Question for the fish people

My neighbor is having troubles with her fish. I think I know what the problem is, but I don't want to go giving advice when I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about.

Our neighbor keeps freshwater fish, a huge tank with a pair of gorgeous oscars and a tank with fancy goldfish. She keeps these tanks... pristine. Really really clean. And she also has some snails.

The snails are now attaching themselves to the goldfish and she finds this very upsetting. Now, I figure it's probably because they're hungry and there's no bottom feeding to be had because she keeps it so hospital clean. They're probably trying to eat the slime off the goldfish, yes? And I assume that this is a bad thing.

Do you think that's the case too? Something else? Any advice? She's a sweet older lady who's very disturbed by this and I'd like to help her out.

If the snails have nothing to eat they can easily do damage to fancy goldfish....
She deinately needs to suppliment their feedings.
Rusty
PS She should be giving her goldfish fresh veggies every other day or so..
Dark leafy greens, squash, zuccini, peas etc. If she puts them in in the morning she should always take out any uneaten food in the evening. This will also help feed the snails.
All around she will have healthy happy gfish & snails!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rusty_Reptiles

If the snails have nothing to eat they can easily do damage to fancy goldfish....
She deinately needs to suppliment their feedings.
Rusty
PS She should be giving her goldfish fresh veggies every other day or so..
Dark leafy greens, squash, zuccini, peas etc. If she puts them in in the morning she should always take out any uneaten food in the evening. This will also help feed the snails.
All around she will have healthy happy gfish & snails!

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No doubt! Snails are people too :P

Seriously, snails need to eat. Rusty gave some good advice.

Otherwise she could just put her tank in front of a large sunny window :)

Thanks guys! I just let her know! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

No doubt! Snails are people too :P

Seriously, snails need to eat. Rusty gave some good advice.

Otherwise she could just put her tank in front of a large sunny window :)

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Then it will heat up too much for the cold water Goldfish....
I had the three most punk rock goldfish.
Ryunkins really great personable fish....
But what is filled our house to the brim, oh yeah, cold blooded reptiles...
They need heat and lots of it....
It only took a week during this past summer for the goldfish tank to heat up over 99 degrees, even when we added ice..
My poor gfish.
If we move and I actually have aroom that is not at a constant 80+ degrees I'll have to get some more.
Rusty
PS sorry for the rambeling..lol

That Is a bad thing. I don't like the idea of such a clean tank; what I keep, is a clean "looking" tank that is actually alive with "dirt" (aka, beneficial bacteria and algae.)
Goldfish do thrive better in cooler water.. my two GF tanks are purposely kept in cooler patrs of our house for this reason.
For my Gfish, I love the Hikari pellet food; seriously I think it makes them grow a bit better and get better colors (though genetics plays a huge part.)
I love Gfish, HATE the rap they have as "kids' fish" that live in a bowl and die fast. Let me post a few shots of mine!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rusty_Reptiles

Then it will heat up too much for the cold water Goldfish

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I was joking :)

i would just add a leaf of romaine or green leaf lettuce into the tank and the snails will be HAPPY! :D

Thanks guys! I dunno much of anything about fish, but I knew you guys would. :)

You could also try some of the sinking algae wafers