tank mates for goldfish

Question
QUESTION: I'm foster parenting a goldfish at work. He (she?) is in a tiny 1 gal tank. I have the opportunity to get a 10 gal tank (a really special one) that comes with a couple of puffer fish that have been living in fresh water.  Would this be a good idea?  What are the chances of violence, disease, other problems?  If it seems like it might work ok, what would be a good way of "introducing" them to their new home and tankmates?  Thanks.
ANSWER: Hi Marilyn
I just saw your quesion in our question pool.  So sorry for the delay, it just popped up there today.

Sorry, but bad idea.  Goldfish are cool water fish, and thrive with temps around 68-74 F.  Puffers need warmer water, around 78 F.  Puffers are generally a bit nippy with other fish, as well as their own kinds.  Do you know what kind of puffer fish they are?  The tiny little dwarf puffers or pea puffers are really about the only kind of fresh water puffer.  The figure 8 puffers and green spotted puffers are sold as fresh water, but really require brackish and eventually full marine(which needs to be done slowly).  Goldfish also grow quite large, and put out a lot of ammonia naturally through their respiration and waste.  For those reasons, it's usually recommended to have them in at least 15 gallons per goldie(may be able to get away with a 10 gallon with good filtration and frequent water changes).  

Hope that helps!!

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Christy.  Well, I went ahead and got the tank.  Good price and from a med student who really knows his fish. He made his own large two-step filtration, so things may be ok.  There are some tetras that are going in the tank with the goldfish.  He said that should be ok.  Also some kind of algae eater with a sucker, not a mouth that gets very agitated when moved.  And some plants to add oxygen.  Now, how do I go about setting up the new tank and introducing the tetras to the goldfish?  I have some gallon jugs one might have some residue of milk in it, and the other some residue of plant food.  Can I use them?  You probably know by now you're instructing someone who has never had fish and knows basically nothing.  Any help would be appreciated.
The puffers (I forget what kind) went back to the fish store (not a pet store - a fish store), so that is cool.

Answer
Hi Marilyn
That's good you found a place to take the puffers.  The tetras with the goldie are a bad idea as well.  That tank is going to be overstocked.....if you already have the tetras though, don't use those containers.  Your best bet adn you'll need it anyway, buy a bucket from the store.  Rinse it out and use that strictly for the fish, no chemicals or soaps, nothing else.  I wrote FISH on the sides of mine to make sure no one in the house used it for something else.  You'll need it for the water changes as well.  Also pick up a syphon/gravel vacuum if it wasn't included.  If you're going to have a goldfish and tetras in there, you'll need to change out the water and vacuum the gravel twice a week.  Change out about 25% of the water each time.  Make sure the new water temperature is similar to the tank water.  Make sure you use a dechlorinator for the new water as well to remove any chlorine or chloramines.  Only feed those fish once a day, and skip one or two days during the week.  Be sure to net out any uneaten food after 5 minutes, though with goldfish that's usually not a problem.  Be sure to also drop some algae wafers in for the algae eater, preferably in the evening when the lights are out-if that's possible.  Make sure he's getting food.  That's all I can think of at the moment, good luck!!  Let me know if you have any problems!

Christy