What new fish should i get? [Archive]

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:06 PM

I do not remember asking this questions once before. I remember myself asking if a jurupari earth eater will be ok, but I believe that is all I have asked about.

I am not sure if it was killed or not. I was not home. I was gone all weekend. I did notice some fin nipping on friday, but then I left and did not come back til sunday afternoon, and it was already dead. I was planning on taking it back to the store as well as the angel fish as I knew the fish were not compatible. But, I did this too late, as I was waiting for the weekend ( i have to go to school) and I then was gone all weekend. I do know however it was the ambramite or the jewel.

I am tryin to figure out another cichlid that would work. everything I think of doesn't work.

gt- too mean too big
texas- too mean, too big
jd- too mean too big
uaru- likes to school, dont have room, too expensive
chochlate- i believe these school also, but i also cant find one

i am in a conomdrum (sp?)

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:09 PM

It is a conundrum. You said above that one had been killed, so that is what I went on. I think that you have been told that your tanks may be a little overstocked before, and Optix was going on that. I'd suggest that you do not do not do not add any more fish to that mix until some of them go back to the store. Just my $0.02.

ScottoMacD

05-29-2003, 9:10 PM

dbcb314:
How old are all these fish?

I would hold off on getting anything else for that 50 gallon. In fact I would take some of those guys back to the store and thin out your ranks alittle.

It won't be long before those fish that you already have max out the tank. The death is already a sign that the territories are being set.

You've got some potientally big fish there, you also have some fish that could give some serious attitude to their tankmates. Adding more fish is just going to cause you more headaches.

Don't be surprised if you start to find that you are getting more and more sick fish and find more dead ones. It won't matter how many hiding places or plants you put in there.

Sorry but it not a matter of if but whenit's going to happen.

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:14 PM

severum- full grown
parrot- full grown
botia- i believe it is full grown
shark- full grown
jewel- baby
krib- baby
firemouth- baby
african- not full grown obviously
elephant- not full grown

What would you reccomend i take back? the african knife fish?
the pleco? when you say take back, i need to know what?

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:16 PM

Take back?

I'd take back the Krib and Jewel, the African Knife, the Elephantnose, and either the Sev or the Parrot. Even that may leave the tank a little overstocked, but it would be better for all occupants of the tank to thin out the ranks in that manner...

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:17 PM

I'd also get rid of the headstander, and trade the common pleco for a bristlenose. Just my $0.02, but I hope that it's worth more than that in this case...

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:25 PM

so lets see, you want me to keep

firemouth
severum
botia
red tailed shark

wtf? are you freakin serious? 4 little fish in a 50 gal? you can keep all those fish in a 30. go a little overboard much? i would like you to explain your reasoning to get rid of the parrot, jewel, krib? i could understand the african knife as they do grow a foot (never seen one that big but) and the elephant nose as they get about 10 inches (never seen one that big but). but everything else, i dont understand.

ScottoMacD

05-29-2003, 9:26 PM

Originally posted by dbcb314
severum- full grown
parrot- full grown
botia- i believe it is full grown
shark- full grown
jewel- baby
krib- baby
firemouth- baby
african- not full grown obviously
elephant- not full grown

What would you reccomend i take back? the african knife fish?
the pleco? when you say take back, i need to know what?

First there is nothing wrong with a little controled over crowding. As long as the mix and personalities of the fish is right. The fish personalities is a big factor. You can have the most docile species and have the biggest SOB that can cause havoc in your tank.

IMO: You can keep the parrot and the severum. I have seen that mix quite often with no problems.

My immediate chop list would inclued:
The african
the elephant
The krib
Either the jewel or the firemouth. One of them should be fine.
I also have to agree with the pleco idea of changing the common for the bristlenose.

So right now that would only be 4 fish and one change of species.
Give that a try. I don't think that you will have any problems.

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:31 PM

Originally posted by dbcb314
so lets see, you want me to keep

firemouth
severum
botia
red tailed shark

wtf? are you freakin serious? 4 little fish in a 50 gal? you can keep all those fish in a 30. go a little overboard much? i would like you to explain your reasoning to get rid of the parrot, jewel, krib? i could understand the african knife as they do grow a foot (never seen one that big but) and the elephant nose as they get about 10 inches (never seen one that big but). but everything else, i dont understand.

