Goldfishesss

Question
Hellows =) I wonder if I can get help on this. I know its quite a stupid question really.

I bought 2 lionhead and 2 pearl scale and 1 blackmoore yesterday along with a very tiny sucker fish. I didn't actually know how many fishes per 10 gallon I have to place so I just bought according to the 'fullness' of my tank.

It wasn't full seriously. It looked very empty but I was quite happy with it. When I came back from school today I found out that I have extra 7 pearl scale and 1 black moore in my tank. No, it don't just appear. My mom's friend 'gave' me because she is not going to take care of any fishes anymore. So, I guess you can imagine how crowded my tank is. Although it is not that 'crowded' but I feel like fishes should have more spaces right? I can't actually throw them away! Pity the fishes!

So what do I do? Incase the water gets dirty very quickly...should I clean my tank more than once per week?

my lionhead is sick I think. It has been upside down at the bottom of the tank for a very long time. It still breathe but.. it doesn't move! So.. should I bring it out to a separate tank?

Answer
There are no stupid questions. Better to ask questions than to be afraid to ask because you dont know. You are right, the first tank fullness was just fine, the 2 lionheads, 2 pearls, 1 blackmoore, and the sucker fish. However, the extra 7 pearls and 1 moore really stuffs the tank. Goldfish are very dirty fish to begin with, they produce alot of waste, so having this many fish in a small 10 gallon is very risky. However, if you have no other option, as in you cannot get a bigger tank, there are some things you can do to help them survive. One thing is to add an air pump with a bubble stone. This is a stone in the water that produces bubbles and extra oxygen, which is essential for goldfish as they need more oxygen than other fish. Next, do not overfeed. While you will be tempted to feed extra because there are so many fish, feeding too much will make left over food and cause the goldfish to produce even more waste leading to a build up of bad stuff. Also, clean the filter every three weeks, replacing the cartridge with a brand new one. Next, Syphon the gravel every three weeks when you clean your filter. This is more often than usual but it is necessary due to the amount of fish. Next, change 2 gallons of water every week. These little steps should give you some time to either get a bigger tank or to get more tanks for some of the fish. Also, one other option you have is to take some of the fish back to the fish store. Any fish store would be happy to take them back considering you cannot care for them and it eliminates the problem of having to throw them away. If you decide to take them back, just pick whatever ones are your favorite and take the others back and explain to the store that you do not have the room for them. There should be no problem. However, you can keep them all but it will be more work. Either way you choose just be sure to do it right, if you keep them clean the tank regularly and if you take them back to the store, pick a good place to take them back to. As for the sick lionhead, yes if you can you should remove it and place it in its own tank. This will help prevent disease or parasite spreading. While the fish could be sick from stress, it could also have a disease or parasite. When you place it in its own tank, get a treatment that covers most diseases and parasites and treat the hospital tank. Be sure to follow the directions exactly, including the water changes and the dose. Keep a close eye on the others to be sure they do not develop something. I hope this helps you. I never want to throw away fish and sometimes end up with too many also. Whether you choose to keep them or take them to a store, I hope you enjoy your fish and they stay healthy. Let me know if you need any more help. I would be glad to help you if you need anything else.