Adopted Fish, I Need Some Help!

[blueliz]

Hi all,

I currently have a 60l tank that i've had for a year now in it i have 6 zebra danios, 5 penazona barbs and 8 small corydoras. I have recently brought a 180l juwel vision tank which is currently cycling (fishless).

I ended up doing a rescue mission with my friends also approx 60l tank on Saturday as she doesn't have time to look after them and they currently have no filter, light or heater so i have brought them to my house where they are at least in a warmer place where i can look after them better, i changed the water and have moved the smaller ones into my other tank, although i am still unsure exactly whats there so going to need a bit of help. there is what i think is a small flying fox, a so far unidentified loach that is very pretty, two others about danio size with tail fins that split into two with black marks on the end, and what i think is some kind of barb, they all seem ok with the others.

But in the broken tank there is still what i believe to be, a Dotted catfish, raphael catfish, a bristlenose catfish, and a red tailed shark. They all look pretty unhappy so i need to do something with them asap.

my new tank has only been cycling for a week now, so worried about putting anything in too soon, and i haven't the room in my tank for any of the big guys as its overstocked now. really like all of them just not sure what i will be able to keep!

I'm doing frequent small water changes on both and watching i don't overfeed.

 

[Amerce]

A filter isn't as desperately needed so much as a heater, do you have a spare one available ?

 

[thefubar]

What filter have you got on the 60l? Can't you use the media from that to seed the other? (i.e. move all the sponges and balls into the new filter.)

If you moved all the equipment into the larger tank then the fish would at least have a suitably sized abode.

I don't know enough fish to be able to help with the IDs though. I think a photo (even from a mobile phone) would be a great help to the other (more knowing) people.

At least then you can spend a bit of time seeing what you've got, what works together and then what needs adding to or rehoming etc.

 

[blueliz]

I put my old filter sponge and a couple of buckets of old water into the new tank, its partially planted the filter and heater etc is all working. I'm waiting until my new test kit arrives as i used the last one up, don't want to move anything in there until i've checked it.

the broken tank is about 21/22 degrees so not too cold but not ideal and no i don't have a spare heater.

I'll try to get some pictures later, i'd like to keep the red tailed shark just so long as he's not going to eat any of the others! lol

 

[chesterscot]

hi the fish that are danio size with split tails could be scissor tails though pics would be a great help
regards and good luck scot

 

[blueliz]

i definately have a red tailed black shark, will he get on ok with the barbs and danio's?

 

[blueliz]

I've googled them and yes looks like i have two Scissor tail rasbora's, they are very pretty so will get a couple more when i'm able.

 

[thefubar]

Its great that a few of the boxes are starting to get ticked.

You can always add a mix of boiled/tap water to maintain the temps at water changes.

I totally understand not wanting to move the fish into the new tank until you've checked the levels.

 

[blueliz]

my other half was just at the aquarium shop and they told him to just put the big ones in, and that they are better off in there than the broken tank, I really don't know what is doing them more harm at the moment! also if i put the shark in first is he going to think that the whole tank is his then i won't be able to put anything else in there!

or should i maybe move what i think is a dotted catfish in there, or the (i think) raphael catfish or both to at least get them out of the old tank and somewhere nicer and leave the shark where he is. I have quite a few plants in the new tank, and i have just been given some bogwood and rocks and stuff that i can put in to make it nice.

or are they ok in the broken tank for the time being if i keep changing some water for some warmer stuff.

 

[blueliz]

right first fish to identify

red tailed black shark? any ideas what happened to his fin?

 

[thefubar]

Re: moving the fish.

If they are all in the same tank now, then they can all be moved to the larger tank when the time is right. I think its going to be a judgement call on your part because you will get a range of opinion on when to move them. You've already had a cavalier LFS say right now, you might get an uber-cautious type say wait the 6 weeks cycle.

If it was me and knowing the current tank doesn't have a working heater, i would move them and add some of the existing tank water to the new tank (with fully working equipment). You've seeded the new tank, if you maintain some short term regular WC then i would be confident in their thriving.

If they do look stressed then you could always put a towel over the tank to chill them out a bit.

 

[blueliz]

well basically the big guys are in the broken tank still, and all the smaller ones including the ones i already had are in my other fully working tank, the 180l is all planted and now has rocks and bogwood so as you say i think i could start to move the big lads in there now, just a bit concerned about how my existing cories, barbs etc will get on with the big catfish and the shark, because i'm not in a hurry to move them all in the new tank

any ideas what the goldish fish in the top pic is?