My first tank -- am I doing anything wrong?

W

willow_bavelire

Cory catfish lover
Jan 11, 2006
12
0
0
Saskatchewan
This is my first time owning a fish tank, and after experimenting (and the terribly sad deaths of many fish) my 20 gallon tank seems to have finally settled. I began with:

1 pleco (I have no idea what kind it is; it was unlabeled, and at Wal-Mart)
1 albino cory
2 columbian sharks
2 bala sharks
2 angelfish

Needless to say, a lot of those didn't last long! All I had left after a month were the pleco and the cory (which wasn't looking so good, as the sharks had nibbled off most of his dorsal fin). I went to a real pet store the second time around, and my tank had:

1 pleco
1 albino cory
1 dragon-tailed guppie
1 sailfin molly
1 black moore goldfish

The sailfin was the only one out of that lot to die. So, under the advice that I shouldn't have any more than 7 fish in a 20 gallon tank, I bought three more cory catfish today to keep the albino company. They're all different kinds, but so far, they seem to get along... okay. They're still adjusting, I think.

But I need to know what to feed them now. What kinds of food would suit all the fish in the tank, or would I need to buy two (or three) different kinds to accomodate the fish I have? What would an ideal tank temperature be? Will any of the fish outgrow the tank? Will there be any problems with fish eating each other when the black moore gets a lot bigger than the cory catfish?
 
Welcome to Aquaria Central!

To my knowledge goldfish are cold water fish while plecos, corys, and guppies like warmer temps. Because of this difference in temp. I would either find another tank for the goldfish or have the LFS take it back. Most local fish stores are happy to take fish back, I know with mine I just have to call ahead so they know a fish is coming in and they can make space for it. Just check with your LFS about thier policy.

The cory cats should be fine together, I've kept different kinds and they would school together so I wouldn't worry about them. The Pleco is most likely a common pleco, do some research and dig up some pictures to be sure. If it is a common pleco then it will get way to big for your tank (12inches or more), plus once they get larger they stop eating algae. I have a 20 gallon tank and I keep a clown pleco in it. A clown pleco stays small and eats algae and driftwood its whole life.

As for food, flake food is fine for the guppy and the goldfish. Cory cats will clean up after your other fish but you should suppliment thier diets with sinking tablets. They have ones specifically made for bottom feeders. The pleco can eat that as well, I know mine loves them. You might also want to try veggies such as lettuce and peas etc. There are some posts on the forum about feeding veggies to the fish that you might find helpful.

Good luck! This forum is a goldmine of great information.
 
Thanks very much! :) I'm looking forward to looking around the forum; looks like a lot of really useful stuff.

As for the water temperature issue, that could be arranged. Right now, the goldfish is about 2.5" long. Will a 10 gallon tank do, and if so, for how long? I have an old 10 gallon tank down in the basement that I used to keep fire-belly newts in. :) It wouldn't take too much effort to clean it and set it up, I don't imagine! But if the goldfish will outgrow that tank within 2 years, then yes, I'll have to take it back to the pet store I got it from. My bedroom right now is very small and the only place I can keep a fish tank right now, which is why I only have a 20 gallon and not something bigger... once we move into our house (which is being renovated at the moment) I'll be able to get a bigger goldfish tank.
 
Agh! I hit the 'enter' button too soon. As for the pleco, I -think- it's a common pleco... I looked up pictures of it, and most of the search results looked like mine did, except mine is beginning to form pale, thick stripes on his body (he only has four or five on his entire body). He's already grown a little more than half an inch in the two months I've had him! He's about 3" long now, so do you think he'll continue to grow this fast? And at what size should he be moved to a bigger tank? (I know plecos grow huge; there was one at the pet store today that was 14"+.)

And as far as sinking tablets go, are spirulina algae tablets okay...? I found them after someone told me that my pleco would like them, and everyone in the tank (including the goldfish) swarms them when I put one or two in the tank.

I hadn't heard about the veggie thing, though! :) Thanks very much! I'll definitely try that!
 
i give my fish lost of differnt food to change their diet i mean i wouldnt want to eat the same hamburgar for the rest of my life, my cories will eat flack shrimp pellets actualy i think they eat everything i put in there if you want to see me grocery shopping im either in the fish or dog isle
 
CBTF said:
The 10 gallon tank would be fun, you could probably get another goldfish in there.
Click to expand...

I have to agree, I believe this kind of goldfish only get to be about 4 inches long but im not positive about this.

Im not an expert on plecos, I would ask in the catfish and bottomfeeder section on the forum. They might know more plus they have great articles too.

Those algae tablets are fine but I might try mixing it up with something else as well.
 
Ahh, alright! :) Thank you all very much! I will definitely go and ask around about the pleco.
 
Do some research on tank cycling, that will explain why your fish died so quickly. The info is everywhere so I won't type it out here

One gold fish is ok for 10gal tank. Two are possible, but that would require lots of water changes. Gold fish food is also different from tropical food, and they shouldn't be mixed.

If you got the pleco at wal-mart its a common. They are the cheapest, and will get too big for a 20 gal tank.

I see you don't have the angels anymore. Thats good because they get too big for a 20 gallon too.

Mollies are better in brackish water.
 
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