Beginer Needs Help Big Time!

[Chris260786]

Hi there I'm new here I recently bought a new 35 litre tank with a renna air pump a heater and a elite stingray filter in my tank I have 2 Guppies 3 silver tipped tetra Siamese fighter ( male ) and a bottom feeder basically I used to have a Molly fish in there as well but I got rid of him today took he back to my pet shop when I first got the tank and added the Molly 2 guppies and the siamese fighter everything was going cool up until yesterday I found my Siamese fighter stuck behind the filter so I helped him get away from it, the Molly fish started to bully the others as well like everytime I put food in the tank he would chase the others if they tried to feed so I thought he was the problem but obviously not as my fish are still attacking each other ( fin nipping etc ) I just don't know what to do can someone help sorry about the essay lol cheers

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid your fish are not really compatable with each other (or the tank for that matter). Siamese fighters and guppies shouldn't be kept together as they'll fight or bully each other (neither species is that bright and they think the other fish is own of their own).

Silver tip tetra are quite nippy unless in a large enough shoal (of 8 to 10 I'd suggest, but you obvioualy don't have room for that many).

If I were you, I'd decide which fish I really wanted to keep and then re-home the others (or return them to the shop; most shops will take them back; if yours doesn't, you might have to cause a 'scene'!).
Post a pic of your 'bottom feeder' and we'll idenify it for you; some bottom feeders can grow very large indeed!

I'd also be worried that your tank isn't 'cycled' properly yet (ie; has a good colony of bacteria in the filter to deal with the ammonia the fish produce). I have noticed a lot of new fishkeepers thinking that fish are being bullied or sucked into the filter, when it's actually because he fish feels sick from the bad water and isn't up to swimming properly.
You need to get your water tested for ammonia and nitrite as soon as possible (and get your own tests as well if you can) and it would be a good idea to do some water changes now (up to 50 or 60%, warm, dechlorinated water) just in case.

 

[Chris260786]

Ok il sort that with the water changes what do you mean by 50-60% Dechlorinated water?

My tank is at 25C how many fish would you suggest In a 35 litre tank

Can I upload a mobile video to the site and il show you what I meant by the Molly I was told by my local pet store that all the fish were communal and I would have no problems

If I had to choose I'd like to keep the Siamese fighter and the two guppies but even the guppies have been attacking each other this is what's confusing me

 

[Crazycat lady]

I am quite new to this too and if there's one thing I've learnt
From this forum, it's that fish need a lot more room than u think.

A thread on here suggests 1inch of fish per US gallon. Which in a
35l tank is 9inches worth of fish (from nose to base of tail).

Plus you need to check what the maximum size any of your fish will grow too
if a fishie can potentially grow to 5inches then it's mean keeping it in a small tank.

if fishies feel crowded or unsafe in a small group they will get
Cranky.

I have a small tank and keep endlers in it generally(very pretty dwarf type guppy)
Look them up the're beautiful! Most are guppy hybrids now but great for ickle tanks!

50% dechlorinated water means to swap 50% of the tank water with either rain water(bit of a monster to collect without contaminating)
Or what is generally used, tap water with dechlorinater added(few drops of tapsafe or water conditioner)
You can buy it in nearly all pet shops and is relatively cheap

Xx

 

[Crazycat lady]

Ooo and I was debating bottom feeders for my small tank. Plecos,
Catfish and loachy fish are far too big for a small tank so I was
Considering corries, but they are happier in groups.

The very friendly and informative ppl here suggested shrimp. And.
The're fab!! Really unique inquisitive creatures and have a low
Bioload (don't produce too much poop so don't polute tank as much)
I got 3 cherry shrimp and a black bee!

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok il sort that with the water changes what do you mean by 50-60% Dechlorinated water?

i mean take out 50 or 50% of the water and put in new water that's roughly the same temperature as the tank and that has had the chlorine removed as CatCrazylady has said

My tank is at 25C how many fish would you suggest In a 35 litre tank

Again, as has been said, it does depend on the eventaul adult size of the fish, not the size they are now. There are a lot of fish you can pick from; you're looking at maybe a dozen really tiny fish, like dwarf emerald rasboras or maybe 6 or 8 slightly larger fish.

Can I upload a mobile video to the site and il show you what I meant by the Molly I was told by my local pet store that all the fish were communal and I would have no problems

You can't directly upload photos here; you need to upload them to a hosting site like Photobucket first. I'm afriad we see a lot of bad advice being given out by pet shops; never forget they are out to make a living by seling you as much stuff as possible; they don't always have the best interests of you or the fish in mind; sad, I know, but true.

If I had to choose I'd like to keep the Siamese fighter and the two guppies but even the guppies have been attacking each other this is what's confusing me

I'm afraid the guppies and the fighter together are a no no. Most fish need to sort out some kind of dominance pattern. The fewer fish you have, the more likely it is that one will pick on the others. When they're in a larger group, any aggression is spread out more as the 'boss' fish can't pick on one or two fish all the time.
You'll have to decide on one or the other at some point!

 

[Crazycat lady]

I have a theory on small tank vs community fish, haven't looked into
It so everyone feel free to correct me!


The majority of humans (bar murderers, sociopaths) will get along fine
When given enough room to do their own thing. But shove a few dominant
Personalities together in a lift, then even with the most amicable
Of species.. It's gonna get ugly!

Like if u class me as a nice peaceful guppy and my friend a tempremental
Male fighter. I get along fine with him livin a mile away and bumping
Into him every now and again. In fact we're good friends. But confine
Us in a room together for a long period of time then I'd kill him!

Might be waffling now! X