How long can I keep this Goldfish here for?

HI everyone!

First and foremost I wanted to say that I used to be a fairly active member of this forum, I loved the place (still do), but life got in my way and I got separated from the hobby for a while (moving to another country, college, etc). It's amazing to be back!

Anyways now I'm in college and currently living in the dorms. We are allowed to keep tanks up to 10G large in size. I originally wanted to huy a 10G, set it up and get a Betta, but I was browsing Craiglist several days ago and this lady who was selling her house wanted to get rid of everything, so she was giving away for free a 10 Gallon tank with a *chuckle* 9 inch common Goldfish in it. I felt so bad about its conditions so I wanted to take him in. The tank had been running for several months so it was cycled, however I am buying a master test kit this weekend.

Anyways, here is when I need advice. Goldfish are my all time favorite fish and I know 10Gallon is FAR from a good size for them, but do you think this fish can be kept in this tank from now until May, when I move out to the dorms and get my own apartment? I'm planning to get a 55-75 gallon at my new place.

There is nothing in the tank but gravel for now, and he does eat. Do you think this is advisable with regular water changes, or should I swap it for a Betta? The thing is that Petco is the only pet store near me and I don't know if they do trades.

Thanks, I appreciate any help.

 

I would rehome the goldfish to someone with a pond or at least a large tank, keeping it in the 10 gallons you may have issues with water quality in such a small tank & it really needs much more space.

 

PETCO will take your Goldfish and sell you a Betta.

 

Common goldfish really do eventually need a pond. If the lady had him for a long time, though, his growth may be stunted and the damage already done. You could probably keep him for a while longer in a 75 gallon and even longer in a 150. But goldfish are super messy and sociable creatures. That's why goldfish ponds are the best for them.

I'd check around and see if you can find someone with a goldfish pond to rehome him to. That would be the best thing for it.

 

Now I am confused. There is Petco in Tirana?

 

That's cool. You live in Albania?
I'd agree with Jomolager, though

 

Hi,

It was very good of you to take this goldfish in.
But consider this, at 9" in a 10 gal tank you probably have to change 80-90% of the water everyday. Is this something you can commit to with your studies?

 

Lol guys. I moved to the United States for college, forgot to specify that in the OP.

So there's no chance to I could keep the goldfish for a little more until the summer... He really grew into me. It just kills me to think about taking him to Petco, where he would be shoved in a tank with dozens of other goldfish of his size ...

Also I live in one of the coldest states of the US and it gets around -20/-30 degrees F here, so I don't think people have ponds... So that's not an option.

Pictures of him coming soon, I named it Anaconda, after NickI Minaj's song, considering it's an enormous goldfish

 

henry, not to hijack your thread, but if you get homesick, here is a story my kid did for a Dutch magazine during her short stint as unemployed after she graduated from college. Good luck with Anaconda.

https://worksthatwork.com/3/albania-bunkers