What to do about Bert?

[Southerrngirrl]

See my sig for what I have in my tank.

Last night I noticed two of my platies were looking quite stressed. Fins clamped close to their bodies, 1 was hiding between the suction cups attaching the heater to the side of the tank and the other was just hanging around the top. Their fins also look damaged. Today they are swimming around normally.

I've noticed that the rainbow shark isn't very tolerant for these guys, he seems to relentlessly chase them, and up til now it hasn't appeared to have bothered them. He gets on fine with the tetras though, this I can't understand.

Water conditions seem ok:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate less than 10.0 ppm

I know I shouldn't have the rainbow shark in such a small tank, but unfortunately I was not aware of that at the time I purchased him. I am planning to get him a bigger home (135 litre tank) but am a bit hesitant to get it as we don't exactly have the money for it.

My options as I see them are:

• Get a partition for the tank to separate them temporarily till we get the new tank.

• Buy another 34 litre tank (they are quite cheap)

• Get a loan and buy the new big tank

I'm not keen on the partition idea, there won't be much room to move for anyone.

Another option may be to buy a smaller glass tank and use the spare heater I have. I have a stingray filter that i used to use for my goldfish tank, would this be sufficient filtration? Who would I put in there, the shark or the platys

I'm not really keen on getting the bigger tank just yet as I still have heaps of research to do and want to set up this tank properly, fishless cyle it and all that.

Giving away fish is not an option.

What do you people think??

 

[daveedka]

Find a home for Bert, and when you have the space/ money get another rainbow shark and live happily ever after. It isn't easy to part with pets I realize, but given the information you have posted that really seems like the best option.
If you can't part with him, start with a tank divider for safety, and then start scouring the classifieds for a used tank. Meanwhile put your spare filter on your main tank to prepare it for the new tank so cylcing isn't an issue. Remember that in order to house a fish properly you need a tank, a heater (unless climate dictates it unnecessary) and a filter adequate for the waste production of your anmals. Everything else falls under the catergory of accessory if you really get down to it. In the case of a large tank with one rainbow shark you don't need much filter. Find you glass box, set it up, move the filter over ( from the estabilished tank where it has been building a bio-filter), and add the heater and the fish. when you can afford it accessorize with lights, substrate, decor background etc. Then when you get that all taken care of add tankmates if so desired. You won't have to get rid Of Bert, you won't risk your platies, and you won't need a loan most likely. you will have a little extra work to do, but you can do it in pieces, and more importantly you can buy your accessories a little at a time without the financial cruch of a complete set-up all at once.

Under no circumstances do I belive a loan is a smart idea "people who understand interest earn it, people who don't pay it !!" Loans for toys are a good way to be a slave to debt. :rant: (I wish we had a soap box smiley)

Now enough of that, good luck with your decision whatever it may be.
Dave

 

[Holly9937]

I think Dave has the best idea!! I remember a post of yours from a while back, and I bet if you really thought you could get rid of the rainbow shark you would have by now!! Do you have alot of hiding spaces in the tank? That also might help to resolve some of the aggression. I bought pvc pipe from a hardware store for less than a dollar, as a temporary spot for one of my tanks!! Also keep looking for used tanks, unless you are set on a new one! A loan for it (unless you can convince a parent to have pity!) is really not the way to go if you can avoid it!

 

[Southerrngirrl]

I really don't want to part with Bert, the fish store won't take him back and I doubt that I'll be able to find anyone to take him in.. small town probably not alot of responsible aquarium owners, I definitly don't know of any.

I think I might go with getting another tank of the same size and set up. I won't need to get a loan for it, I already have a spare heater and it comes with the filter and light. Once I have my new big tank I can use the other small tank that I'm thinking of getting as a quarantine/hospital tank so its not going to go to waste.

The filter I have is made up of two black plastic trays, 1 filled with black (carbon?) and the other with white chips. Both are covered with white fluffy material.
the black chip one goes on the bottom, white one on the top, and the water pipe with holes in it lays across the white one and the water is pumped through and filters through the trays then in to the tank. I assume in these trays is where the bacteria live??

Therefore would it be ok to take one from the established tank replace it with a new one and put the one from the established tank in the new tank? I can also take one of Berts territories (hollow log or treasure chest) and put it in the new tank. I was also thinking that I could take some of the water, gravel and plants and transfer it to the new tank. Would this be helpful in establishing the bacteria for the biological filter?

 

[Holly9937]

switching water over won't do much, but it will be important to make sure that the temperature and ph of the new tank is the same as the old tank before moving him. Also make sure you dechlorinate the new water BEFORE you put the old filter part into the new tank or else when the water filters through the chlorine and other chemicals in the water will kill the bacteria. That should be a fine way to get the new tank up and running, especially since they are small tanks.
In the meantime you can start running the new filter on the old tank immediately and then switch over one of the old components to the new tank when you get it set up. You will still want to test the water everyday to make sure you don't get a cycle, but I doubt you will. Filter media in any tank needs to be replaced at some point, and they recommend to just not do it all at once. So I would look at what you'll do as if you were doing regular filter maintenance.