Help And Advice Needed Which Fish To Put In Tank

[Sarah.]

Hi

I am posting on behalf of my fish mad 9 year old son. He got his 1st tank for christmas, which was a 6 us/5 uk gallon one, he cycled it all on his own, taking water samples to the pet shop every week. He has since then bred mollys and guppies in this tank, and sold them back to the fish shop. He also does chores for the money for new fish, but he's saved up enough to buy a new tank. His new tank is 38" x 18 x 15.

So to get to the point. How many fish is it safe to have in a tank that size and what fish do you recomend for a 9 year old.

 

[diademhill]

What fish does he want?
How many fish depends on fish size & behaviour and at that age I was breeding gouramis & keeping discus. ( I started young ) so he must have some preferences.

I'm sure he has some ideas so why not ask us about the fish he likes.

One thing to consider is where is the tank going - his room or living room?
HTH for starters.
Sue

 

[OohFeeshy]

If he's serious, carries out regular water changes and won't get bored in a few months (like most youngish children seem to do), any type of fish within reason should be fine. Stockingwise, well, it depends on the fish in question.

 

[Sarah.]

He says he wants cat fish, guppies, angel fish, red tailed shark and a siamese fighting fish. Would they be ok to go in a tank together, plus the moly fry that he already has.

 

[dthoffsett]

He says he wants cat fish, guppies, angel fish, red tailed shark and a siamese fighting fish. Would they be ok to go in a tank together, plus the moly fry that he already has.

Looks like you have about a 44gal tank, which will be a nice size for a community.

I'd leave the siamese fighting fish (betta) out, they do best in a species only, or very peaceful non-nippy community.

A pair of angels would be lovely (buy several juveniles, and when two pair up to spawn, remove the extras). If it were me, I would heavily plant the tank (live or silk), and have a pair of angels, a school of larger tetras (not neons), the RTBS (red tail black shark), and some cories.

Catfish are considered scaleless and salt tends to burn their skin, and as mollies need salt to stay healthy, he should decide if he wants the molly fry in the larger tank or the catfish. I'm also not sure if the RTBS will nip the guppies or not.

All in all, this should turn out to be a lovely tank, and we definately expect photos.

 

[Taridan]

If he's going to be moving the mollies and Guppies to the larger tank, that 6 gallon would make a lovely betta tank. I wouldn't reccomend putting the betta in with guppies, but since they'll be moving and you mentioned he was interested in them, this would be a way for him to have both the betta and the other fish he wants, plus, some little betta in a cup will love him forever.

 

[Sarah.]

thanks for the replies, I think hes settled on the angel fish, guppies,tetra and corys. Havent mentioned the betta in the other tank to him yet as I was hoping to only have the one tank, but supose he could have that one in his room. He's also talking about a loach, but I'm not sure if that would go, or even if they get too big for the tank.

 

[PaulEbs]

zebra loaches are small, really interesting too. If you get a couple then they chase around and seem to 'play' all day. They also make great hoovers to polish off the remaining food debris. I think they might sometimes be called crossbanded loches though, they are in the botia family.

zebra loaches

 

[GuppiesRGr8]

4 INCHES WORTH OF FISH

WHAT A CLEVER BOY IM 17 AND STILL CAN'T MY AMMONIA


BY THE WAY IM JOKING IN CASE I WORRY ANYONE!!! LOL

I THINK YOU SHOULD GET HIM A 20 UK GALLON TANK WHEN HE BECOMES MORE EXPERIENCED COZ THAT WOULD BE A GR8 GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Sarah.]

4 INCHES WORTH OF FISH

WHAT A CLEVER BOY IM 17 AND STILL CAN'T MY AMMONIA


BY THE WAY IM JOKING IN CASE I WORRY ANYONE!!! LOL

I THINK YOU SHOULD GET HIM A 20 UK GALLON TANK WHEN HE BECOMES MORE EXPERIENCED COZ THAT WOULD BE A GR8 GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

urmm I think the tank he's bought himself is more than 20 uk gallons isn't it. The reason I am asking questions is to help him get more experienced. Plus I dont want him buying fish that dont mix, or fish dying.

 

[GuppiesRGr8]

Sorry i see your point.

sorry everyone for using capitles

 

[Sarah.]

Thanks ok GuppiesRGr8

If I can work out how to do it here are some pictures

Little old tank

Pregnant Guppy I think

New tank next to old tank

opps does any one know how to make the picyures smaller please.

Sorry

Sorry worked out how to reduce the size on photobucket.