Was Saving Unwanted Fish A Bad Idea?

So a family member approached me a few months ago to sort out her old aquarium that she had (30Litre so like 7.5gal?) I cleaned it out and set it back up for her new heaters and filter etc did a cycle once it was all complete I left her to buy new fish... All was good...

Until I got a text over the weekend saying she doesn't want the tank anymore and is getting rid fish aswel do I want it all .. so I said yes just to save the fish as I knew she would "dispose" of the fish otherwise.

I haven't got the space currently to set up another tank so I've had to put her fish in with mine in my 30gal long planted aquarium.
Which has now put me over stocked... I think....

I had:
6: 2"-3" Rosy barb's
5: 1" Gold barb's
2: 4" Golden Gouramis
1: 1" Golden Gourami
1: 3" Angelfish
1: Albino Rainbow shark (which I donated to my lfs after getting her fish)

I took from hers:
3: 1" Molly's
2: 2" bronze Cory's
3: 2" Bandit Cory's
1: 4"-5" Bristlenose pleco
1: rainbow shark (which I also donated to my lfs same day)..

I have a fluval U3 filter and a double air powered sponge filter running.
I also do 30-40% water changes every Saturday and Wednesday.

Have I taken on to much?
I will in the future set up the small aquarium when I find room and possibly move the Molly's and some Cory's over. But will all the fish be alright for now? Maybe a few months until I start to set up the other aquarium..

Luckily for me most/all fish aren't fully grown but I don't know how long that will last until suddenly there all at maturity size..

 

Personally, I think you might be okay given your filtration and water change schedule as far as bioload, but in terms of space... Hm. I'm not good at such things because my brain just doesn't compute stocking and numbers abstractly. But it sounds pretty busy. I'm sure others will have a better idea.

 

Personally, I think you might be okay given your filtration and water change schedule as far as bioload, but in terms of space... Hm. I'm not good at such things because my brain just doesn't compute stocking and numbers abstractly. But it sounds pretty busy. I'm sure others will have a better idea.

That's what worries me that I'll run into problems in terms of space. The only lfs near me doesn't want anything else otherwise I'd donate something like the Cory's. He took on the shark's for me as he wanted my albino one anyway to put in his display tank so it got me some store credit for the future

 

IMO you were over stocked before taking on your family members fish, you are now extremely overstock.

I expect both fighting due to cramped conditions and outbreaks of illness due to water quality issues.

Try to donate some of those fish elsewhere if possible.

 

IMO you were over stocked before taking on your family members fish, you are now extremely overstock.

I expect both fighting due to cramped conditions and outbreaks of illness due to water quality issues.

Try to donate some of those fish elsewhere if possible.

I am currently trying to find a home for the Angelfish, Cory's, Molly's and the pleco as even setting up the 7.5gal won't be big enough for them especially not the pleco and angelfish. My tank was fine until I took on some fish from a friend who moved away and now these from a family member. I really don't like to see fish in loved so I take them all on myself not really thinking about the complications I cause myself.

 

I know the feel, my friend would buy all sorts for his 33 gallon which is now mine. To be fair the Lfs didn't help with their bad advice. So I ended up with all his problems crashing my cycle and loosing the fish or rehoming them anyway.
Overstocked? Yes, extra maintenance should keep you safe until you rehome them. Be careful with three spot Gourami they can be aggressive.

 

I know the feel, my friend would buy all sorts for his 33 gallon which is now mine. To be fair the Lfs didn't help with their bad advice. So I ended up with all his problems crashing my cycle and loosing the fish or rehoming them anyway.
Overstocked? Yes, extra maintenance should keep you safe until you rehome them. Be careful with three spot Gourami they can be aggressive.

I just hate to see fish unloved.. my original tank was the Gouramis which are my absolute beautiful favourites and I admit I am attached to them and then my barb's that was it... Then suddenly from all angles people started giving me fish... until I was suddenly in this situation. Speaking to my "boss at home" she is possibly agreeing to let me set up the small aquarium for now to move over what I can like the Molly's and Cory's just until I decide what I can do. My Gouramis probably will get aggressive now all this is going on but they've got on great with the barb's, I've never experienced a problem with either of them... So far...

