Hello! Can You Help Me?

[fiojamdrum]

Hi all!! I'm new here and this is my very first post!

I've just got myself a 96l tropical tank. I set it up and got my fish this Saturday. I got 2 angel fish, 2 dwarf gouramis and 2 pearl gouramis. This was on the advice of the guy in the store. However, I went into another shop today and was just having a look around and asked this shop assistant what might be a good move next - what might I add to this mix... he tells me I've got it all wrong and angels should not be with gouramis!!!! Is this right? I only went with these because I was told it was a good mix in the first place

Will the angels attack my other fish?

What would be the next move?

Many thanks

 

[Tech-Frog]

Hi, Welcome to tff.


I dont know about compatabilty with those fish but, allways go by your own reserch, DO NOT BELIVE EVERYTHING THEY SAY.
They are Salesmen, they just want your money.


Compatibility. Either one Angel to an aquarium or more than 3. Angels are Cichlids and like most Cichlids, if you keep just 2 or 3 in the same aquarium, the strongest one will make the others miserable. Angels do very well in a group with 6 or more Angels in a large aquarium with at least 50 gallons of water that is at least 18" deep.

Here is a list of tropical fish that are usually compatible with Angel Fish: Silver Dollars, Bigger Tetras such as Black Skirts, Serpaes, and Silver Tips, Corydoras Catfish, Livebearers such as Platies, Swordtails, and Mollies, but not Guppies which may be eaten by Angels, and one Plecostomus Catfish.

Angel Fish are often seen in aquariums with Gouramis, Giant Danios, Rainbows, a group of Bala Sharks, and a group of Clown Loaches.


Just fount this info on the web for you.

 

[Squid]

I will be buying 2 dwarf gouramis and 2 angelfish when my tank has finished cycling. I have been told by people on here and at different LFS that this should be ok. Although, i have been advised to add the anglefish last, and make sure that they are young when they are added. This is to ensure that they are not quite so territorial, and will be used to a community from a young age.

I would be interested if anyone would disagree with this before i go ahead and do it.

Squid

EDIT: just seen the update above.. perhaps i should get more

 

[Tech-Frog]

Just did some research, yes they can go together. Also heres a few other fish that may go with yours:
Silver Dollars, Bigger Tetras, Serpaes,Silver Tips, Corydoras Catfish, Livebearers such as Platies, Swordtails, and Mollies


-Tech


Wish you luck in the future with you tank.

 

[seb_negrete]

fiojamdrum,
i don't think that you'll necessarily have problems with the angels and the gouramis together but it sounds to me like you may not have cycled the tank. if that's the case, those fish will most likely die or be very unhealthy.
don't trust ANYTHING that a fish store guy tells you... you have to do the research for yourself before hand

 

[pokagon55]

I would take the fish back to the store and do fishless cycle. If you don't you will run the risk of having big problems with your tank in future. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to properly cycle a tank at 78 degrees. The fish that you have are not called "starter fish" and will do poorly as the cycling begins. I would look into buying bio-spira to help with the cycle, it works.

 

[bogwood]

As above... if you haven't already, do a 'fishless cycle'... this will mean taking your fish back to your lfs - unless they - or a friend will temporarily house them until your tank is cycled...

you'll need Ammonia, Nitr'I'te, Nitr'A'te and PH test kits...

 

[fiojamdrum]

Thanks for the info guys!! I feel a bit better about that.

Erm... "cycled the tank"... nope!! I didn't know anything about that as I'd asked advice from a fish shop (whatever the correct term is for a shop which sells fish?!?!). They didn't mention anything about this I wish i'd found this forum sooner!

My bloke and I were told that we had to set up the tank (Jewel tank, heater and filter system), get the water up to the correct temp and leave it for around 3 days. Then add the fish and he advised which we should get. We have not tested the water at all. Do the filters not keep the levels right? (very stupid question... I'm sorry).

We don't know anyone who can look after our fish and I'm not sure if taking them back is an option. What else can we do?

 

[fiojamdrum]

Also, slightly off topic but does it matter where the pipe which 'blows' the water back into the tank is positioned? My fella adjusted it so that there was more of a curent flowing through the tank but the poor fish keep getting whisked away with the current!! He says they seem to enjoy it as they keep going back to the same spot where the water will carry them away!! I think it is a shame for them as they keep being pushed along. Who is right??

 

[seb_negrete]

as for the current, it doesn't really matter but it depends on the fish. as far as i know, angels don't like much of a current but in my experience (and i gather yours as well) gouramis like to play in the current a bit. ideally, set it up so that the fish that like the current can play in it and those that don't, have space to avoid it.

for the filters taking care of the water chemistry, the only thing that they do as far as taking care of ammonia and nitrite is that they provide a place for the bacteria that will do the job to grow. read up on the many threads about the nitrogen cycle to get an idea.

 

[fiojamdrum]

One has just died

I just spotted a bit of a comotion in the tank... when I got over to have a closer look, one of the fish was sort of nudging the other around, then sit swam off and left the other to float to the bottom I left it for a short while to see what happened... nothing, the pearl gouramis was dead. I've been watching and my male dwarf gouramis is being really aggressive towards the little female. What should I do? I'm worried that the male dwarf killed the pearl and is now after the others... could this be so?

 

[Marcos]

With no cycling at all I wouldn't be suprised if it's the ammonia that killed your gourami. Do a water change (with a dechlorimator if you didn't already know) and hope for the best.