Complete Newbie

[thelostprophet]

Would have all male be an option? Id rather not have a ton of babies.

Are the fish shops likely to want any of my offspring sold back to them? Otherwise do you do with them?

 

[Luketendo]

Would have all male be an option? Id rather not have a ton of babies.

Are the fish shops likely to want any of my offspring sold back to them? Otherwise do you do with them?

Not sure, livebearers are so common they might not want them.

I think keeping males together is ok, but you might get aggression.

 

[thelostprophet]

I assume livebearers are fish that became pregnant at the shop?

What do you do with the new fish? I dont have space for a second tank so couldnt home them elsewhere.

 

[Luketendo]

I assume livebearers are fish that became pregnant at the shop?

What do you do with the new fish? I dont have space for a second tank so couldnt home them elsewhere.

No No No!

They are fish that produce live young, which they do about once a month. All of your choices except tetras do this. Females can store sperm for up to 7 months so that's 7 batches of fry even if you get females only.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Please fishless cycle your tank before adding fish. Its much easier than people give it credit for and if you can borrow some mature sponge and media can be completed in just a few weeks. You can then fully stock your tank straight away. There's is a link to it in my sig. just follow the add and wait method. I also think you need a longer tank to keep danios in. That tank is very cube like in shape so is not as well suited to fast active fish who need lots of swimming space, like danios. Just my opinion. You may also find that the mollies don't do very well in that set up. They tend to do better in slightly brackish (salty) conditions but this will not suit all fish. http/www.fishforums.net/content/Common-L...lies-Need-Salt/

If you are going for livebearer you are definitely better going for a group of all males or all females. You will soon become very bored with your new life as a "fish breeder." This article offers some good advice: http/www.fishforums.net/content/Common-L...nd-care-of-fry/

I would advise you to reconsider getting live bearers and look towards a school of tetras, with maybe some cories and a gourami. You even have room for a single angel fish in that setup if its 18" high which by the look of things it is. You would have to avoid stocking small tetras if you went down this route as they would become lunch but in a heavily planted tank I think it would look great.

 

[oddball_lover]

Nice tank, congrats!

What size filter do you have?

 

[thelostprophet]

Ive got a Fluval 3.

Still abit confused about this livebearer stuff.

So the chance is if i buy say 3 guppies the chance is even if i dont get a male they will all give birth? If thats the case what should i do with the fry?

Im interested that no-one at all 4 different petstores i went told me anything about this....it was the same when i bought my bearded dragon.

Just glad ive got the internet to find this stuff out otherwise i might have been in for surprise!

 

[Azaezl]

Yes chances are if you buy just females then you may end up with babies from some or all of them as alot of the females in shops are already pregnant and as already mentioned some can hold sperm for up to 7 months. As for the fry if your local fish shop won't take them then you only have 2 choices, find them a new home by advertising or setup a new tank but you'll just end up in the same predicament every month or so. I personally wouldn't advise going for livebearers if you don't think you can find the fry new homes as they will soon overcrowd your tank.

There is a general guideline of 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water, you have 19 gallons so your aiming for about 19 inches of fish. Obviously this does not mean get a 19 inch fish but you could have 19 1 inch fish(depending on what you get). This is flexible depending on your filtration, maintenance etc, but I'd advise you to try and stick to this and maybe add a few more once your confident you know what your doing

Go to your fish shop and have a look at all the different fish, make a note of the ones you like, come back here and post what you like the look of and we can advise you whether or not it will go in your tank. Or you can have a look at the fish index on here and see what takes your fancy, again post what your interested in and we can advise you whether it's right for your setup. Also if you don't want just fish other options are shrimp, african dwarf frogs and snails.

Oh and welcome to the wonderful world of fishkeeping

 

[thelostprophet]

Grrr...really annoying because all the tropical fish i seem to really like are live bearers.
I went to Maidenhead Aquatics yesterday to look at Heaters at they were going for around £22-£29. Is that a decent price? I would like to get a digital heater because im worried of it getting stuck on. Also what brands would you recommend because i suspect i can find it cheaper on the net.

As for fish-

Im wanted to start with about 2 or 3 platys and then add guppies a few mollies and tetras later on.

Ideally 3 platys, 4 guppies 2 mollies 6 tetra and maybe a swordtail.

Thanks for the help everyone! Much appreciated seen as the LFS dont seem to provide any info that would stop them getting a sale.

 

[thelostprophet]

Fishless cycle started yesterday so i hope maybe around the 27th i can get some fish in. Maidenhead Aquatics are open then so i can take a water sample and get them to test it for free and if its all good get some fish that day!

I know its not the right forum but i got some desert background from the fish shop for my beardie. Looks awesome!

 

[Lnbates2000]

Hi,

Not wanting to confuse you any more, but... my tank similar size to yours...
I started with glowlight tetras - 5. These are fairly hardy, and I've have no problems! - also nice to look at!
Don't get neons to begin (I know you weren't thinking bout this anyway) - they're not hardy!

I have 4 male guppies - they get on fine together, I got mine in 2's, they pretty much pair off, but do swim in a group, and agter the initial finding out who is boss, they get on well!

I also have male dwarf gouramis which are nice and bright, and get on well with the rest!

Ooh - for the bottom of the tank... I have bristlenose plecs, which don't get as big as a lot of plecs, and they are good at keeping algae to a minimum!

Hope this helps!!

Ooh - just get 1 bristlenose plec, as they breed easily!!!

Laura

Ps - your bearded dragon looks brill!!

 

[jennybugs]

Rena do a heater called a Smart Heater. I've heard really good things about them...

A Electronic sensor accuratley monitors the temperature which can be set from 20-34 degrees C. The heater incorporates a warning light to alert the fish keeper to any undesired temperature change. The light will flash fast if the temperature is +3 above and when the temperature is -3 below. A huge benefit of the Smart Heater is that it is unbreakable. Made of composite materials, the Smart Heater is insensitive to mechanical or thermal shocks. Safe to handle, the product also incorporates a safety feature that swtiches off the device when it is not totally submerged in water.

The heater has a unique design that is not only unobtrusive, but also allows it to be connected to the inlet tube of the Rena XP range of external filters as well as many other externals.

I'm going to be getting one or two of them myself.

When you say you've started cycling fishless then are taking your water to be tested on the 27th, are you hoping to put fish in then, possibly less than halfway through a cycle? Just interested (not having a go or anything) in what method you're using for your fishless cycling (sorry if I've missed it already)?

 

[thelostprophet]

lol it is getting abit confusing all this but dont worry.

Could i have 1 plec and not bother with shrimps then do you think?

When you say you've started cycling fishless then are taking your water to be tested on the 27th, are you hoping to put fish in then, possibly less than halfway through a cycle? Just interested (not having a go or anything) in what method you're using for your fishless cycling (sorry if I've missed it already)?

I was under the impression it took around 7-10 days for the water to become safe for fish?

 

[jennybugs]

I was under the impression it took around 7-10 days for the water to become safe for fish?

Hmmm...there are so many answers to that.

To make water safe for a fish you need to condition it with a dechlorinator that takes out metals from the water.
To cycle a tank so it is safe for fish, you can do so in several ways...using hardy fish like white cloud mountain minnows or zebra danios (not the preferred way for many as it puts the fish under alot of strain) or adding a source of ammonia to your tank either through using fish food or pure ammonia amoung other things.

Do either of those ways sound familiar, or have you been doing/been told something different?

 

[thelostprophet]

Hmm im not sure.

Basically ive put the tetra SafeStart and Aqua Start and was told to leave it about 7-10 days bring a water sample down the the shop to test and then see about putting fish in...