Advice Pls

[ripil]

hello. i've got a 3 and half foot tank. i've just been offered two tinfoils, a firemouth and two black sharks. think the sharks are probably epalzeorhynchos bicolor but i didn't think they could be in cichlid tank? is this a set of fish that would live happily together? i have coral sand but would that be ok for these cichlids? thanks in advance.

 

[Wills]

Hi the Tinfoils and Black Sharks are pretty large fish - the Tinfoils get to a chunky foot or so at least and are very very fast and as a result need huge tanks and the Black Sharks around 2 foot if not more. I believe Black Sharks, like Red Tailed Black Sharks are quite intolerant of each other so would not keep 2 together at any time.

The Firemouth could work but do you have other fish in the current tank? Guessing from your post is this an African Cichlid tank and if so I would not put the Firemouth in as it will not cope.

Wills

 

[ripil]

hello mate. the tank has guppies, swordtails and a gourami in it at the moment but they'd be shipped out to the smaller tank 2 and a half foot. yeah been told that only one black shark to a tank. would they be alright with the coral sand? thanks

 

[Wills]

Coral sand is used to up the ph of a tank and with those fish I dont really understand why you have it? If you swap your sand it would be better for all fish you have.

Also if you move the Guppies the Swordtails and possibly the Gourami would work with a Firemouth - though your tank is about as small as I would suggest.

But I would forget the Tinfoils and the Black Sharks as they are just going to be a nightmare as they get bigger.

Wills

 

[ripil]

i got the sand as it was really cheap. 12 quid for 25kg i like it loads and got told it was good for the trevasse that i really wanted to get but couldn't afford as i got told i'd need around 6 so would of been 42 quid from my lfs. (i did ask two staff if the guppies, swordtails and gourami would be ok with the coral sand and they said they would be fine). now after a little wobble and the idea of free fish i've decided thats what i'll do in the end. thanks for helping me not make a mistake. appreciate it mate.

 

[Wills]

Cool no probs Free fish are always tempting but to be fair a lot of people have to give away fish for lots of reasons so dont always think they are too good to be true - but if the deal involves big fish I would just say no - even if you end up with a huge tank do you really want to take in someone elses fish and fill up your tank?

Wills

 

[ripil]

yeah i've kinda made the mistake already. the golden gourami i've got was a free fish. he/she really not wanted but i cant get rid of him/her as i cant be sure anyone would look after him/her if i rehomed him/her lol the amount of fish i like but cant have is getting frustrating now. i really like blue tiger oscars and jack dempseys (tank too small) but i'd rather be without than be cruel to the fish. think i'll end up getting the fish i really want when i can afford them. much better idea. cheers mate.

 

[Wills]

I totally know what you mean about worrying about other people looking after them!! If you have that attitude seriously dont take in monsters other wise you will end up with a tropical pond haha!!

Also stay clear of Blue Oscars - Oscars are brown, albino, red, orange or black and all other ones are actually dyed and its a really cruel processes to do this. Electric Blue Jack Dempseys are a line bred strain of natural fish though and are very pretty

Wills

 

[GShorty1981]

I always think Oscars look green to me

 

[minnnt]

I always think Oscars look green to me

Mine has a variety of colours. I really do like the sort of 'mucky' albino ones that show some grey in them.


B.T.W., you appear to be missing a H mate! How come?

 

[ripil]

yeah my mum has oscars. red ones and tiger oscars. i swear their colour changes from week to week. their ok but i'd love a jack dempsey but my tank aint big enough. will get labeo trewavassae, metriaclima zebra and a few lemon cichlids. (just gotta get a few more rocks and caves and give the java fern a while to grow. @wills i'd want regular updates on the fish via video link if i gave any away lol

 

[GShorty1981]

I always think Oscars look green to me

Mine has a variety of colours. I really do like the sort of 'mucky' albino ones that show some grey in them.


B.T.W., you appear to be missing a H mate! How come?

I was supposed to be GS1981 originally but the 'H' is next to the 'G' and i typed it in by accident when i signed up to the site lol, Tolak changed it back for me in the end