Hello

[Double_D]

I'm new to the group. Been thinking about getting back into keeping fish as a hobby. I've always been interested in tropical fish since I was a kid but I never had the knowledge nor the patience to care for them the right way, I constantly got fustrated and gave up. It's been a few years since I owned any fish but I plan to start fresh, I've learned from my errors, I've also been reading up and "doing my homework". I hope to meet some people that can help me along the way and even make some new friends!

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the TFF forum DD.
We have a few very helpful people like WaterDrop in the "Your New Freshwater Tank" section of the forum who are always glad to walk a new person through setting up and cycling a new tank. I even pitch in and try to help him when I find the time. Since you are doing your homework, check out the Beginners Resource Center in that section of the forum. It has lots of helpful information for starting out or starting again after a long absence.
BTW, I have a link to the resource center in my signature area.

 

[Double_D]

Thanks alot! I appreciate any help I can get!

 

[OldMan47]

How are things going so far DD? Is there anything we can help you figure out?

 

[Double_D]

Actually yea theres is.... I'm not sure where to begin, I have limited space so I can't go crazy, yet I do have a spot in my room where I plan to eventually put a 29g tank. I thought just to start (and until I get my 29g tank) I would get a smaller tank (around 5-10g? possibly bigger)Yes I know smaller tanks are more difficult to care for but it's my best starting point. I would keep a betta or maybe something else in the smaller tank. Does you have any suggestions on a tank size? and any fish you would reccomend putting in that tank?

 

[OldMan47]

If you can make the connections, I love my tiny Heterandria formosa in a 10 gallon and I am certain they would do well in a 5 gallon. The adult males are only about 3/4 inch long and the enormous females are almost a full inch long. I have mine housed with a half dozen pygmy cories in a 10 gallon but sometimes have trouble spotting them unless I watch the tank for a few seconds, my eyes are not what they once were. I picked mine up at a fish club auction when they were juveniles and my wife accused me of bringing home an empty bag. This is a picture of a female being followed by a pygmy cory.

Another delightful fish that I am keeping in a 10 gallon is a breeding colony of golden teddies, Xenophallus umbratilis. My present avatar is one of the males and looks about life size on my monitor. They are very active fish who would do OK in a 5 gallon but would be better in a 10 gallon.

Another nice fish in my tanks is Giradinus metallicus, black chins. I don't have my own picture but found this one on the web. The males swim around the females with their chest pointed toward the female so that she can see the full length of the black marking. I don't know if that works for them but they keep doing it. These guys are again about the size of the teddies at just over an inch long and are presently breeding for me in a 10 gallon.

 

[Double_D]

Thanks for the help, always appreciated