 

So a family member approached me a few months ago to sort out her old aquarium that she had (30Litre so like 7.5gal?) I cleaned it out and set it back up for her new heaters and filter etc did a cycle once it was all complete I left her to buy new fish... All was good...

Until I got a text over the weekend saying she doesn't want the tank anymore and is getting rid fish aswel do I want it all .. so I said yes just to save the fish as I knew she would "dispose" of the fish otherwise.

I haven't got the space currently to set up another tank so I've had to put her fish in with mine in my 30gal long planted aquarium.
Which has now put me over stocked... I think....

I had:
6: 2"-3" Rosy barb's
5: 1" Gold barb's
2: 4" Golden Gouramis
1: 1" Golden Gourami
1: 3" Angelfish
1: Albino Rainbow shark (which I donated to my lfs after getting her fish)

I took from hers:
3: 1" Molly's
2: 2" bronze Cory's
3: 2" Bandit Cory's
1: 4"-5" Bristlenose pleco
1: rainbow shark (which I also donated to my lfs same day)..

I have a fluval U3 filter and a double air powered sponge filter running.
I also do 30-40% water changes every Saturday and Wednesday.

Have I taken on to much?
I will in the future set up the small aquarium when I find room and possibly move the Molly's and some Cory's over. But will all the fish be alright for now? Maybe a few months until I start to set up the other aquarium..

Luckily for me most/all fish aren't fully grown but I don't know how long that will last until suddenly there all at maturity size..

I would up those water changes to 75% or do 50% 3 times a week with that massive overstocking...or I'd be testing that water a couple times a week for ammonia and nitrates and adjust water changes accordingly....just my opinion.

 

I would up those water changes to 75% or do 50% 3 times a week with that massive overstocking...or I'd be testing that water a couple times a week for ammonia and nitrates and adjust water changes accordingly....just my opinion.

Agreed my water changes do need to be increased I might do a Monday/Wednesday/Saturday routine for the time being

 

Agreed my water changes do need to be increased I might do a Monday/Wednesday/Saturday routine for the time being

Test your water for nitrates too, that's the best way to know what frequency and volume of water changes you really need to do. I would also feed sparingly until you can rehome those fish or get a bigger (or another) tank. Less food=less bioload. Good Luck!

 

Test your water for nitrates too, that's the best way to know what frequency and volume of water changes you really need to do. I would also feed sparingly until you can rehome those fish or get a bigger (or another) tank. Less food=less bioload. Good Luck!

Hopefully if my other half allows me to I'll be able to move over what I can into the 30Litre tall tank I have spare and then hopefully re home what I can't keep. I just really don't want to put any stress or cause any disease or problems to my Gouramis. I'd cry if one died

 

I agree that it looks like your tank is overstocked as it is, and will be severly overstocked if you take on these additional fish. Really I don't think any of those fish would be appropriate in a 30l tank. I think the best thing you could do is see if a fish store will take in the fish.

 

I agree that it looks like your tank is overstocked as it is, and will be severly overstocked if you take on these additional fish. Really I don't think any of those fish would be appropriate in a 30l tank. I think the best thing you could do is see if a fish store will take in the fish.

I agree completely but there all now already in my 120Litre tank as it was either take them from her now or she will "dispose of them" I was quite shocked to see she had a rainbow shark, large Bristlenose pleco, Cory's and Molly's all in her tank I thought she just had a few Molly's or guppies or maybe some Tetras. I don't know where she got the fish from or who gave her the information that they do fine in the 30L I really have taken on to much trying to save these fish. Oh dear me

I need to get rid of everything except the Gouramis, barb's and maybe some Cory's. Everything else is overcrowding what was once such a nice tank (personal opinion)

 

You're heart was in the right place, but you really need to keep the best interest of the fish in mind. Doing the right thing usually means doing the difficult thing.

 

You're heart was in the right place, but you really need to keep the best interest of the fish in mind. Doing the right thing usually means doing the difficult thing.

