be housed properly until you can care for them properly.

gremlin

How much room do you have on your porch? I would not use the 55 gal that had other animals in it. It is too difficult to guarantee that you could completely disinfect it (the sealant that holds it together could have urine soaked into it that could leach back into the water). As a TEMPORARY measure, you could house them in a large storage bin (the 50 gal tupperware or sterilite rectangle storage containers) on your porch. If you do this, bear in mind the containers are not designed to hold that amount of water weight. You would have to support the sides. a better idea would be to build some type of wooden framework and put a pond liner in it or get a prefab pond and set that up on your porch. The prefab ponds are great for goldfish and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. If it has shelves, make sure you support them (I used block under the shelves in my first prefab). That would leave the 20 gallon as a temporary home for the arrowana. Moving the goldfish to a separate tank/pond would help with the bioload on the 20 gal. I don't know that much about the arrowana, but the goldfish should do ok outside. here is a couple pics of my pond. It gets morning sun and I have an external pressure filter that feeds the two waterfalls. I built up a wall around where I wanted the pond and put in a prefab pond. It is supported with dirt filled in all around and I planted dichondra (grass) and several types of thyme since I needed something that could handle the summer heat and full morning sun without baking.

Attached Images

	06-15-08_pond right view.JPG (102.5 KB, 7 views)
	06-15-08_pond left view.JPG (92.4 KB, 7 views)

hockeyref88

Nice pond Gremlin!!................those arn't gold fish in that 20 gal, there KOI.

Lucy

Really nice job, gremlin!
Doing an above ground pre-fab is an excellent suggestion.

Shawnie

that pond is awesome gremlin!!

but those fish jonathan has, have been in that 20 gallon for 4 years!!

koi & arowana together for that long, im surprised there is any koi left as well as the arowana still is living...

Angela_96

The arowana is the prime reason I think he should contact the monster fish rescue group, not only that I am sure the koi would be canidates too, they are fish that will grow to great lenths if given the oppourtunity.

One fish that I know of locally that people keep in their aquariums is the gar fish, I cannot wait to get out and get some video and pics of them so everyone can see them in the wild. Thes fish normally are 4-5 feet long just like the arowana. So when people put them in their fish tanks they can see how big these fish can grow in their natural enviroments (that size is on average I have seen them even bigger growing up on the lakes here in TN)

Iluvatar

I have a great idea to raise the level of water with bricks or stone to build a pond much faster.But I still have those fish. Wich I ment I still need to get them somewhere.

hockeyref88

You still need to find a home for the arowana and you need to do it soon. And the pond for the koi should be at least 500 gallons.

Lucy

Thanks to the caring experienced fish keepers who are trying to help get these fish into proper housing.

I don't mean to be rude, but am I the only one who finds that pic of the arowana sad?

hockeyref88

I don't find it rude at all Lucy................I'm trying not to say what I really think to this young man and I don't think he get's how wrong it is to have these fish in that aquarium. I find the picture extremely sad. I just don't think he understands its not about his feelings, its about whats right for these fish.