Fish Combinations

[hawil]

I bought 3 pairs of fish. Angel fish, swordtail, and albino buenos aires.
The female swordtail is constantly attacking my angel fish and sometimes the albino attacks the angels too. I was planning on trading the pair of angels with a red cherry shrimp. Will the shrimp be left alone? Specially with the aggressiveness of the two pairs

 

[fishies101]

I would assume so only because they aren't as attractive to the fish as the angel fishes fins were.

 

[hawil]

I would assume so only because they aren't as attractive to the fish as the angel fishes fins were.

Is your answer accurate? I researched and found that the other pairs of fish are omnivores and i'm wondering why they nip at the angels fins.
Having red cherry shrimps could be a good addition to the tank but i'm having doubts with the aggressiveness of the others pairs especially with the swordtails

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok, first of all we really need more details on your set up before we can help (so sorry for all the questions!)

How big is your tank, how long has it been set up and is it cycled?

How is is decorated, what kind of filter do you have and how often and how large are your water changes?

Have you tested the water at all?

Any or all of those things could be influencing what's going on with your fish.

 

[hawil]

Ok, first of all we really need more details on your set up before we can help (so sorry for all the questions!)

How big is your tank, how long has it been set up and is it cycled?

How is is decorated, what kind of filter do you have and how often and how large are your water changes?

Have you tested the water at all?

Any or all of those things could be influencing what's going on with your fish.

Wow! That is a lot of questions. I'm not really a know how about this kind of stuff but I'll answer upon my knowledge.

My tank is just about 4gallons, it was a gift you see so i just used it.
The tank is only about 5 days old with a single drift wood and 2 rotala green plants.
I don't have the equipment or the money to have those kind of testers

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, dear, ok, I'm afraid I'm not going to have very good news for you

So, I'm sorry; don't take it personally; this is all very hard when you're a beginner!

You have far too many fish in your tank. None of the fish you have can live in that tank. The angels and the swordtails will grow far too big. The tetras need to be in a shoal, and will probably also get too big.

The best thing to do is take the fish back to the shop, unless you can buy a tank that's about three feet long.

In the meantime, as your tank's so new, the fish will be poisoning themselves with their own wastes. You'll need to change nearly all the water, at least once a day, until they go. Drain the tank right down, leaving just enough water for the dish to swim upright, before refilling with warmed, dechlorinated water.

If you want to use the tank, it would be best to do a fishless cycle (there's instructions on how to do that in the beginner's resource centre; link is in my sig) and then have something like a male betta, a few male Endlers or small tetras or guppies.

 

[hawil]

Oh, dear, ok, I'm afraid I'm not going to have very good news for you

So, I'm sorry; don't take it personally; this is all very hard when you're a beginner!

You have far too many fish in your tank. None of the fish you have can live in that tank. The angels and the swordtails will grow far too big. The tetras need to be in a shoal, and will probably also get too big.

The best thing to do is take the fish back to the shop, unless you can buy a tank that's about three feet long.

In the meantime, as your tank's so new, the fish will be poisoning themselves with their own wastes. You'll need to change nearly all the water, at least once a day, until they go. Drain the tank right down, leaving just enough water for the dish to swim upright, before refilling with warmed, dechlorinated water.

If you want to use the tank, it would be best to do a fishless cycle (there's instructions on how to do that in the beginner's resource centre; link is in my sig) and then have something like a male betta, a few male Endlers or small tetras or guppies.

Yeah, I think I just realized that. No problem.
Okay. Thanks for the help. Though it might take a bit long, i need to save money for a new tank.
I will do the cycle today.
If I change to betta, just 1 right? Will it be okay if I add cherry shrimps?

 

[Man of fish]

The cycle will take between 4 and 8 weeks most likely actually.

Yes only 1 betta. It's fine to add shrimp, just watch to see if your betta is aggressive, he may pester them to death and nip their antennae.

 

[hawil]

The cycle will take between 4 and 8 weeks most likely actually.

Yes only 1 betta. It's fine to add shrimp, just watch to see if your betta is aggressive, he may pester them to death and nip their antennae.

Okay. Copy that. And I thought everything was okay.
I'm following the how to in this forum regarding the cycle.