THEY'RE NOT LITTLE FISH, DBCB314. You can keep all those fish in a 30, but that doesn't mean that it will be successful. I didn't tell you to get rid of that Parrot, but to make a choice between it and the Sev. Both are large fish, and will need a 45 gallon minimum. That's when kept alone. Jewels are pretty darn aggressive, and don't think that yours won't be doing some roughhousing when it gets older in a tank stocked with bottom-dwellers. Kribs also can be aggressive, but you may not need to get rid of it as much as the other fish, but I'm thinking that your long-term bioload in that tank will be a little higher than you want.

You like tankbusters...you've given that away with your preferences for fish and with the fact that you think these are small fish. Get bigger tanks if you want to get the bigger fish.

Hey, apparently, Scott disagrees with me a little bit and would leave some more fish, but he's axeing some of the same ones as I suggested and some of the ones that I wouldn't because THEY'RE NOT LITTLE FISH.

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:35 PM

stuff to know-

krib- not really even my fish. i am trying to grow it out for my brother. he loves the fish but it is too small for his tank and large kribs are not common here. he wont be in my tank terribly long.

pleco- there cheap. i dont have a lot of money (no job), so i could not get a cooler pleco. i have plans on giving this to my brother, taking my brothers pleco and putting it into a future african tank, and buying either a royal or gold nugget pleco.

elepant and african- i doubt i will get rid of the african. i know it gets too big, but i will keep it until the time comes. he is too cool, and i will be able to sell it later on. he is too cool. i was worried about compatibility with the cichlids, but they pay no attention to each other. the elephant is in the same boat as the african, except there is a bigger chance i will be getting rid of it LATER. definently not now.

jewel and firemouth- I dont see the problem with these too. I have heard of firemouths being able to stay in tanks with jd's, let alone a jewel, which are only really aggressive during breeding. what is the problem with these two?

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:41 PM

I know you are trying to be helpful, but dawg you read too many books. A severum in a 45 minimum? your nuts. I have seen 2 in a 30 easily without incident. these fish were healthy as can be and they never picked on each other. A firemouth gets about 6 in i believe. that isnt really huge. The botia has not grown for about 3 monthes and he is about 6 inches. that isnt really huge. severum does get decent sized, but the shark is also full grown at about 5 inches. so, you want me to keep 20+ inches of fish in a 50gal.

and i dont really like the tank busters. i hate pacus, i hate huge catfish i really dont like oscars either. In a perfect world, i would be able to get a 75 gal and get what i want. but i have a 50.

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:45 PM

I'm not sure that I'm going by an inch per gallon rule here...and that Severum thing didn't come from a book, it came from the owner/operator of this here site.

Hey, some people keep Doviis in a 180+ by themselves...that's 20+ inches of fish, too.

I may be a little conservative on this issue, and I recognize that. I just don't want my tanks "packed to the gills" so to speak, and I err on the side of caution. Fortunately, my fish have survived well in my tanks as a result (with the exception of the malnourished Oto and the elderly Betta), and I'll stay on the side of caution.

(There's no such thing as too many books...you were happy to learn the stuff about Aros from me, right? ;))

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:48 PM

I dont go by that stupid rule either, i was just provin a point. it really doesnt work for cichlids, but it is better for tropical fish.

caz

05-29-2003, 9:49 PM

i agree with childawg. your tank is way over stocked man. i know you want a cool tank, but you gotta be nice to the fish as well :( its like living in a small apartment with a bunch of people. its livable, but its gotta suck :(

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 9:49 PM

I hate to do this, but to correct a misconception, I will. I'm thinking cichlids are tropical fish...but I think you mean slender-bodied ones...

ScottoMacD

05-29-2003, 9:52 PM

Basically the problem with the pleco is size. The commons and most of the pleco species get very big. The brislenose is a notoriously slow grower, and it doesn't nearly as big as most of it's cousins.

Firemouth are overrated. They are not tough fish. But like I previously said it all depends of the personality of the fish. I have owned firemouths that are real mean. I have also owned ones that never came out of the cave. If you happen to have a SOB though ..watch out.

Jewels however are NASTY, MEAN fish with a serious chip on their perverbial shoulder. This fish whether it seems doscile or not will torment any and all fish it can. They are tough. Your smaller, weaker and more doscile fish will be targets with a jewel.

As for the big boys. Hey you don't want my and others advice cool no problem. Some people have to learn things on their own. That's cool. Keep in mind though we have all been there before.

