I appologize ahead of time as this will probably be long winded.

My hubby and I both decided to get fish, as we thought they would be interesting pets. Neither of us has ever kept fish before, so we were depending solely on info from the people at the pet store. We were told to pick whichever tank we wanted, take it home and set it up, let it run for a week and come back to get our fish. I now know (after exhaustive internet research) that the tank should have been cycled and tested and retested etc etc before any fish were added

As it stands, due to our total ignorance, I ended up with one five gallon tank containing 2 black mollies and 2 dalmation mollies and one yellow guppy, and one 1 gallon tank with 2 guppies, a mickey mouse platy, and balloon belly black molly, and an unidentified algae eater (way too many fish for this small tank). Over the following few days, we lost all the guppies in both tanks, and one of the dalmation mollies. The molly in the 5 gal tank was replaced with a white pearl molly and a cherry barb. The two guppies in the smaller tank was replaced with another platy and a cherry barb.

The plot thickens. One of the mollies and one of the platys both gave birth at the same time (they're soooooo cute! !). By the time we realized this, most had already been gobbled up , but we were able to save 4 molly babies and 7 platy babies, who are currently residing in a breeder trap in the larger tank. I think two of the other mollies are currently pregnant, but being a beginner at this I'm not sure.

whew! So three weeks after beginning this fish saga, here is where I stand:

1 gallon
1 balloon belly black molly F
1 mickey mouse platy F
1 sunburst platy M
1 cherry barb ?sex
1 algae eater ?breed

5 gallon
2 black mollies 1M 1F
1 dalmation molly F
1 pearl white molly F
1 cherry barb ?sex
5 ghost shrimp
4 molly babies
7 platy babies
TONS of snails

All current inhabitants seem to be healthy and happy, none lurking in corners or hiding, all eating okay, no signs of aggression, just happily burbling away, but then again, all others seemed to be okay before going belly up, so that just goes to show how much I know.

So here we go with the questions:
1. I am going to get a larger tank (obviously) to transfer the 1 gal population to, but will be a few days before I can, then the 1 gal tank will be a breeder/quarantine tank. What is the best way to handle this?

2. Water stats in the larger tank are fine, but the small tank has ammonia that is off the chart, nitrites and nitrates are fine, did a 50% water change today, will do the same daily until another solution is found, any other suggestions?

3. Are there any fish that are compatible with livebearers that will eat snails? The larger tank has live plants that apparently came with snail eggs and is now being overrun with these silly snails which are currently gnawing my plants to death.

4. How do you sex cherry barbs? Are they livebearers also?

5. How long will it be before I should try to sex the babies and need to worry about them breeding?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance!!!!

Talk about jumping in at the deep end.
Not counting babies your current fish need a minimum of a thirty gallon tank -75g depending on the algae eater!
If cost is an issue you can just get the bare system - tank , heater ,filter (+ stand) everything else can be added later.



As you call the one gallon bowl a tank I suppose you are in the USA - good - you can get Biospira.
Get the tank, set it up adding dechlorinator and make sure the heater & filter work then take the biospira out of the fridge and tip it in. Follow this with the filter media from the 5 gallon. All of your fish can then be bagged & floated to acclamate to the new tank - the same as coming home from the store.

While the new tank is preparing you need to do daily 100% water changes on the 1g & daily 30% changes on the 5g. Just add dechlorinator & temperature match the new water.

The 5g will become your quarantine tank & the 1g can house a plant and a snail


Pest snails can be trapped by putting a jar in the tank overnight -in the jar you put a blanched lettuce leaf - take it & it's attached snails out next morning. Cut down the fish food & the snail breeding will slow down.
Cherry barbs are egglayers and males are redder. They are normally kept in groups.
Sounds harsh but just let the babies out of the trap to take their chances. You can't house them & more will be along shortly.
Don't buy any more fish!




This post has been edited by diademhill: Feb 19 2006, 09:07 AM

^ good advice!

Welcome to the forum Emyrald. I'm sorry to hear of your current situation but patience, water changes, and Bio Spira can help you through this. Try to get your new tank asap.