Newbie-of-a-sort seeking updated information :)

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fishheadNJ

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Jun 18, 2007
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Hello! New member, technically not new to tropical fishkeeping, but it's been many years and I suspect 'conventional wisdom' might have changed. Besides, growing up we always had a 30 gallon tank, we've just purchased a 12 gallon tank, so that will obviously affect what fish we can have.
I've always liked Angel fish but I think this tank will be too small; unfortunately it's the largest we have room for. Still, I think it's large enough to have a decent community. I was thinking of livebearers like guppies and/or swordtails, but don't want to create an overpopulation problem. I'd love an albino catfish, some guppies, a small school of tetras (3-4). I'm unsure as to the quantities appropriate for this size tank, however.
I should note the tank isn't set up yet, we've some painting to be done in the room in question and won't begin setup until that's done. I've read about tank preparation and remember all about keeping ph levels neutral, so I've an idea about that process but tips there would be welcomed as well!
The tank will 'back up' to a mirror (the filter is in the hood). I don't forsee that being an issue, but might the fish spend all their time bumping into the back of the tank trying to get to the 'other fish' they see in the mirror?
 
I think that you should substitute a snail or two for the albino catfish. Bump the number of tetras up to 6 and make sure that they are a small species.
 
I think you'd be OK with 3-4 tets and a few guppies (2-3). The cat might be a squeeze, not sure there. Fish in the mirror. I dunno, you know how they are. Always lookin' at themselves. :naughty: hey baby...
 
:welcome:

I agree with the above posters. I'd go with 4-5 Tetras (max adult size of 2" or less), 2 fancy guppies (same sex, babies would be bad if you have no room for another tank), and maybe a couple ghost or cherry shrimp or a MTS for cleanup.

The mirror will be a good thing IMO, it'll look like you have twice as many fish than you really do!

As far as tips... make sure to read about cycling, water changes, and have a good filter. Above all, stay on this site, there are alot of very helpful people and threads here.
 
Haha, thanks for the input. How about Rasboras?
 
Rasboras would be good. If you get them, I'd substitute them for the Tetras. I believe both like schools of 4+. The Axelrod look very cool.
 
fishheadNJ said:
Hello! New member, technically not new to tropical fishkeeping, but it's been many years and I suspect 'conventional wisdom' might have changed. Besides, growing up we always had a 30 gallon tank, we've just purchased a 12 gallon tank, so that will obviously affect what fish we can have.
I've always liked Angel fish but I think this tank will be too small; unfortunately it's the largest we have room for. Still, I think it's large enough to have a decent community. I was thinking of livebearers like guppies and/or swordtails, but don't want to create an overpopulation problem. I'd love an albino catfish, some guppies, a small school of tetras (3-4). I'm unsure as to the quantities appropriate for this size tank, however.
I should note the tank isn't set up yet, we've some painting to be done in the room in question and won't begin setup until that's done. I've read about tank preparation and remember all about keeping ph levels neutral, so I've an idea about that process but tips there would be welcomed as well!
The tank will 'back up' to a mirror (the filter is in the hood). I don't forsee that being an issue, but might the fish spend all their time bumping into the back of the tank trying to get to the 'other fish' they see in the mirror?
Click to expand...

Swordtails can get 4-5", and far too big for your tank. Are you talking about Albino Corydoras (Cory Cats)? If so, you should be able to have 4, seeing as they get around 2.5", max.

Here's a list:

2 Male Guppies

4-6 black neons, cardinals, glowlights, or other small, hardy tetras

4 albino corys

fishheadNJ said:
Haha, thanks for the input. How about Rasboras?
Click to expand...

You could probably substitute the tetras for 4 or 5 small rasboras (2" max). Have you read up on cycling yet? You'll have to set up your tank for atleast 3 weeks and add food daily, add pure ammonia, or put a cocktail shrimp in a nylon stocking and let it rought in your tank, and when there are nitrates, stop feeding / take the nylon stocking out of the tank and do a water change, wait a couple days then add fish (prolly not all at once in case of a mini cycle)
 
Hooked Newbie said:
:welcome:

I agree with the above posters. I'd go with 4-5 Tetras (max adult size of 2" or less), 2 fancy guppies (same sex, babies would be bad if you have no room for another tank), and maybe a couple ghost or cherry shrimp or a MTS for cleanup.
Click to expand...

Hadn't thought about shrimp before, will have to learn more about them. Definitely same sex on the guppies, we unintentionally bred them when I was a kid and we had that 30 gallon tank. We were never overrun with little guppies though, courtesy the Angelfish it seems...

MTS stands for what exactly? :)

I'll also go over the whole water changing and cycling info. I'm learning much that we never did...we never changed water, only added water after conditioning it. We also dumped new fish in, store water and all. We did add tank water to the bags and let them acclimate, but always then dumped them in. It does make sense to avoid doing that, though.
 
Dwarf Puffers said:
Swordtails can get 4-5", and far too big for your tank. Are you talking about Albino Corydoras (Cory Cats)? If so, you should be able to have 4, seeing as they get around 2.5", max.
Click to expand...

Yup, those are the ones. My memory must be fuzzy; I don't remember our swordtails getting that big. But it was 20 years ago....

Here's a list:

2 Male Guppies

4-6 black neons, cardinals, glowlights, or other small, hardy tetras

4 albino corys
Click to expand...

That would be a fun tank. Definitely reading all I can on cycling as I'd not a clue about it (was far too young to remember what we did, and once we started we always had fish - even when lightning hit the tank and cracked it (:eek:!!!) we saved who we could and transfered water, gravel etc to a new tank.

This is good stuff, thanks everyone!
 
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