|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 30, 2009 16:27:36 GMT -5
I personally think that platies wouldn't be a good idea because if they breed, they will have a lot of babies for several months in a row. That would leave a lot of fish you don't have room for that would need a new home.
I am not sure how big pufferfish grow but I think 5 platies alone would be enough (it may even be a bit overstocking.) If you go with the platies, I would recommend all males. If they are anything like my male guppies, they will still try to breed with each other even if there are no females around. This is also very entertaining, just without the babies.
If you're looking for beginner fish, danios and tetras might also be a good idea.
Good luck with your tank. Hope you and your kids enjoy it.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 30, 2009 1:10:04 GMT -5
Here are the tanks I currently have running. I'm not the goinna be super detailed like last time.
40 gallon tank - 8 goldfish 10 gallon tank - 2 goldfish 6 gallon container - 1 old female guppy 5 1/2 gallon tank - 4 male guppies 1 1/2 gallon container - 1 female betta 3 or 4 gallon container - 1 male betta and 1 female betta (possibly also male), both seperated within container
And finally, the second 10 gallon which will have 5 black phantom tetras and 5 serpae tetras tomorrow! Yay! XD
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 29, 2009 19:53:18 GMT -5
I agree. Those numbers are very low. Are you sure your test kit is accurate? Sometimes if you use test strips and they get wet, are expired, or are defective they will give false reading. Liquid tests are much more reliable for this I hear. Maybe you should try those.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 29, 2009 19:46:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the additional suggestions on fish/crustaceans to get everyone.
That's a good idea Babygeige. Only my mom might comment on how tasty they look or get petrified when they shed their exoskeleton. Nah, I think I'll go with what I had in mind. lol Thanks for the suggestion though. Maybe in the future.
I'm getting the fish I planned tomorrow by the way. I am VERY excited. Their tank is all set up. XD
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 28, 2009 19:58:01 GMT -5
That's interesting that the Petlands closed where you are. Unless I'm mistaken (which I could be), there is one somewhat close to where I live that I think is open.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 28, 2009 19:55:06 GMT -5
That's a great idea. I know almond leaves work great for bettas which prefer soft water. I would assume it would also be good for tetras. However, as my tapwater is pretty acidic and I'd only be adding the buffer in very small amounts, the almond leaves probably won't be needed. Great idea though in there comes a time where I need to lower PH, GH, and KH.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 28, 2009 19:51:21 GMT -5
Are you sure baking soda works for euthanization? In my experience, baking soda is added to aquariums with live fish to help raise the PH.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 28, 2009 7:25:35 GMT -5
I'm not sure if clown loaches normally hide in decorations a lot. I have never had any. Have you tried moving it a little? They would likely come out and then you could see if anything was wrong with them.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 27, 2009 20:38:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Carl. I guess my tapwater should be fine since tetras like Kh around 50-80 and my tapwater has a KH of 60-80.
As you noted that GH test kits are not always accurate due mineral ions not being present, I will add wondershells and SeaChem Marine Buffer on occasion (but not too much as these are soft water fish.)
Thanks very much for the help. I got the information I needed.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 27, 2009 19:00:25 GMT -5
As some of you may know from the thread I posted earlier about fish to get, I am buying some tetras. They are serpae and black phantom tetras which prefer l soft water. My concern is my tapwater (though it has a PH of only about 6.8) has a pretty high GH. Not super high but about 160. While reading one of the articles Carl updated tonight about water hardness, I read that when dealing "hardness" or "softness" of water, KH is more important than GH. (I hope I read that right.) My issue is though my tapwater is pretty soft, the KH (which matter more than GH as I read) is very low. Only about 60-80 for my tapwater. But if I add a wondershell to my tetra's water when I get them to bring the KH up, it will also bring the GH up which doesn't need to be raised anymore. Therefore it could create a problem for my softwater-loving fish. Is this a problem or something I shouldn't be very concerned about? I am not sure as I know similar things such as chasing PH should be avoided. But I never heard that chasing GH and KH aren't a good idea. Thanks, Renee
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 27, 2009 18:45:04 GMT -5
Or make more tequilas. (as in Penycat's case) lol
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 27, 2009 15:36:03 GMT -5
Well the water parameters all depend on the type of fish you are getting. But of course ammonia and nitrite shoudl be 0 and nitrate no more than 30 or so. Also, what size is your tank? That also influences what type and how many fish you can put in. Unless you have a lot of experience, I would recommend a beginner's fish.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 27, 2009 15:28:46 GMT -5
Sounds great Penycat. I'm glad you are happy with your pets. Congrats on the many breeding fish. XD
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 26, 2009 22:30:50 GMT -5
I second that. I have put sick/suffering fish down with alka selzer. I also use more than needed. The faster the better. Also, alka selzer is less expensive than clove oil although I have not used clove oil so I don't know which works better.