One last piece of advice you may choose to take or ignore.
I have been around this hobby long enough to know that when enough people give you the same advice about a fish.
Take it.

Best of luck dbcb314. Keep us updated on the tank.

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:52 PM

yes, i mean the tetras, barbs, ect

optix

05-29-2003, 9:58 PM

Actually you ought to pick up a book or two pal. You might want to educate yourself a lil bit on the well being of other animals besides yourself. If the hobby is too expensive for you find another one. Don't let your finances or lack there of be the axe over many species of fishes heads.

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 9:58 PM

i cant tell with my firemouth yet. he was sort of tough in the beginning, but the he dissapeared for a weak, i never say him at all. but now he is comming out again, acting like the fish i bought.

i have been watching the jewel fish, and yes he is somewhat aggressive. he usually chases the headstander, but for good reason. the headstander tries to sneak up on it and bite its fins, but the jewel turns and chases him around a few times. suprisingly, he doesnt mess with the smaller krib at all. the jewel and the firemouth sometimes get in a staring contest but that is all. the rest fo the fish the jewel leaves alone, probably because they are twice its size. i will be watching him closely...

ill keep you updated, unless i get kick out or something (wouldnt be the first time...)

optix

05-29-2003, 10:02 PM

hmmm I think I may have come off a lil rough there, but for some reason I am urked easily over this topic lol. Im sorry man its just for your best interest that you get hounded about thinning out your tanks and the fish for that matter. Just trying to help ya out thats all. Sorry if I seemed up tight.

dbcb314

05-29-2003, 10:03 PM

i actually do have a few books from a couple years ago buddy. i did not say it was too expensive to keep the fish, i said it is too expensive to buy another tank.

but really, the comment wasnt even directed at you, but you jump in anyway like a body guard or somethin. it was somethin i said to childawg not you. it isnt the first time me and him have had a disagreement. it always ends up just fine though.

optix

05-29-2003, 10:08 PM

You're right, I guess I did step in on childawgs defense when he is quite capable of defending himself and I apologize.

optix

05-29-2003, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by dbcb314
i actually do have a few books from a couple years ago buddy. i did not say it was too expensive to keep the fish, i said it is too expensive to buy another tank.

I know you didn't say anything about it being expensive to keep your fish. I was stating that you seem to want more fish very badly but can't afford the space they need. Which if you ask me, that tells me this hobby is either too expensive for you or you don't care about the fishes needs. Or you have a hard time of controlling your wants and reality, you know what I mean. I mean I know alot of people want lots of fish but only have certain amount of space to keep them in. I want a jag very badly, but im not putting it in anything less than a 180. I don't have a 180 so therefore im not getting one. Get what im saying???

ChilDawg

05-29-2003, 10:12 PM

Someone's got my back...thanks, Optix.

dbcb314, can we at least agree on one thing...not adding any fish to the tank like the title of this thread suggested? I'm happy to leave it at that right now, and happy to offer suggestions if asked for in the future, too.

Ender

05-30-2003, 12:24 AM

Originally posted by dbcb314
so lets see, you want me to keep

firemouth
severum
botia
red tailed shark

wtf? are you freakin serious? 4 little fish in a 50 gal? you can keep all those fish in a 30. go a little overboard much? i would like you to explain your reasoning to get rid of the parrot, jewel, krib? i could understand the african knife as they do grow a foot (never seen one that big but) and the elephant nose as they get about 10 inches (never seen one that big but). but everything else, i dont understand.

I wouldn't put to much more into the tank either except for some catfish instead of the botia. I don't know why your trying to max out your tank, it is much more interesting when you fish have *more* room than they *need*. I would think about getting another Severum though, I have always had better luck when they were in groups.

And you may be able to fit those fish in a 30 gal, but I thought my sev were happy in a 30 once until I moved them to a 90 gallon and there was a world of difference, I had to move one back once and he absolutely hated it, just sulked in the corner of the 30 gal tank.

scott

05-30-2003, 8:20 PM

How big is "full grown"? Have you measured them? Severums and Parrotts both get to be nine inches or so. I know personally I thought my fish were a whole lot bigger than they really are until I measured them. I thought my oscar was at least a foot and he is really only ten inches, maybe he has a half in there somewhere. My one green severum rules a fifty five with authority.