So... LONG LONG LONG story short, I'm brand new to aquariums. I bought too many fish, too quickly, with what I thought was enough research but was not. I trusted retail pet stores to give correct information about the first I bought, but they were wrong.
I began my 5 gal tank with a beta and eventually added 4 neon tetras (the little zippy ones). They got along swimmingly although probably too crowded.
Then, we bought a larger 29 gal tank for which we originally put in 2 veiled angelfish and a spotted puffer. They did not tell me the spotted puffer was brackish water or that the angelfish were aggressive. Needless to say, trying to round out our aquarium, we bought a few more fish. Too many apparently, because even though the angelfish--the ones that have been the most aggressive--were ok with the new additions of 3 red serpae tetras, a horseface loach to clean the bottom mess made by the puffer, and a rainbow shark.... the puffer was not. My puffer, who has since been playful but completely docile went on a rampage last night and removed the fins from my rainbow shark, all the fins from my angelfish, and when it started to attack my poor, defenseless loach, I freaked out and quarantined him in the betta tank--removing beta and his friends into the larger tank.
By the end of the night, both angelfish and the rainbow shark were dead. The horseface loach is completely traumatized. I don't think he can burrow in my gravel substrate because he hasn't even tried. I was pretty sure he was going to die last night too. And, I have a puffer in a 5 gal tank which is too small for him. I don't know what to do. By the way, my betta is doing completely fine in the larger tank and he isn't even aggressive except when he sees his reflection in the tank sides.
I am taking any and all suggestions and advice. My boyfriend wanted to "wipe our hands clean" of the puffer. I already had to remove 3 fish... Frankly, I don't know if I want a fish that is going to kill all my other fish by removing their fins. I don't know what to do. Please! Someone help me. I feel so guilty for these fish dying!
I began my 5 gal tank with a beta and eventually added 4 neon tetras (the little zippy ones). They got along swimmingly although probably too crowded.
Then, we bought a larger 29 gal tank for which we originally put in 2 veiled angelfish and a spotted puffer. They did not tell me the spotted puffer was brackish water or that the angelfish were aggressive. Needless to say, trying to round out our aquarium, we bought a few more fish. Too many apparently, because even though the angelfish--the ones that have been the most aggressive--were ok with the new additions of 3 red serpae tetras, a horseface loach to clean the bottom mess made by the puffer, and a rainbow shark.... the puffer was not. My puffer, who has since been playful but completely docile went on a rampage last night and removed the fins from my rainbow shark, all the fins from my angelfish, and when it started to attack my poor, defenseless loach, I freaked out and quarantined him in the betta tank--removing beta and his friends into the larger tank.
By the end of the night, both angelfish and the rainbow shark were dead. The horseface loach is completely traumatized. I don't think he can burrow in my gravel substrate because he hasn't even tried. I was pretty sure he was going to die last night too. And, I have a puffer in a 5 gal tank which is too small for him. I don't know what to do. By the way, my betta is doing completely fine in the larger tank and he isn't even aggressive except when he sees his reflection in the tank sides.
I am taking any and all suggestions and advice. My boyfriend wanted to "wipe our hands clean" of the puffer. I already had to remove 3 fish... Frankly, I don't know if I want a fish that is going to kill all my other fish by removing their fins. I don't know what to do. Please! Someone help me. I feel so guilty for these fish dying!