I wait an hour after they seem dead/are barely breathing to make sure they are dead. If you take them out too fast, they can "wake up."
I have tried decapitation before I got a hold of alka selzer and it was an awful experience. I find alka selzer a little less emotionally scarring and it also causes the fish much less pain.
|
|
|
urgent
Dec 25, 2009 20:25:32 GMT -5
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 25, 2009 20:25:32 GMT -5
Does the fish have any other symtoms (such as pointing to a disease that might be causing him to die)? Also, what size tank is he in/what other fish are in the tank?
If you don't know what is causing him to die/you can't do anything else at the moment, an MB bath is probably a good choice. Methyline Blues destresses fish and helps with nitrite and ammonia poisioning, kills pathogens, etc.
|
|
|
im back
Dec 25, 2009 20:20:41 GMT -5
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 25, 2009 20:20:41 GMT -5
Welcome back!
Sorry to hear about your computer and the fish. I hope things turn around with the fish and they recover/do better.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 24, 2009 22:05:51 GMT -5
Thanks. I'll ask my mom if I can do that.
Otherwise I'll keep 1 species in a 5 gallon as I said earlier.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 24, 2009 20:54:17 GMT -5
Would a 10 gallon work for both species, say 3 of each? I read that Black Phantoms will school with similar looking fish and Serpae tetras look similar except for the color so they might school.
I have an empty 10 gallon sitting around but I'll have to talk to my mom as we agreed on a 5 1/2 gallon.
If that's not big enough or my mom doesn't agree, I'll put fish from 1 species in a 5 gallon. I'd put 4 or 5 individuals in a 5 gallon.
I see what you guys mean about a 5 gallon being too small for both species. I have four 1 - 1 1/2 inch male guppies in a 5 1/2 gallon by my bed and it already feels crowded.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 24, 2009 14:49:52 GMT -5
I found a different fish that looks almost exactly like Red Phantom Tetras, the Serpae tetra.
I know they breed easily so I want to get all males. But will they mix well with Black Phantoms? I heard that they are extremely nippy.
Also, will them being all males make them more aggressive?
I want to get 3 black phantom tetras, 2 females, 1 male, and 2 male longfinned serpaes. Does this sound like a good combination.
They would all be in a 5 1/2 gallon with plenty of plant cover and hiding places.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 23, 2009 20:53:01 GMT -5
I am unsure if it is a bad thing or not.
On the contrary, I know several reasons fish and mammals will eat another's waste. Note: These are pretty of nasty.
Some mammals eat another's waste if they are vitamen deficient or (most commonly) to gain antibodies and other helpful bacteria. This may only be a mammal thing. Never heard of it with fish.
Also, in Africa, I know fish in lakes will chase after hippos (and I mean literally swarm on them) to get their waste. I forgot why but that is another example. Apparently it is edible to them.
Also my own fish (though they spit it out) will get waste into their mouths when they forage on the bottom for food. They also get rather excited when they seem some traveling to the bottom of the tanks and chase after it (mistaking it for food.) I have also seen pet store guppies do this.
And yet another idea is they really enjoy the frozen food and they still like it even after it is digested.
Even though these examples are gross and I don't know for sure what's going on, I hope my post is helpful.
|
|