Help a noob out choosing fish for a 30 gal

F

fork

AC Members
Sep 28, 2009
10
0
0
So Im going to get a tank for the first time since i was a kid. I've been reading up about cycling and maintenance and I think I've got the basics down. I need some help with choosing fish and plants. I would lilke to have a couple low maintenance easy to keep plants. Maybe one small grassy or mossy plant and one that would grow taller. As far as fish go I want to get some nice brightly colored fish. I know it may be a dumb way to choose but I just like the bright, brilliant colored fish that seem to glow.

So I'm thinking
1 pair relatively mild mannered small cichlids
6 or 8 brightly colored schooling fish
1 small bottom dweller to clean up I dont want something that will get too large
hopefully 1 or 2 other fish

I am asking for your opinions as to do this right in the first place instead of killing a bunch of fish and then asking for help lol.

Im thinking i will let the tank establish for a month or so or whenever its done cycling (can i add plant before the cycle is finished) add the smaller fish first then add the bigger fish last so the small guys are comfortable and healthy to deal with the bigger guys .

thanks for the help in advance
 
Depending on where you live, have you considered glo fish?. Genetically engineered zebra danios.
They do glow under the right light, they are easy to keep and would fit nicely in the tank size you have.
 
Eupterus said:
Depending on where you live, have you considered glo fish?. Genetically engineered zebra danios.
They do glow under the right light, they are easy to keep and would fit nicely in the tank size you have.
Click to expand...


They are also very fragile and not much more than a fad... like emo kids...
 
Eupterus said:
Depending on where you live, have you considered glo fish?. Genetically engineered zebra danios.
They do glow under the right light, they are easy to keep and would fit nicely in the tank size you have.
Click to expand...

Why would you suggest that to a begginner?!? You're just telling him that it's OK for him to buy tortured, genetically modified fish! What if I take you and tattoo you all over, so you have lips like those Flowerhorns out there?!? Or if I make YOU bright pink and glow under the right light??!

GEEZ!

Sorry for the lil' outburst. :| I apologize.
 
FindingBlemo said:
Why would you suggest that to a begginner?!? You're just telling him that it's OK for him to buy tortured, genetically modified fish! What if I take you and tattoo you all over, so you have lips like those Flowerhorns out there?!? Or if I make YOU bright pink and glow under the right light??!

GEEZ!

Sorry for the lil' outburst. :| I apologize.
Click to expand...




They're not tattoo'ed... they're genetically modified- that means the original glo-fish had dna inserted into their eggs... All Glo-fish now are descended from the original glo-fish and raised exactly how you would raise any normal non-genetically modified fish.

That's not to say that there wasn't mistakes made during the development of the first glo-fish, nor that there arn't other possible ethical concerns...

... but no torturing occurs to any currently living Glo-fish to make them the colour they are. They are born and can live happy lives just like any other Danio.

Personally, I think the natural coloured ones, or the golden ones look prettier than the Glofish- but I see no problem with Glofish. And, Danio are a very ideal beginner fish- active, playfull, non aggressive and can be kept with just about anything that can't eat them.
 
I wasn't saying the Danios were tattooed, I was saying that other fish, along with the Zebra Danios (being turned into Glo-Fish) are genetically modified.

Like so:
tattooed%2Bparrot%2Bfish.jpg



And GLO-Fish:
glofish.jpg
 
Eupterus suggested Glo fish and your response was:

"Why would you suggest that to a begginner?!? You're just telling him that it's OK for him to buy tortured, genetically modified fish! What if I take you and tattoo you all over, so you have lips like those Flowerhorns out there?!? "

That to me insinuated that there is some form of torture involved in getting Danio's to glow. I don't see the similarity between glo-fish and the horrendous tattooing done to flowerhorns.

Glo-fish are simple products of their genes- just like any other animal... It is their genetics that make them what they are.

... the only difference being they are descended from a fish that whilst a newly fertilised egg, had jellyfish DNA inserted into it. I'm not saying that there isn't reason to be ethically upset by that- but it is a rather grey area and people are going to have different opinions on that subject... certianly very different to tattoo'ed fish.

With the strain developed, there is no difference in raising Glo-Fish to Danios.

Perhaps one could say that some dogs and goldfish bred to absurd deformity could be more of an ethical issue considering that does effect their health, well-being and quality of life- unlike glo-fish which are every bit as hardy as their Danio cousins.








Back on the subject of great fish... I always recommend Corydoras- bottom dwelling fish, that, come in a lot of variety- and are much more active than any other bottom dweller- meaning they are interesting to watch.
 
I'm very sorry Wycco, I should have done my research before putting out my personal opinion. I strongly believe that we shouldn't tamper with the genetics like that, coming from a very Christian family. So, I apologize sincerely.


On the other hand... Great suggestion on the Corydoras! :)
 
Gentlemen, thanks for the concern, and the education on some abominations of the fish world. I agree that the tatood monstrsities are terrible, and the glow fish are debateable, but I'm sure there are better threads to debate the whether glowfish are ethical, for now I would consider them an option.

I am goign to be buying a used setup and came across a 37 gallon setup complete with a couple fish for 125, which seems like a good deal. My only thinking is that the extra volume from a 30 gallon comes in the form of height not length. This means that I will be paying for the extra expense of a larger tank but not getting the benifit of a longer tank, more room for fish to swim. What are the thoughts on taller tanks.

And I do like the corydoras, I saw one that had a sort of leopard pattern that looked very cool
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom