Need advice!

Lady G

It's a mafia thing, nothing personl
Oct 6, 2005
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WI
gingersassatelli.bodybyvi.com
Ok, I need some advice here. I wasn't sure which forum to put this in so I went with "general topics". Those of you who come here often most likely know I am setting up my 55g and was planning to turn my 30g into a cichlid tank (which I want VERY badly). I narrowed my choice down to blue rams or apistos and had started researching their needs so they could have what ever they needed. My problem is we got a dragon fish (violet gobby), which is suppose to be kept brackish. Now I know I've already made sooo many fish mistakes but this poor guy was the fish of the month at wal-mart and the tank they were in was full of dead ones, they were not selling them and I felt so bad for them their were 3 alive (including the one I got) and 2 dead, when I went back after debating with myself what I should do there was 1 more dead so I made my choice and I bought it, it just made me so sad to see them in there all dieing (now I know he will die in my tank too if I don't do things right for him) but I just felt like I HAD to get him, I hope you understand where I am coming from here, I have looked them up (not much info on them) and many places I went said they would do fine in FW but I am worried because I know he is a brackish fish. So now I am thinking I should for his sake turn my 30 into a brackish tank that would be the right thing to do I know BUT....I want the cichlids soooo bad I mean (this is crazy) but I have even had dreams about going and buying them I am wanting them THAT bad! WHAT SHOULD I DO? Should I maybe put my dragon fish on the "classified" forum I wouldn't charge anyone for him if they already have a brackish tank and want one (just the shipping) and it does seem most people on this site are good to their fish so would that be the thing to do? I have looked in the brackish fish and there are some I do like but nothing compares to the cichlids I have looked at, there is a brackish cichlid I found that stays small so maybe I could get that and I LOVE the little puffers they are so cute!! I just need some opinions in what others think I should do before I decide.

Thanks guys,

Ginger
 
Gambusia said:
30 gallon brackish

55 gallon cichilds

:huh:

Yes that sounds GREAT only problem is I already have balas, blackskirt tetras, gouramis (which I was going to leave in the 30 with the cichlids) and a rope fish that are moving to the 55. Unless I can put the rams or apistos in with them? The balas will be upgraded or found new homes for once they are to big for the 55.
 
I do really like the dragon fish (I call him Mombo), he is so funny the way he puffs his mouth out filtering through the water and his eyes just crack me up they are soooo tiny!!! I don't know, really I can't afford another tank right now..I've already spent so much getting the 55, sand, eco-complete, gravel, driftwoods, filter, light fixture (in the process of getting) from the classifieds here just waiting on a shipping quote, plants (still getting) ect...maybe it would be better for me to just do the brackish for now (cheaper anyway), I already have sand which is his prefered substrate, wouldn't need to buy all the rocks and caves and substrate for cichlids, I could just use what he already has to hide in (which he does alot of) we have fun trying to figure out were he is hiding. Maybe you are right he just was meant to be mine (darn fish!!).
Thanks Roan, guess you helped me decide, not exactly what I wanted to do at first if only those darn cichlids weren't so beautiful!!! But I really think I will just go brackish with this tank and keep the dragon, I'll get cichlids another time, maybe once my bala's out grow the 55, I can turn that one into a cichlid tank I like that thought...see everything DOES happen for a reason!
Now on to the brackish site to find out what I can and can not put in with him!! (Sorry everyone at the cichlid forum that was so helpful to me, I'm sure I drove ya'll nuts with my questions to no avail!!)

Thanks again Roan, you should be a fish therapist!!

BTW I just saw this one thread before I came here, do you think I should get him a rock with a purple string? (LOL)

Gin
 
I wonder if it's extra for the BW rocks? :laugh:

Now I'm getting excited about this whole brackish thing (wish I had a big enough tank for columbians) before I knew much we had 2 of them (in the begining) and they were just wonderful to watch, actually it was because of them I found this site I was so sad when they passed away :sad:

Oh don't worry I will be researching alot before I get going on this :D I'll probably drive the folks in the brackish section nuts before I am done :p:

Gin
 
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