My mom impulse bought fish without my knowledge

After I was finally recovering from the many catastrophes that occurred that made me very throughly contemplate leaving the hobby, another thing comes to smack me in the face.
I left the house and hung out with people (something I very much needed after being locked in all month doing an online course) and when I get home I find three baby angelfish swimming along the front of my twenty gallon tank! Turns out my mother went to the pet store while I was gone, saw some angelfish, bought them, and dumped them in the tank without quarantining them or even asking me, the one who pays for and cares for this tank, first.
I am incredibly angry about this. My tank already has problems with high nitrates. I spent weeks testing and closely observing the tank to find the source of the problem, recording data even. I was carefully planning what I’d stock the tank with as it only had a few fish and snails. I wanted a centerpiece fish that wasn’t an angel because it would just be a painful reminder of what happened to my old one and several other fish. My plan was to eventually take this tank with me to college as most dorms allow a 20 gallon as the maximum size. Now I have to wait until we move and upgrade this tank to at least a 75gal to accommodate for the size and bioload of these fish. I had all these plans just for my mom to ruin that with her selfish and impulsive choice.
Before people tell me to simply return them, I will explain that my parents are stubborn rocks. They think they know everything and anything. They are unlikely to take them back or let me take them back even if I kick and scream like a toddler. I literally explained to my mom like a month ago why it was a horrible idea to stock three angels in a 20gal that’s already stocked with other fish. Second thing the damage has already been done, it seems like my mom simply dumped the fish into the tank with the store water so whatever disease/parasite/whatever they could be carrying is already in there. Which brings me to what I find is a good question: aside from meticulous water changes, what else can I do to prevent potential disease outbreak? I was thinking a 50% water change and low doses of aquarium salt since I have some plants and snails. Thanks

 

If it is "your" aquarium isn't it you that decides what's goes in and what doesn't?
I'd insist bringing them back and not het make the problem yours for now for the future.

 

If it is "your" aquarium isn't it you that decides what's goes in and what doesn't?
I'd insist bringing them back and not het make the problem yours for now for the future.

You’d think so right? They like to pull the “my house my rules.” I’ve already proposed it to my dad and he said to just leave it that “it would be fine.” Have yet to talk to my mother. I don’t think I’d speak very kindly or rationally if I tried to right now. Even if I did return the fish my tanks already contaminated and that’s what’s got me worried. She dumped the store water in there

 

You’d think so right? They like to pull the “my house my rules.” I’ve already proposed it to my dad and he said to just leave it that “it would be fine.” Have yet to talk to my mother. I don’t think I’d speak very kindly or rationally if I tried to right now. Even if I did return the fish my tanks already contaminated and that’s what’s got me worried. She dumped the store water in there

Mmmmm but was it an act of love cause you studied that hard and she wanted to biy you something?

Sounds like you need to rehome your partents hahahaha.

To be honest I think that is a part of growing up, becoming an adult.
They have to learn to respect your thoughts, wishes and needs. You bcoming angry and frustrated is no use. Try to explain what this "act of love" is causing.

I've been "fighting" my dad for years cause he was feeding my dog though I constantly asked him not to.
That was when I allready lived on my own.
This behaviour changed when I decided not let it making me angry and frustrated.

Humans (parents) are strange creatures.
As parent myself I try to do things differently tham my parents hahahaha, but still make mistakes.

Tell her you like to bring them back after getting info from this forum and definitely will take her with you and let her help you decide what fish to buy for your future 75G (whenever that's gonna be)!

 

Calm down with medications and stuff, treat the tank as a quarantine tank now, carefully observe your fish, only medicate if necessary. I mean it. You say you have troubles already. Believe me, the store water may be less of a problem than you think and may do less damage than medicating blindly for whatever may be there now. I'd just do several big volume waterchanges and gravelvacs in a row, that should be most helpful. And maybe some indian almond leaves and alder cones as a prophylactic.

Then:
- Bring back the Angels. (DoubleDutch's idea of taking your Mom along is great, actually. Talk, explain, make her understand.)

- Make a point. Rationally, calm and thought through. Tell them why, while you appeciate the gesture, it was a really bad idea and an unpleasant surprise. And don't make them angry, don't be hurtful. That doesn't work in such situation. Just say as it is: It was not the best idea and you may have to deal with harsh consequences now, if you are unfortunate.

My parents also tried to do me "favours" like that, luckily not with live animals. Sometimes trading something of my property in for a newer version or model, which in some situations was a loss on all levels for me, because they gave away something that worked reliably, that I liked emotionally and that was worth far more monetarily than what they got me. Parents rarely mean harm, they can just be very inconsiderate. Because parents are people, too.

 

Agree with all that said above. And at the end of the day if your mom is that set on keeping the 3 angels have her pick out her own tank they can be in. Yes it is a pain that you will have to re stabilize your tank. Maybe try the I really appreciate it and they are lovely fish, BUT they wont be happy or healthy in such a small tank route. Best of luck with your humans.

 

Bring them back. No sense in killing fish. Tell your parents those kind of fish require a different environment or they will most likely die and encourage them to do research because if they don’t, all they’re doing is harming live animals and express that you’re not sure why they’re ok with that, but reaffirm that you aren’t.

I’d highly encourage them to do their own research and not ‘help them’ pick out and set up their own tank. The most detrimental people to this hobby are not interested enough to do their own research to care for live animals and just focus on what they want. These people should not have tanks.

There are plenty of people who put goldfish in a bowl and don’t think twice about it. Education to them is a hassle.

