Got 2 Rainbow Sharks And They Keep Fighting. Really Need Suggestions&#

[Caprisaurus]

Hey everyone,

I'm an aquarium amateour and last night I got 2 rainbow sharks at walmart. I think I made a really bad choice because the bigger one is constantly chasing the smaller one. I feel really bad and I don't know what to do. I have a 10 gallon tank and I just wanted to get 2 good beginner fish and then add a few more different fish in a couple months. What should I do? Should I try to return them and get 2 different fish? If so, what kind should I get this time? Any help would be really appreciated by me and the poor fish being terrorized.

 

[techen]

Hey everyone,

I'm an aquarium amateour and last night I got 2 rainbow sharks at walmart. I think I made a really bad choice because the bigger one is constantly chasing the smaller one. I feel really bad and I don't know what to do. I have a 10 gallon tank and I just wanted to get 2 good beginner fish and then add a few more different fish in a couple months. What should I do? Should I try to return them and get 2 different fish? If so, what kind should I get this time? Any help would be really appreciated by me and the poor fish being terrorized.

Sharks are anything but good starting fish, I suggest you return them to walmart and ask them for something else. I'd advise people never to put sharks in tanks they want other fish as they have a habbit of fin ripping and being stuck up bullies.

Is there anything you likes the look of fish wise? A lot of members here will suggest you good starter fish.

 

[Caprisaurus]

Thanks for the reply! It sucks, I like the bigger one but if I cant have any other fish with it then there's no point. I guess I'll return them and get a couple zebra danios. Any other beginner fish you would recommend that would get along with a few different fish in a couple months?

 

[DJH584]

Welcome to the forum.

My first question to you is - "is your tank cycled?"

If it is not, then please return BOTH fish to Walmart and look at fishless cycling.
If you click on the link in my signature, it will take you to the beginners resource centre.
This will advise you how to go about fishless cycling and not make the mistake that I and others have made in respect of doing a fish in cycle.

As techen has pointed out, sharks are NOT the best starter fish - you want something far easier than those for your introduction to the fishkeeping world.

If you have any questions, do NOT hesitate to ask - the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.

Again welcome to the forum and the great, sometimes frustrating and crazy world of fishkeeping!!!

 

[Jenste]

Good choice deciding to return them. They need tanks much larger than 10 gallons.

Before buying "replacement" fish, I recommend reading up on cycling your tank and taking a look around to figure out what you really like as far as fish.

Toss some ideas at us and any questions you have. We'll love to help you get sorted and figure out a stocking you love!

 

[Tuxyu3]

On top of what has already been said, you should not add Zebra's to this tank as in my opinion they are far too active and require a tank quite a bit larger.

 

[Caprisaurus]

Well in that case what do you guys suggest? Could you point me in the direction of a list of good beginner fish that can stay in a 10 gallon tank so I can see which ones I like? Maybe I should just get 1 Betta? I've had a couple before and they were cool but I would have rather had like 3-5 calm fish.

 

[sadguppy]

A betta can live happily in a 10 gallon alongside a few small fish, for example 6 pygmy corydoras, or microrasbora. Alteratively, you could have the pygmy cories with 3-4 guppies, platies or neon tetras?

 

[Colonials66]

To reiterate what others have said these sharks are not good to start a tank off with especially if the filter isn't already cycled. However, on terms of not keeping them with other fish I don't think that is completely correct. You shouldn't keep more than one as they will fight, no questions asked. However, I've kept a shark among a community tank and had zero problems with it, and is among one of my favorites in the tank. Also, 10 gallons is way too small for the shark, it would need a far bigger tank. Ideally though I believe as opposed to it being the first fish in the tank, it should be the last, so that any other fish can place their territory. If new fish are added afterwards then they may get aggressive. Though I have added fish to the tank after the shark and not had any aggression from him, though I may just have a nice one

 

[fluttermoth]

There are loads of fish that you could keep in a ten gallon; Male Ender's or guppies, sparkling, honey or dwarf gouramis, neon or green neon tetras, red or black phantom tetras, ember tetras, chili rasboras, glowlight or celestial pearl danios, any of the three pygmy corydoras species, featherfin or dwarf neon rainbowfish.

We could help you narrow it down a bit if you told us how hard (or soft) your water is.

But you should read up on cycling tanks, and invest in a good master test kit before you get any more fish.