View Full Version : HELP : Fish Compatibility,Tank Accessories,Buying of Fish
Hello,
I am new to fishkeeping and need your help !
Fish Compatibility
I have a tank with a Albino Rainbow Shark and 10-12 fishes of an unknown species.
I couldnt take a picture of the species as it is too small.
It is about the size of an anchovy or neon tetra or maybe smaller.
It is white and a little of black and is silver when light is shone
on it.
Any suggestions?
Also, I feed pellets for them, do I need to get tablets specifically for the shark?
I plan to introduce, 2-3 female Betta Siamese Fighting Fish(Plakats) , 7 Guppies, 10-12 Neon Tetra and 2-3 Pearl Gourami. I have read that articles stating the smaller fishes may conflict with the Fighting Fishes and Pearl Gourami. However, some of it says that they are compatible.
What do you people suggest?
Tank Accessories
I am really lost at what to get for shelters, fake plants, decors and how to fit it into the tank. Im not going to get gravel, not yet, and I have quite a large piece of diftwood. Any links, books, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Buying of Fish
Some unethical shops sell fishes that are unhealthy or sick. I have read that healthy fishes will react positively to food and are active in swimming. However, its not like I can feed the fishes or prod them before buying.
So, how do experienced fishkeepers judge if a fish is healthy?
Thanks !!!
DarkSoul
08-06-2007, 6:21 AM
how big is your tank?
it sounds like you want to put too many fish in it.
I could be wrong though.
Dwarf Puffers
08-06-2007, 6:27 AM
Post pics of the "10-12 unknown fish" for identification, please.
Your looking at a 40g+ for the current stocking and a 100g+ for the stocking you want.
bluekrissyspike
08-06-2007, 6:31 AM
i got a couple answers but i will leave some of them for people who are better suited to answer....
a healthy fish has shiny eyes and scales, no deformities, spots, missing fins, things hanging on it...it is also important to check that the fish does not look like it's been starved, and to look a the condition of the tank it is coming from, do the other fish look healthy, is there dead fish in there...also some fish stores will let you spend a bit of time with or feed the fish if you are interested in it.... it doesn't hurt to ask..just say you may be interested in the fish and what to see how it reacts....
decorating the tank is fun... i redecorate it everytime i do a water change, but eventually you will find a way that you really like and keep it similar to that....be careful of what you are adding as decorations, best to get them from a LPS, but i made some coconut huts and the fish think they are great, just cut a coconut in half and empty the 'meat' out, drill an entry hole(s) and voila, a hut... aside from that, the basics put the larger decorations in the back, and the smaller ones towards the front or even all over if you like...my fish seem to like rocks, but you have to be careful what kinds of rocks you add, so you should buy them....the more natural stuff in the tank the better, IMO.
I don't know about guppies, but my tetra's all get along fine with their tank mates, some have a beta in their tank and the others live with an angelfish....i wouldn't add danio's if i were you, they are nippy...
You really should add some kind of subterate to the tank, it helps to keep the tank healthy and cycled
what size and style is your tank by the way?
ct-death
08-06-2007, 8:09 AM
You must have a very nice large tank! :)
I will try and touch on each concern:
1st, it would be best to ID the unknowns. This is a priority.
2nd, may we assume the tank is cycled? If not, this should be your priority prior to adding any further fish.
3rd, as for the pellets, a varied diet is best, and I'm not certain, but I think Sharks typically have a special food...? Not sure.
4th, female Bettas can be tricky to add together. Usually there is a LOT of aggression while they establish their hierarchy, and this can become very stressful to the fish (and the tank as a whole). In addition, Bettas typically do not do particularily well with other colorful fish with flowing fins (ie. some gouramis, and fancy guppys).
5th, The Pearl Gouramis, may or may not do well with the bettas... Also, only get 1 male as multiple males will fight with each other (unless your tank is very large and heavily planted/decorated)!
6th, as for the health of fish a few things work best -- Try and get fish that have bene in the fish store for 4 weeks or more. I advice staying away from centrally filtered tank systems (all the tanks share the same water), and look for plump fish with good fins and scales. Also, a fish store that has a hospital tank is actually a GOOD sign!
Lastly, before I would do ANYTHING else, I would read up on this hobby a bit, learn the profiles of the fish you desire and their needs and understand as much as possable.
