Some basic questions

[Tw00sh]

Hello,

I am new to the forums and kinda new to owning fish.

I have a 40 Gallon tank and just picked up some fish last night. I got a needle nose and 2 white tipped sharks. Also some kind of plecto bottom feeder.

I just was wondering a couple things about the fish though. The needle fish seems to eat live fish. I had a couple real small fish in the tank for him and he ate one right away. He also ate one this morning and another already this afternoon. Should I limit his food? Will he just eat all the time and kill himself, or does he know when to eat and when not to eat? I am wondering if I can just leave the little fish in the tank with him, or should I put them in a smaller tank till I want to feed him. Byt the way, he has to be the coolest fish EVER. Hehe :D

With the sharks, I feed them some bloodworms. I am not really sure what I should feed them though? Will they eat the little fish when they get bigger too? Speaking of size, will they only grow to the size of my tank, or are they going to just get big anyway regardless? I only have a 40 gallon tank right now.

Any opinions or advice is appreciated.

[stpower]

I had a gar. I would put 3 or 4 feeders in about once a week. He would normally eat them within the first day. He also ate floating chiclid pellets after a few days of no feeders. If he's hungry he will eat the pellets.

[beviking]

Fish will grow to their full size regardless of tank size. Limit your fishs food or you'll likely run into problems with waste accumulation and by-products of waste (ammonia, nitrite) poisoning. Do more research on your specific fish. Needlenose and white tipped shark may be common names for various fish so try to find the scientific name out also, it will help us help you.

Welcome to AC!!

[Tw00sh]

Well, I was told the sharks will get to 24". That is going to be pretty darn big for almost any tank?

[famman]

Welcome to Aquaria Central!

Is this a marine tank? Can you be more specific about the species?

You'll probably have to raise the feeder fish seperately, the needle nose will just eat them all and gorge himself.
The 40 gallon tank will end up being too small, you will eventually need at least a 75 and maybe much larger. The white tips will NOT stay small just because they are in a small tank.

good luck
:)

[Tw00sh]

Well, I have a little salt in the water, but it is not a salty as a saltwater tank. The sharks are brackish, so I just added some minor salt to the water.

I am not sure on the species, I will have to do some research to find out.

I am not even sure I will be able to keep them if they are going to potentially get to 24" long :eek: I live in an apartment on the second floor and cannot have a 100 plus gallon tank here. :(