i recently bought my rtbs from a pet store and from what i can tell it is young. but what i noticed is that all the rtbs tails in the tank at the store did not have a bright red or almost any red they were just gray. i asked the employee why thier tails were more of a gray then red and he simply siad that once the grow older theyl get the red is this right or are the fins diseased or something and he was just tryn to get me to buy it or something. And another question is for the bala i have i dont think ill be able to have 3 of them in my crampt 25 gallon tank with an angelfish and a rtbs so would 2 be alright or will it adapt to being by itself. oh and the pet store employee was recomending the sharks as a good tank mate for the angel fish so dont get mad at me for making the bad idea.Rtbs
- Thread starter Wacky Wafflez
- Start date
i recently bought my rtbs from a pet store and from what i can tell it is young. but what i noticed is that all the rtbs tails in the tank at the store did not have a bright red or almost any red they were just gray. i asked the employee why thier tails were more of a gray then red and he simply siad that once the grow older theyl get the red is this right or are the fins diseased or something and he was just tryn to get me to buy it or something. And another question is for the bala i have i dont think ill be able to have 3 of them in my crampt 25 gallon tank with an angelfish and a rtbs so would 2 be alright or will it adapt to being by itself. oh and the pet store employee was recomending the sharks as a good tank mate for the angel fish so dont get mad at me for making the bad idea.
Hey, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the pet store employee and happy that you found AC.
RTBS generally look washed out in poor water conditions. They do not colour up as they get older--unless your water conditions improve as they age.
Your bala needs to go back for sure. They cannot be alone, get to be about a foot, and swim like crazy. If you are not willing or able to invest in a 90 gallon tank and several more balas, you should not keep them. Again, this is the pet store employee's fault for selling you this fish, but returning it is your prerogative.
Think of this as a learning opportunity. The lesson is to research fish before you buy them, and not to take the word of an employee at a pet store. We'll help you do the research if you stick with us!
Welcome to AC and Hope this helps,
Matthew
RTBS generally look washed out in poor water conditions. They do not colour up as they get older--unless your water conditions improve as they age.
Your bala needs to go back for sure. They cannot be alone, get to be about a foot, and swim like crazy. If you are not willing or able to invest in a 90 gallon tank and several more balas, you should not keep them. Again, this is the pet store employee's fault for selling you this fish, but returning it is your prerogative.
Think of this as a learning opportunity. The lesson is to research fish before you buy them, and not to take the word of an employee at a pet store. We'll help you do the research if you stick with us!
Welcome to AC and Hope this helps,
Matthew
wow
okay............. im not sure ill be able to return them becuse its been 2 days now so !ouch! and i aksed my mom and a 90 gallon is out of the question so no luck thier. grrr im not gonna even ask them to return them because theyl just fall back on some return polocy. i have no friends or anoyne i know who has a large enough tank to give them away. What SHould i DO!!!
okay............. im not sure ill be able to return them becuse its been 2 days now so !ouch! and i aksed my mom and a 90 gallon is out of the question so no luck thier. grrr im not gonna even ask them to return them because theyl just fall back on some return polocy. i have no friends or anoyne i know who has a large enough tank to give them away. What SHould i DO!!!
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
in addition to ChilDawg, your angel should be ok with your rtbs, I have kept them together for a few years now without a spar between the two. The rtbs will most likely find a corner or cave in the tank and claim it as his own and be most focused on that. The only problem you'd have is if you got another rtbs (or something similar, such as rainbow sharks) and tried to put it in with them. The rtbs can be a bit territorial once he's staked claim somewhere, but never has there been a problem with my angel swimming too close to his cave.
in addition (just saw your new note) those balas are going to be a big problem quickly, they can get quite skittish and will be evident to you shortly in that size of tank. I would return them as soon as you can (whenever you can) and go with the store credit......sooner or later, you will see, you will use it.
in addition (just saw your new note) those balas are going to be a big problem quickly, they can get quite skittish and will be evident to you shortly in that size of tank. I would return them as soon as you can (whenever you can) and go with the store credit......sooner or later, you will see, you will use it.
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2 days? Most stores have at least a 3-day return policy. Find out what this store's is, and then return the suckers, or, if nothing else, put them up for sale here. I *might* rescue the RTBS, but your store SHOULD take them back. Try it tomorrow, and let us know.
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
good facts are from all over Chil...in reading and experience. We give what we can and as is evident, we do our best. 
grrrr i just asked my mom if we cna return them tommarow (or try) becuse iuts 930 over here and they are closed she wants me to call the place first tommarow so yea . and the rescue the rtbs thing how would you send it in the mail?and id give it away if youd really want it or wtver lol
We'll talk later about the RTBS rescue. However, the store people should be cognizant of their mistake and take back the balas and the RTBS (if you so choose). As DD has stated, your RTBS may do fine with the Angel, so I'd ask for advice on how to make that work, if there is anything else special necessary for this process.