I agree I'm to soft. I will sort something out asap to get back to my Gouramis and barb's tank. I wanted her 30L tank to house a Betta fish I just didn't quite think about what I was going to do with the fish already inside her tank. It all happened way to fast! Lesson learnt I guess

 

Been trying all evening to see what I can do with these fish. How would my stock list be with:

3 Golden Gouramis.
6 rosy barb or 5 gold barb.
3 Bandit cory.
2 bronze cory.
1 Bristlenose pleco.

I'm finding it difficult to re home anything as I am so limited where to take them to. We have pets at home in the uk but I really dislike going there unless I can find a member of staff in there who would take them of me for themselves as opposed to putting them in the shop to sell..

 

Is there no online marketplace where you can put up an ad? This is how I sometimes get my fish, free giveaways tend to be gone pretty quickly (or charge a small price if you are worried about the takers). Or get a 2nd hand 10-15 gallon if you have some space to share, and put the fish you are planning to get rid of in there for the time being. The current stocking is too likely to cause stress through overcrowding, 30 gallons isn't all that much either.

Personally I would put some of the fish in the 30L for now, it should be fine temporarily as long as you keep on top of frequent water changes. Maybe the cories, the mollies and maybe the small gourami as well. Or just put your favourite 1-2 fish in there, to protect them from a potential wipe-out in case the stress in that crowded tank causes an outbreak.

 

Is there no online marketplace where you can put up an ad? This is how I sometimes get my fish, free giveaways tend to be gone pretty quickly (or charge a small price if you are worried about the takers). Or get a 2nd hand 10-15 gallon if you have some space to share, and put the fish you are planning to get rid of in there for the time being. The current stocking is too likely to cause stress through overcrowding, 30 gallons isn't all that much either.

Personally I would put some of the fish in the 30L for now, it should be fine temporarily as long as you keep on top of frequent water changes. Maybe the cories, the mollies and maybe the small gourami as well. Or just put your favourite 1-2 fish in there, to protect them from a potential wipe-out in case the stress in that crowded tank causes an outbreak.

I'll have to look into a online marketplace to try sell/donate some fish to people.

My partner is really really really against letting me set up another tank even if it's just temporary our house is already crowded with the children, she doesn't want "Aquariums in every room too" because that was my initial plan on taking on these extra fish just to re-home all I could and keep the spare small tank for a future betta fish when I finally get one. But once I bought it all home my partner decide the 2nd tank isn't going up so I had no choice but to put them into my tank. To much regret!?

 

Can you attach the filter for the smaller tank so you will at least have the extra filtration so you don't crash your cycle?

 

I thought about that but it's so small and only graded to like 55L so it wouldn't do much.... Would it? I'm not up on things like that

Maybe solved my issue a lad at work is wanting a Aquarium, so I have offered him my 30L for a "start up" with fish all set up until he gets what he wants in the near future. That will move on the Molly's and Cory's temporarily until he gets the bigger Aquarium to move them into. Then I can get the 30L back to put a betta in at some point...

 

I thought about that but it's so small and only graded to like 55L so it wouldn't do much.... Would it? I'm not up on things like that

Maybe solved my issue a lad at work is wanting a Aquarium, so I have offered him my 30L for a "start up" with fish all set up until he gets what he wants in the near future. That will move on the Molly's and Cory's temporarily until he gets the bigger Aquarium to move them into. Then I can get the 30L back to put a betta in at some point...

Good that you found someone to take them on. Any filtration is good. Many people here run an extra sponge filter in place of an aerator just for extra filtration. Any place where beneficial bacteria can grow is helpful.

 

Good that you found someone to take them on. Any filtration is good. Many people here run an extra sponge filter in place of an aerator just for extra filtration. Any place where beneficial bacteria can grow is helpful.

I run a sponge filter in my 30gal tank along with the internal filter just for a little extra filtration like you say. Tonight I set up the small Aquarium at my house (temporary according to my other half).... just to move out some of the fish from the big tank as my friend said he is going to buy himself a Aquarium. he's looking online now to order one. So once he's all set up I can move over all my extra fish. Probably solved fingers crossed!! Thanks all for the help and the push I needed to get this problem sorted. Otherwise I might of just left them all in my tank and risked causing diseases and deaths unnecessarily.