Suggestions for tanks requested...

[vaheelsfan]

I have the following fish that I would like to divide into two 10 gallon tanks, but I'm not sure if I would be putting too many in either tank:

4 Pearl Danios
3 Glolight Tetras
2 Fruity Tetras
3 Cories

I was thinking about putting the five tetras in one tank and maybe adding two more glolights, and the 4 danios and 3 cories in the other tank. Will either of these combinations be overcrowding or stretching the capacity of a ten gallon tank? I have two filters that are currently running on a 55 gallon tank that has been cycled to introduce bacteria into them. If I put these on the new tanks and move some of the gravel from the already cycled tank into them, will I have to go through the whole cycling process, or should they be alright if I run them for a few days? Thanks for the help :)

[aquariumfishguy]

I (personally) don't feel that you'll be overstocked. You may be slightly understocked with the selection you mentioned. If it was me, and this was my tanks I would add the following:

Tank #1:

*6-7 Tetras
*3-4 Cories

Tank #2:

*8 Pearl Danios
*3-4 Cories

As for the cycling question...what you have running for the tanks would help but it still wont cycle the tank for you. It just eases and balences things better than if you just throw some fish in the tank. I might also mention that when first introducing fish to these tanks, if you are going to fish-cycle the aquariums, you aren't going to want to put as many fish in at once as I mentioned to you above. Try starting out with 1/2" of fish per gallon for a few weeks. Then slowly add more fish.

[Leopardess]

When trying to come up witha plan, remember that glowlights are schooling fish and feel most comfortable in larger groups - of at least five.

Also, I am not starting the great debate here...I'm just curious as to whether or not you realize that those fruit tetras have been dyed.

[vaheelsfan]

Yeah, I know that the glolights prefer groups and that's why I was asking if it would be ok to add a few more :) As for the fruity tetras, I know they're dyed now, but didn't when I got them almost a year ago. :rolleyes: Yeah, I still consider myself a newbie after having fish for a year:)

[aquariumfishguy]

Tell me, does the fruit tetras still have their nice colors? I've never seen older fruit tetras that still have the bright colors. I suppose if it lasts then more power to you. :)

[vaheelsfan]

Surprisingly they do. When I bought them the guy at the store was like "when they get older they'll lose some of their color," which I took as meaning that they just naturally lost some color with age, not that there was dye that was going to wear off. .:rolleyes: Actually, after a year they still have more color than some ones I've seen for sale recently.

[fishdude]

dyeing fish?
never heard of that

[aquariumfishguy]

Well where have you been? :p

Fruit tetras, the new glofish thats coming out, and some glassfish are all fish that are known to be dyed. Some say that this is wrong, others dont think its too big of a deal.

[Leopardess]

I do NOT want to start the debate..as I've mentioned.

BUT, fishdude...the way that do it is like this:

They remove the fish's slime coat using a mild acid of some sort....then dip the fish in a dye solution, which remains in the fish's skin pigment. Then they coat the fish in some sort of solution to "seal" it and let them grow their slime coat back.... ( I believe fruit tetras are done in this manner)

OR


They take a large guaged needle and inject straight dye underneath the skin and along the spinal column - this one usually gives very haphazard results because its a human that physically does it...and they are done in factories where big numbers is key. Painted Glass fish are done like this.

A way down the page is a pic of painted glass fish and reg. glass fish

http://fishinthe.net/html/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6413

Also, not sure about the truth of this, but I've found a few places saying:

"It [the dye] is a carcinogin and most injected fish do not live very long. If they do live, the dye will eventually wear off and the fish will lose that painted color.

Good aquarium stores do not sell "painted" fish. Injecting fish with dyes usually causes the fish to die a slow death from cancer."

Again, I'm not getting into whether it is right or wrong, just stating how they do it.

[Slappy*McFish]

Personally, I like the look of the natural glassfish, I think the dyed versions are absolutely hideous.

[fishdude]

me 2
how could they do that to those poor fish?:sad :sad
i always wanted a school of glass catfish but id never by a colored one now that i know what they do to em:mad: :mad: :mad:

i just thought glowfish were genetically enjineared not painted:confused:

[fishdude]

me 2
how could they do that to those poor fish?:sad :sad
i always wanted a school of glass catfish but id never by a colored one now that i know what they do to em:mad: :mad: :mad:

i just thought glowfish were genetically enjineared not painted:confused:

[PumaWard]

Glofish are genetically engineered.... they have some coral genes in them... don't they?


But, because they are engineered, I view them as better than injected fish... I don't believe that it was a painful process for them to go through.

[dethjam316]

Originally posted by fishdude
me 2
how could they do that to those poor fish?:sad :sad
i always wanted a school of glass catfish but id never by a colored one now that i know what they do to em:mad: :mad: :mad:the glass catfish aren't dyed...i've read this is because they're too sensitive to survive it. so, good for them, i guess.

[Leopardess]

Someone should tell one of the stores around here that! lol. They've had painted glass CATfish in a few times.

Really is a shame imo just because they're so cool looking naturally...

[dethjam316]

wow, i've always read they couldn't survive the dyeing process. i've never kept these guys, always wanted to, but held off because i knew i'd have to buy *at least* 5 of them (the cheapest i've seen them is like 5 bucks around here, so it's not a cheap add!). add that to general reports that these fish are often finicky with water quality and such...

that said, i can't imagine a dyed glass cat would last very long.

[Leopardess]

I never said that they lasted long;) Just that they sell them and that they stay alive long enough for them to make a buck on;)