What kind of fish to get?

[kissygoose]

I can't get over all the types of fish. It's wild. So I thought maybe you all could give me ideas about what would be good fish for us if we decide to go ahead and become fish keepers. I think I'd want something pretty for the kids to watch and something that would be lifely enough that the kids could watch them. I've always been kind of partial to neon tetras. I've heard that mollys need more brackish water so I don't know if they would be good for us. I guess being new to this I would want something that were more on the hardy side.

What would you suggest for a first timer who wants to amuse her children?

[jm1212]

ok how big is the tank?

[kissygoose]

We'll probably go with a 20 gal tank....at least

[joylynn]

We need to know how big the tank is and do you want just one kind of fish or to have a few different kinds. For example if you have a 30G tank and want a single lively species I am a big fan of tiger barbs for pure amusement to watch (you could probalby have 9 or so ina tank that size). Mine follow my finger back and forth on the side of the tank. If you have a smaller tank you probably want to look at platys or tetras, but I don't know mucyh about those so I will defer to others. The catch with tiger barbs is they can pick on other fish so I recommend keeping them alone or with a hardy bottom dweller (small pleco like bristlenose or catfish in a 30G).

[DaisyTattoo]

Fan tailed guppies are good for kids IMO bc they are livebearers, which means they have babies which is fun for kids and they come in many different colors. Also fun for kids.

[kissygoose]

Ok so how do you choose what fish are best or what size tank is best?

[kissygoose]

Jodi....this might be a totally stupid question but I have to ask. Ok so if you have live bearers and they have babies what do you do with them? I mean how do you keep them and all their new babies from over crouding your tank? I remember my nanny having mollies that kept breeding and she just kept putting more and more in the tank till they started dying off. That just seems wrong ot me.

[fishcatch22]

buy a seperate tank to house the babies, or just let the other fish in the tank snack on them.

[jm1212]

you should probly wait a few monthes for the neons... platys are hardy and come in almost any color (they're undyed too), and are great for cycling a tank, and they are active.
later in the tanks life you may want to get a centerpeice fish such as a dwarf gourami or a large swordtail, or maybe even a german blue ram if you are carefull with water quality

[jm1212]

dwarf gouramis and rams love little live food like that, the parents will probly eat them to lol

[TheZoo]

Jodi....this might be a totally stupid question but I have to ask. Ok so if you have live bearers and they have babies what do you do with them? I mean how do you keep them and all their new babies from over crouding your tank? I remember my nanny having mollies that kept breeding and she just kept putting more and more in the tank till they started dying off. That just seems wrong ot me.

Im having to seperate my guppies in sexed tanks soon. You can also get a large-ish fish taht will eat the fry, like a betta (might be iffy with some fish) or a gourami (dwarf, probably). Since your kids are young, they wont really care much about the fish other tahn watching them every now and then, and saying good night to them! It'll be you and Dad enjoying them the most, so....what do YOU want? Flashy bright colors? A themed tank? A large school of one kind of fish? Get a few small cories for sure (pandas, pigmy, sometning that stays small), they are great little fish and compatable with most everything.
20 gallons is a GREAT starter size tank!!!

[kissygoose]

They dye fish? You mean like inject them with dye? How terrible. How do you know which ones are dyed and which aren't?

[jm1212]

yes they do...
go to google and look up Death By Dyeing...
it has a whole list of commonly (and not so commonly) dyed fish and how they are dyed...

[TheZoo]

Most often, if it looks too bright to be true, it probably is. Its very sad, and cruel. The fish often dont live very long. Glass fish are most commonly abused like this, called Painted Glassfish, but I know there are lots more.

[DaisyTattoo]

Jodi....this might be a totally stupid question but I have to ask. Ok so if you have live bearers and they have babies what do you do with them? I mean how do you keep them and all their new babies from over crouding your tank? I remember my nanny having mollies that kept breeding and she just kept putting more and more in the tank till they started dying off. That just seems wrong ot me.
You can always ask your LFS if they will take any babies that are produced. Alot of stores don't mind getting free livestock. You could have a fish in there that will eat the babies, but I wouldn't put a betta in with guppies bc they tend to kill them bc of the fancy fins. Maybe a dwarf gourami might be a good bet(not 100% sure they will do well with guppies). Depending on the size of the tank you could put any number of different fish in with them.

[mtbikerj]

Ok so how do you choose what fish are best
Check your Ph levels in your water, that can help with your fish research. Platys were suggested. They are a good hardy fish and go well with my barbs. Sunburst platys are very bright orange and red and almost seem to glow when they're very healthy. As your first tank you want fish that are pretty forgiving with beginners. Danios are fun. I don't think the ram would be a good beginner fish. Be careful small tank size & gouramis, you'd definitely need a dwarf in a smaller tank.


What size tank is best?
The bigger the better because it's easier to control chemical levels and heat problems. I started on my 29 gallon and haven't had a problem yet, so I think a 29 gallon startup kit is the best. Also, larger water surface area tanks are better for oxygen exchange, so I'd choose a long & short tank over short & tall one.

[jm1212]

well platys are really good in all but soft water, same with swordtails but they like their water a tad harder