Jumping too fast!

[terror spawnin]

Too many people are buying fish without researching them first. I strongly suggest you check the internet or check out a book. Too many local fish stores have a high turn over with employment. Wich leads to lack of knowledge and information given to the customer. I have been a victim of this myself.
It is not always about species compatability or tank size. It is more to do with matching the species natural environment first. (still keeping compatability and tank size in mind.)
Most think their species need a cleaner environment than they naturally live. Causing the keeper to pay too much attention, doing more than necessary, and in the end result creating an uncomfortable environment.
On the flipside they have a species that requires a super sterile, super clean environment, not being provided.
Researching the natural habitat of each species will help you raise your fish to reach old age maturity and at the same time will help with learning what other species can co-habitate.

Use real plants...I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you have to let the plants establish months before introducing fish. Trust me, you will be greatly rewarded for waiting it out. After all, without live vegetation there would be no fish on this planet. Or any life for that matter!

FOLLOW NATURES LEAD!!!

[Lupin]

You have to face the truth though that you cannot persuade everyone to research before buying. A lot of people love to buy on impulse thinking they see the fish fit for their community because of cutie-pie face. Any cute-face can be tempting without realizing how monstrous most are.;)

Some employees tend to speak like know-it-alls. Such convincing tones can be deceiving. This is business you're dealing about. Most pet shops owners will have to talk the way they will be able to convince the customers to buy anything in order to maintain a thriving business. The fish's welfare is most often not their top priority. Business is.

As for plants, most cichlids have a tendency to uproot them. Anubias and Javan ferns are fine choices.

[Star_Rider]

Too many people are buying fish without researching them first. I strongly suggest you check the internet or check out a book. Too many local fish stores have a high turn over with employment. Wich leads to lack of knowledge and information given to the customer. I have been a victim of this myself.
It is not always about species compatability or tank size. It is more to do with matching the species natural environment first. (still keeping compatability and tank size in mind.)
Most think their species need a cleaner environment than they naturally live. Causing the keeper to pay too much attention, doing more than necessary, and in the end result creating an uncomfortable environment.
On the flipside they have a species that requires a super sterile, super clean environment, not being provided.
Researching the natural habitat of each species will help you raise your fish to reach old age maturity and at the same time will help with learning what other species can co-habitate.

Use real plants...I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you have to let the plants establish months before introducing fish. Trust me, you will be greatly rewarded for waiting it out. After all, without live vegetation there would be no fish on this planet. Or any life for that matter!

FOLLOW NATURES LEAD!!!

is this a rant?

even with all the research available..you still cannot predict how fish will act.


"Most think their species need a cleaner environment than they naturally live. Causing the keeper to pay too much attention, doing more than necessary, and in the end result creating an uncomfortable environment."

I can't think if a species we keep that does not do better in a clean enviroment.


"Use real plants..." this is not practical in many aquariums..keeping live plants requires a different skill set and dedication ..and keeping fish in a tank with no live plants is not out of reason.

[jm1212]

what about tanks with herbavorious fish sich as africans or silver dollars? those tanks cannot have live plants.

almsot all of the books i have read have either said that blue gouramis are peacful fish or bettas can be kept in community aquariums. i myself have experience that totally contradicts a statement regarding blue goruamis and any bit of peacfulness they have, and i have read of many instances where bettas have killed their tankmates. research is great for finding out the max adult size for fish, water needs, and feeding. even those can have variations. i have read the max size of an angelfish to be from 4½ to 8 inches.

[dbcb314]

Too many people are buying fish without researching them first. I strongly suggest you check the internet or check out a book.

since you are on a internet fish sight... you are preaching to the choir[/quote]


Most think their species need a cleaner environment than they naturally live. Causing the keeper to pay too much attention, doing more than necessary, and in the end result creating an uncomfortable environment.[/quote]

so... should we go outside and get some pond water and some mud or what?




Use real plants...I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you have to let the plants establish months before introducing fish. Trust me, you will be greatly rewarded for waiting it out. After all, without live vegetation there would be no fish on this planet. Or any life for that matter!

lol... plants are expensive and a hassle for some... it is definitely not needed at all, hell a lot of cichlids tear them apart anyway


FOLLOW NATURES LEAD!!!


nature would have you leave them alone....

[jm1212]

nature would have you leave them alone....
:grinyes:

[Rbishop]

What if your fish are not from a "natural" habitat?

[Weezer]

Our cichlids attack the plastic plants like a dog with a newspaper.....:eek:

[terror spawnin]

Well I definatelly expected to hear of a few extreme cases of plant ripping fish. Are these not species with plants being part of their instinctive diet? Maybe they see them as a territorial threat when introduced after the fish. I've also seen live footage of african cichlids with no plants what so ever in their natural habitat.
Also sounds like I struck a nerve with a fish store owner.
NO, I was not ranting. And I know stores do what they can to make money. I just wish I could have read this advice myself when I started out.

What is so wrong with doing a little research to create the best possible happy place for your pets? Why are people hammering on me for this?

[Mgamer20o0]

nothing wrong with research. i am a plant person and think its great but its not for everyone.

[jamthoyoung]

Hi terror. You're ideas are generally good: beware of fish store knowledge, research the natural habitat, research the fish. Not sure about the plant thing.

I don't think you are being 'hammed'. People are just responding to the way you styled your post. It's kind of rantish.