I have been mistreating fish and need advice?

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/goldfish/Com...

The above provides a lot of great information.

Really, the common feeders are considered pond fish and ideally would not be housed in anything less than a 180 gallon tank or pond.

But housing juveniles in a smaller system is common. Upgrading to a 20 gallon long would be great for now and hold you over for several years with the fish living happy and healthy. A 55 gallon is even better and would hosuet hem much much longer! Be sure to cycle the tank first to avoid ammonia issues.

Cycling:

http://www.myfishtank.net/articles/fishless-cycle/

You can usually find tanks cheap in the paper, craiglist, at garage sales, used at the fish store (if they don't carry used then they often have a board with used aquariums from customers), thrift shops, etc. If you don't care about appearance, you can create a container out of a small kiddie pool or storage container! You just need a filter.

All you really need is a 10-20 gal. tank, a filter appropriate for the tank size, if you want an airpump you can get one of those but it isn't necessary, more little fake plants :D and maybe some decoration if you'd like, and that's all they really need. Most filter cartridges can be cleaned every 2 weeks and changed every 4 weeks. Also when changing water in a tank do not change all the water. About 1/4 every time you wash the filter and 1/2 every time you Change the filter.

Look for a local pet store, most of the time they'll have an entire starter kit (20 gal. tank, filter, gravel, etc.) for between $25-$40 bucks, depending on the store. ^_^ a small 10 gal. tank would do too, since they are goldfish the water gets dirty much faster, so get a small filter appropriate for the tank size. <333 good luck with the fishies!!!

P.S I highly doubt a set up for 4 feeders will cost you more than 50 bucks, if they try and charge you more say no thank you >_> the filter might be 20 by itself, and the tank no more than 20 also if it's 10-20gal.

Like i said, look for 'starter' kits: Tank, gravel, filter, etc. all in one set ^_^

Goldfish do get large...but that takes a long time >_> for now a mid sized tank is perfectly fine. worry about the big stuff later....

What you describe sound somewhat like a co-dependant relationship. You say that you feel you have no real connections with anyone else. My guess is that he has set it up that way. Usually men who are abusive (emotionally or physically) to their partners make it so that the partner relys solely on them for emotional support. He has spent the last 2 yrs. finding ways to cut you off from others so that you feel you can only count on him. I've been there. I remember thinking that I needed to get away from this person but I was terrified of being without him. I knew he was terrible and I'd be better off but it was the transition that scared me. There is no easy answer to this. I finally just forced myself to do it. At first it was really difficult. He was angry and violent but at the time we were long distant and I think that helped. If you can find a way to leave then I suggest you go somewhere far away while you get over him. It will be safer and it will make it easier so that you don't slip back under his spell. These guys are tricky and manipulative. He has left you feeling insecure, inadequate and that he is the answer to all your problems. Obviously you have realized this is not true. So, now you just need to find some inner strength and walk away. It will not be easy. It will be very very difficult. After awhile you'll start to wonder if you were wrong. You'll think maybe you overreacted. You'll start to forget the bad and only remember the good. Be careful at this point because it is easy to get sucked back in. Always remind yourself that the bad times outweighed the good and that you are a stronger person without him. I wish you the best of luck.

If your feeder fish are goldfish, for four common goldfish you need at least a 50-gallon tank.

Those things grow to be up to a foot and a half long.

Search for a used setup. It's much cheaper than buying it all new, and your budget probably won't get you a new 55-gallon setup.

Feeder fish are meant to be turtle food