Christmas bad for tropical fish?

[Ben]

Hi

these are just my thoughts...

i was thinking about stuff and was wondering with Christmas wouldn't millions be getting new fish tank(i mean people haven't kept fish before)and new fish and immediately killing them because they are not aware of the cycling.there would be massive over stocking and overall lots of death to tropical fish. also people would be sorta supporting wal*mart to keep selling bettas and fish that arn't properly taken care of(although i hear wal*mart is becoming better...sloweley). thats just the cons of Christmas and the fish keeping buisness,

as i said before just my thoughts, please doint take anything personnaly. im glad that there are new fish keepers around the world and i encourage more people to be in the tropical fish trade but am just worried about fish being killed

my $0.02

happy holidays
DD

 

[Angry_Platy]

12 months ago I was one of these newbie fish murderers....some have survived the 12 months but most regretfully died in the past 12 months....

I didn't lose many to cycling luckily as I learnt about it in time to save my fishies with water changes

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Well, in all honesty, birthdays are the same thing. I killed 14 fish in my 5-gallon Walmart tank. You have to start somewhere, and if those newbies decide to come to this forum or do some research, then the stock that dies won't have died in vain.

My $.03. (I stole a penny from you, so now you don't even have two coins to rub together ).

 

[Coral platy]

Asda`s taken with walmart has`nt it?
I totaly agree with dwarf dude. Before they get fish they should start with either:
Reserch
goldfish(hardy fish that can tolerate a new tank)

James

 

[bunjiweb]

Goldfish are NOT the fish to start with....
White cloud mountain minnows and platys are the hardiest fish in my experience...

And as said, hopefully at least some of those who have got tanks for Xmas will become interested in the hobby and care for the fish's welfare.

Ben

 

[snowyangel]

But also, its when things dont go perfect with a newbies fish tank that they tend to turn to knowledge and research to find out what they're doing wrong. Remember, fish experts had to start out as newbies too. Im sure everyone on this forum has the feeling of guilt of killing fish because of no experience, but through trial and error we learn from our mistakes. If it wasnt for the fish dying or reacting strangely(as sad as it sounds) in my newbie tanks, I never would've found this forum.

 

[kaz petts]

My daughter wanted a fish for Christmas.

I have to admit I could only afford a 5 gallon tank but I now have a 10 gallon available so once she gets her fish I will sell the 5g and give her my 10 gallon tank to replace it. She doesn't know about cycling but I do. I was also one of those newbie murderers last year. I have had fish for a year now but have only had tropicals for a few months of that year. I started with goldfish then moved up to tropicals. I would like a brackish tank or a marine tank but don't have the money to set up such a tank and I have to admit I love watching my tropicals.

I have managed to stay sane through a very tough 6 months, due to a false allegation against my hubby which is now sorted, thanks to my fishes. Watching them have been very relaxing and during that period I have learnt each of their characters.

I will teach my daughter what I know. She asked if her tank was for tropical fish or coldwater. I told her that it didn't have a heater in which she replied in that case I can keep goldfish can't I but I can't have any fishes like what you have can I mum.

I was rather impressed with this as she is only 7 years old. I could put a heater in it and let her keep a betta but I want to see how she goes with a goldie and one algae eater first.

Kaz

 

[Paul_MTS]

I started up in July kind of time and only killed Neon tetras but I'm pretty sure it's because they were of crap quality my water tested fine through out.

I recently started work in a LFS and i hate having to explain to people that they can't keep several goldfish in a 5gallon and they don't understand that the smaller fancies we have will grow to the same size as the XXL fancies we have, really bugs me.

We had a lady come in testing her water as she managed to kill 2 goldfish in a week, we told her the usual stuff to feed very litle come back after a few days with a water sample etc etc. She came in very angry up for a fight with her crying sons, tested her water and the ammonia test turned a manky looking pea green colour with in a minute when she backed down. Turned to the son and he had been feeding enough for the shops entire stock.

Ok thats todays moan over.

 

[kaz petts]

I have to admit to making the usual mistakes that every beginner who does not research first makes.
Small tank, too many fish, feeding too much, leaving the light on for too long etc.
I eventually decided to find an internet site that is purely about fish, needless to say I found this site and asked lots of questions and learned loads.

Needless to say i have learnt enough now to teach my daughter how to look after fish. She knows she cannot have more than one even if she gets a slightly bigger tank. I know the tank I have for her at the moment is not ideal but it will be ok until I am able to get to my almost empty 10g tank after Christmas. I will need to give it a thorough clean out. I will probably swap the 10g tank with my daughters 5g and put the heater out of the 10g into the 5g and keep a betta in the 5g myself. I can't put a betta in my existing tank as I have got cichlids which seem to like to attack anything with a flowing tail. I might even sell the 5g tank and get a bit of money back for it as it comes complete with light, lid and ugf.

I won't let my daughter make the same mistake I made when starting out. I will show her how much to give the fish when we finally get it.

 

[nino]

I have to admit to making the usual mistakes that every beginner who does not research first makes.
Small tank, too many fish, feeding too much, leaving the light on for too long etc.
I eventually decided to find an internet site that is purely about fish, needless to say I found this site and asked lots of questions and learned loads.

Needless to say i have learnt enough now to teach my daughter how to look after fish. She knows she cannot have more than one even if she gets a slightly bigger tank. I know the tank I have for her at the moment is not ideal but it will be ok until I am able to get to my almost empty 10g tank after Christmas. I will need to give it a thorough clean out. I will probably swap the 10g tank with my daughters 5g and put the heater out of the 10g into the 5g and keep a betta in the 5g myself. I can't put a betta in my existing tank as I have got cichlids which seem to like to attack anything with a flowing tail. I might even sell the 5g tank and get a bit of money back for it as it comes complete with light, lid and ugf.

I won't let my daughter make the same mistake I made when starting out. I will show her how much to give the fish when we finally get it.

it's nice to hear that you are going to teach your daughter how to keep fish. it's something my dad and i do together.
just wondering though, what are you going to do with that goldie you get your daughter when it gets too big for the tank?

 

[fufanu360]

this i kinda a bad way of looking at beginer fish keepers dude..

 

[kaz petts]

I have given my daughter my spare heater. She has seen a few tropical fish.
She seems to like blue tiger barbs and rose barbs.
Would one of each of these fish be 1 too many for a 5g tank? Baring in mind she is going to want a small pleco (possibly one of my clown plecs) and a small cory (again probably one of mine)

 

[lucky62]

Unfortunately some fish will die , people will either learn how to care for them or give up , it happens .

I couldn't tell you how many fish died under my care or lack of it , in the past .

but I've gotten a hell of a lot better at it .

It was said before , " we all have to start somewhere "

 

[clutterydrawer]

christmas is a bad time for ALL domestic pets

have you any idea how many kittens and puppies are abandoned/killed/given to animal sanctuaries in early january?!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Grr.. hate to say it but at the moment it seems I am one of the newbie fish murderers.... I got a small (5 gallonish) tank for Xmas, Would have got a bigger one if I didn't get that but I can hardly ask for the receipt because the tank isn't big enough... I have managed to kill 2 guppies so far, no idea how but hey...