If it comes down to it return all the fish and get rid of the tank and get a new one when you go to college. My concern would be the fish first and foremost, your parents will get over it, and after their failed attempts and needless killing of animals, they’ll either choose to educate themselves or not try at all, which either way is beneficial for everyone including the fish.

 

Bring them back. No sense in killing fish. Tell your parents those kind of fish require a different environment or they will most likely die and encourage them to do research because if they don’t, all they’re doing is harming live animals and express that you’re not sure why they’re ok with that, but reaffirm that you aren’t.

I’d highly encourage them to do their own research and not ‘help them’ pick out and set up their own tank. The most detrimental people to this hobby are not interested enough to do their own research to care for live animals and just focus on what they want. These people should not have tanks.

There are plenty of people who put goldfish in a bowl and don’t think twice about it. Education to them is a hassle.

If it comes down to it return all the fish and get rid of the tank and get a new one when you go to college. My concern would be the fish first and foremost, your parents will get over it, and after their failed attempts and needless killing of animals, they’ll either choose to educate themselves or not try at all, which either way is beneficial for everyone including the fish.

I agree, I would return them

After I was finally recovering from the many catastrophes that occurred that made me very throughly contemplate leaving the hobby, another thing comes to smack me in the face.
I left the house and hung out with people (something I very much needed after being locked in all month doing an online course) and when I get home I find three baby angelfish swimming along the front of my twenty gallon tank! Turns out my mother went to the pet store while I was gone, saw some angelfish, bought them, and dumped them in the tank without quarantining them or even asking me, the one who pays for and cares for this tank, first.
I am incredibly angry about this. My tank already has problems with high nitrates. I spent weeks testing and closely observing the tank to find the source of the problem, recording data even. I was carefully planning what I’d stock the tank with as it only had a few fish and snails. I wanted a centerpiece fish that wasn’t an angel because it would just be a painful reminder of what happened to my old one and several other fish. My plan was to eventually take this tank with me to college as most dorms allow a 20 gallon as the maximum size. Now I have to wait until we move and upgrade this tank to at least a 75gal to accommodate for the size and bioload of these fish. I had all these plans just for my mom to ruin that with her selfish and impulsive choice.
Before people tell me to simply return them, I will explain that my parents are stubborn rocks. They think they know everything and anything. They are unlikely to take them back or let me take them back even if I kick and scream like a toddler. I literally explained to my mom like a month ago why it was a horrible idea to stock three angels in a 20gal that’s already stocked with other fish. Second thing the damage has already been done, it seems like my mom simply dumped the fish into the tank with the store water so whatever disease/parasite/whatever they could be carrying is already in there. Which brings me to what I find is a good question: aside from meticulous water changes, what else can I do to prevent potential disease outbreak? I was thinking a 50% water change and low doses of aquarium salt since I have some plants and snails. Thanks

I would return(as I said above), you also need to educate your parents, it would be beneficial in the long run. Maybe continue to remind them, or put a constant reminder on the tanks, Tank In Quarantine.

 

Do you drive? As a last resort after trying to include your Mom in returning the fish and explaining that this is fish cruelty then..If you do drive or have a friend and your parents refuse to "let" you take the fish back... as a teenager, I would have taken them back behind their backs stating that it may be their house their rules, but if they expect you to respect them, they need to respect you and your space. I know this is antagonistic, but maybe that will teach them you're serious.

As for your tank, "Let it be, let it be, let it be yeah let it be... there will be an answer..." Watch carefully and treat as things happen. 25% water changes every other day?

 

Mmmmm but was it an act of love cause you studied that hard and she wanted to biy you something?

Sounds like you need to rehome your partents hahahaha.

To be honest I think that is a part of growing up, becoming an adult.
They have to learn to respect your thoughts, wishes and needs. You bcoming angry and frustrated is no use. Try to explain what this "act of love" is causing.

I've been "fighting" my dad for years cause he was feeding my dog though I constantly asked him not to.
That was when I allready lived on my own.
This behaviour changed when I decided not let it making me angry and frustrated.

Humans (parents) are strange creatures.
As parent myself I try to do things differently tham my parents hahahaha, but still make mistakes.

Tell her you like to bring them back after getting info from this forum and definitely will take her with you and let her help you decide what fish to buy for your future 75G (whenever that's gonna be)!

Yes, I fully agree. Angry venting and accusations will only backfire, the deed is done and water under the bridge. So sit down with your Mom and try to figure out together what your options are. You pull her in and you will get buy-in.

 

No one answered my original question.

 

A waterchange is never a bad idea.
I wouldb't treat with anything as long as there isn't a noticable disease. What would you be treating for ?

 

A waterchange is never a bad idea.
I wouldb't treat with anything as long as there isn't a noticable disease. What would you be treating for ?

None of the fish seem to be visibly ill. I did a big water change and have just been monitoring closely. I have in the past fed melafix treated food as a preventative in the past and might do that again now.

 

Calm down with medications and stuff, treat the tank as a quarantine tank now, carefully observe your fish, only medicate if necessary. I mean it. You say you have troubles already. Believe me, the store water may be less of a problem than you think and may do less damage than medicating blindly for whatever may be there now. I'd just do several big volume waterchanges and gravelvacs in a row, that should be most helpful. And maybe some indian almond leaves and alder cones as a prophylactic.

I'm repeating myself.

 

None of the fish seem to be visibly ill. I did a big water change and have just been monitoring closely. I have in the past fed melafix treated food as a preventative in the past and might do that again now.

If I am correct Melafix is used in the watercolumn and not to treat food.
Besides of that it isn't a med and hardly have any use as a precaution.

Keep an eye on your fish. As everyone stated bringing back the Angels is the best precaution against issues