This forum is a GREAT resource! Take advantage! ;)
boomerjr91
08-06-2007, 10:21 AM
:iagree: Search this site and its wealth of information.
Tank Size
I calculated the tank to be about 142 litres. About 38 US Gallons(Liquid) 32 US Gallons(Dry) and 32 UK Gallons. Maybe I will leave all the bigger fishes or reduce their quantities then.
Fish Nutrients
I think I will go and find out more about the Albino Rainbow..
What is a "subterate"? I add some kind of "Black Water". It contains Terminalia catappa Extract, along with some anti-chlorine and aquarium salt.
Will the anti-chlorine affect the already aged water?
Tank Cycle
I change the water when it gets cloudy. I do not have a testing kit, but I usually judge how much water to change 50%-80% according to the clearness of the water.
Unknown Species
The fish is really small and moves really quickly. Any ideas on how to get a clear shot? Also, I noticed it likes to be near the surface of the water. Can anyone just narrow it down so that I can do research and see if it fits the profile of the fish?
Thanks!
jonnyfry
08-06-2007, 10:01 PM
okay , the first thing you need to do is get a master test kit , API make a good one and seems pretty acurate , then read this ,
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
you cannot see ammonia or nitrite , that are fatal to fish .
hope this helps
silentskream
08-06-2007, 10:04 PM
danios?
cichlidsrextrem
08-06-2007, 10:33 PM
i woulld b care full about the female bettas they fight as much as the males some times i know i breed them only 1 time though lol watch ur fish and stay on top of ur filtration are those little fellas mountain clowd minnows i thonk thats correct if i saw a pic i could probobly tell ya at sounds like a south american bio tope tank i would try to put things like live plants and drift wood that would be nice and natural i think i would just stay away from bettas they can tear up a guppy pretty good mainly becouse the large tail fins they seem to envy them so thats sounds like a lot of fish 4 that tank but i guess it is do able good luck keep us posted on what happens and plz make shure that babys cycled fully b4 you add all those that can take a chunk out of your wallet
I finally found out that the 4th species are white spot tetras!
My bettas seems to be getting along well with the rest of the fishes, however I think one of them is sick, if you know are bettas, please help me out at http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1031390#post1031390
Thanks!
wataugachicken
08-09-2007, 1:26 PM
Tank Size
I calculated the tank to be about 142 litres. About 38 US Gallons(Liquid) 32 US Gallons(Dry) and 32 UK Gallons. Maybe I will leave all the bigger fishes or reduce their quantities then.
Fish Nutrients
I think I will go and find out more about the Albino Rainbow..
What is a "subterate"? I add some kind of "Black Water". It contains Terminalia catappa Extract, along with some anti-chlorine and aquarium salt.
Will the anti-chlorine affect the already aged water?
Substrate is whatever you put on the bottom of your tank. This could be gravel, sand, rocks, marbles, or soil for plants. I don't think you need to use the Black Water stuff. keep using it until it runs out, but don't buy it again, unless you like the way it looks. A very good anti-chlorine product (dechlorinator) is Prime. It comes in a red and white bottle. Most good fish stores sell it. You really don't need the aquarium salt either. It is good for treating some diseases, like ich, but not great for long-term use because it can irritate and weaken your fish.
Tank Cycle
I change the water when it gets cloudy. I do not have a testing kit, but I usually judge how much water to change 50%-80% according to the clearness of the water.
It would be best if you could buy a test kit. A liquid one, like from Aquarium Pharmeceuticals brand would be best. Petsmart sells the Master Test Kit with all the test you need online for around $15. If you can print out the price, bring it to the store and use it like a coupon when you check out. Even if you don't get a test kit right away, do more water changes. How long does it take for the water to get cloudy? If it takes a months, do water changes every two weeks. If it takes two weeks, do changes every week. If it gets cloudy faster than that, get a better filter. Waiting a long time and then doing a big change can shock your fish, because the water they are living in is a LOT different from the water coming out of the tap. It is better to do frequent medium-sized changes than one big one and a long time.
Unknown Species
The fish is really small and moves really quickly. Any ideas on how to get a clear shot? Also, I noticed it likes to be near the surface of the water. Can anyone just narrow it down so that I can do research and see if it fits the profile of the fish?
Black neon tetra?
Thanks!
Hope this clears some things up.
I plant to add gravel on later..
Anyways I will heed your advice about the water changes...
and I found out that it was a white spot tetra..
Thanks!