Walking a fine line with Killifish

Hey,

I recently became an owner of a 2inch long Golden Wonder Killifish because his original owner suspected him of tearing up the fins of guppies. Since I added him to my 55 gallon tank he's been peaceful not even looking at other fish beyond avoiding collisions. However I do have a full grown (nose to tip of tail 5" )Fancy Goldfish that rules the tank by sheer brute size and will try to eat anything in its path so naturally all the other fish avoid it to prevent from being lipped. The remaining members of my tank are 3 neon tetras, 1 golden tetra, 2 priscilla tetras, and small pleco (only comes out at night).

(Side Note: I do know that tropical fish and goldfish don't generally go together but filter is doing a good job and water quality is acceptable for all species keeping a nice neutral PH)

My issue is that I know that the Killifish will top out at 5" and being a predatory fish very well might become a threat to the smaller tetras. However I read if you keep the Killifish well fed he'll have no reason to pursue his own food. To try and get a head start on the predatory tendencies I purchased some frozen bloodworms to supplement the flake food that all the fish eat. The problem is that the gold fish 9/10 times zeros in on the bloodworm clump and can swallow almost all in one gulp and the tetras snap up any that sink. Seeing this I added another clump of bloodworms and that allows the Killifish to get a few bites before the goldfish pushes it out of the way. I also tried thoroughly melting the bloodworms but most just sink and the Killifish will only feed from top of water and chase things to mid level.

Anyways I would like some suggestions on either how to get the Killifish more of the bloodworms or a better food type for getting him the extra food he needs. Also I've observed he only eats certain flakes and will spit out the ones he does not like.

 

Welcome to Fishlore,

I have a Red Cap Oranda and two Rancus, so naturally I want to know what kind of Fancy you have. ???

Goldies should not share tanks with tropical fish because they are the so called "cold water fish," and require colder temperature. Mine have 68F day or night 365 days a year. Water temperature has nothing to do with filtration.

Goldies should never ever share tanks with peocos. Sooner or later pleco will get a taste of Goldie's slime coat. It is addictive to pleco who will be treating himself until Goldie dies.

I know people who say that their Goldies and plecos coexist peacefully. Yes, they do, until they don't any more.

I was told by knowledgeable Fishlorians that my Goldies and White Cloud Mountain Minnows should not be in the same tank. I ignored the warning, they've been together for over a year. One morning we woke up to - 7 minnows, in a couple of hours another half a dozen were gone, so Minnows had to be rehomed instantly. My Oranda named The Boss did not hide her displeasure.

Keeping avaricious fish well fed in order to protect smaller fish can be a good plan, but for their own good, all fish should fast one day a week. What happens then?

I see another tank in your future. Welcome to MTS (multiple tank syndrome, around here it is contagious.).

I hope you understand that I am not being critical...just sharing that I've been there done that, and it was not fun when a dozen of WCMMs were gone overnight because I did not know better.

 

Agreed^

 

I'll be up front I'm not sure what variety my goldfish is because I bought her/hI'm a few years ago from Petco in a tank labeled Fancy Goldfish. I chose a goldfish for the tank because they keep gravel so clean with the obsessive food searching and my sisters Fancy Goldfish had passed away after 5 years or so.Current goldie's name is Bubbles Mach 3. Tank temperature is 74 F which I've read is acceptable for them but I guess several websites are wrong and pet stores too.




I'd heard rumors of plecos going after Goldfish slime but honestly never had it happen. Every pleco I've had flee interaction from all other fish except other bottom feeders like catfish and once a rafael. Owned fish for well over 12 years and the only fatalities occured either from age, tiger barb attacks, and once ammonia poisoning. I'm not saying its not true but that I've never seen it.

As for the fasting well I think by accident that occurs occasionally but very well also may be the cause of small fish being eaten by the bigger fish in a community tank. Pretty sure once my sisters goldfish ate a couple neon tetras but we dismissed it as the tetras dropped dead then were eaten. I will watch my fishes behavior closely and see what happens but honestly short of a massacre I rarely remove fish because every time I do it's to rehoming and rehoming leads to death with 100% of the fish because they stress or beat themselves up during car trip.
If I had the luxury of multiple tanks I would but I don't own my own home and the owners only allow for one community tank then I'm allowed a small cold water tank where my female betta lives.

By the way not trying to say your advice is bad just saying I'm stuck with the tank situation I have and that technically you didn't answer my question just told me that my fish are pretty much doomed.

 

Are you asking how to keep the goldfish from eating all the food in one gulp? I have a similar problem with my bettas wolfing their food so I've taken to giving the water a bit of a swirl when I put the clump of food in but before I release it. That way the individual worms get scattered around the tank.

I have to mention though that your Betta should really have a heater since they are tropical fish.

 

I would love to have a heated tank for betta but can't find small tank with heater and low maintenance filter.

 

I would love to have a heated tank for betta but can't find small tank with heater and low maintenance filter.

How small? There are some very small heaters available these days for small setups

 

I know it's bad but current tank is 1 gallon because I went through several tanks and this one has the best filtration without interfering with the bettas ability to swim.

 

I prefer to use air-powered sponge filters with my bettas. They're the easiest to maintain, cheap, and can fit in any size tank. Heaters tend not to be included in.tank kits but some very reasonably priced ones are available for small tanks these days

 

Thank you all who gave me advice. Especially thanks you aquaphobia I will be happy mproving my little ladies tank quality.

 

Do you use eBay GoldenKillifish? That's where I buy my filters and they're much cheaper there

 

Yes I do. I'll look into it. Also can buy the heater for cheap at petco with a coupon