tank too small for the fish

dorkfish

dorkfish

AC Members
Jul 25, 2005
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Windsor,Ontario,Canada
I am voulenteering to take care of an aquarium at a local nursing home and I think one of the fishes they have is too big a fish. The fish in particular is (atleast I think it is) one of the rainbow fish family and I think it is melanotaenia nigrans (austrailian rainbow). The tank is 20 tall and contains 2 suckermouth catfish (I think some kind of pleco, I'll figure that out later) I know these are schooling fish and there shuld be atleast 3-5 of them. The tank was started with the theory that cycle works, so there won't be any new fish for a while.
 
Ouy... I think this might end up being a tougher situation then you thought, mostly because it is at a nursing home. I'd make sure none of the elderly folks haven't taken a special liking to any of the fish if you plan on brining it back to a pet store or whatever.
 
the rainbows should be in a slightly bigger tank because they should be in agroup of 5-6 or more and also they are fast moving fish so they need room to dash around. the plecos are probably the common pleco everyone buys so im pretty sure they might have to go too depending on the kind of pleco they are of course
 
I'me not actually sure The catfish are actually plecos but thier too fat to be commons. They look more similar to leoperd sailfins(big fish dunn,dunn,donn)or spotted hypostomus. They might even be Featherfin Squeaker/Syno. Yes the tank IS harder than I thaught mostly because of the tiny sink I have to use. Also I did not chose the fish nor did I start the tank up someone else is paying for it and judging by where there buying the stuff paying a lot.
 
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They could even be Otos:
otocinclus.jpg

and if they are, they are perfectly fine! You can even add a couple more ;)
 
The name "Australian Rainbowfish" is usually used by the public to describe any of 10 different species of rainbowfish found in Australia, most of which grow to 6".

Melanotaenia nigrans is the Black Banded Rainbowfish, grows about 3-4". They're not very common around here. The Murray River Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia fluviatilis, is often mistaken and sold as the Black Banded. Can you go to this link and see if this is your fish?:

http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Fluviatilis.htm

If that's not it, can you go to this web site:

http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Melanotaenia.htm

And see if you can find which one it is? Start near the bottom with M. s. australis and look at all the fishes that have "M. s." (Melanotaenia splendida).

If it's not one of those, see if you can get a picture of the fish in question and I'll ID it for you.

Whichever it is, it's too big for a 20g, you're correct there, and it needs to be with a school of six or more of its own species.

Roan
 
if it's a pleco then you could try to trade it for an oto at a pet store. instead of rainbowfish you could try a smaller, less active fish. you could put barbs and tetras in the tank. both are pretty active, but not too active for a 20gallon.
 
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