Hi All! Another Noob Here!

[Doodle]

Hi everyone!
Just thought I'd stop by and say hello! My parents always had tropical fish when I was little and I was (understandably) not allowed to touch the tank!
I was recently very kindly given a tank by my boss, and have become completely obsessed with all things aquatic! It's a relatively small tank compared to most I'm sure (15 gallon hexagonal tank, 210 sq. inches of surface area), but seem to be managing it quite well. I do wish I had read a little bit more before I started, though, as I went into it totally blind. I managed to find myself a great LFS, and the owner of the shop had been there over 30 years, and his reputation was definitely the best in the area.
Anyhoo, my tank has cycled (amonia and nitrites at 0, nitrate at 5) and I have a few little buddies living quite happily in there with all their live plants.

2x Sailfin Molly (1m, 1f, both deep gold)
2x Dalmatian Molly (again 1m, 1f)
and a Betta.

I have just read a very interesting post on here somewhere about when a livebearer is about to drop, and I'm so excited as I think my sailfin is just about there! I have a breeding trap and have prepared everything, and am just waiting til the time is right to put her in.

I didn't have a clue really about feeding before I started reading forums etc, but have discovered that my Betta LOVES bloodworms (as a treat, of course), and it is so funny to watch him eat them! I do cheat a little, though, and use the packet ones by Tetra.

Anyhoo, will no doubt keep everyone updated as I am completely addicted now to my new tank! hehe

 

[Doodle]

omg I am so sorry everyone, I have managed to post this 3 times!!!

 

[chigwellhammer]

Dont worry there is a bug it happens to everyone! , Welcome to the forum

 

[Doodle]

Dont worry there is a bug it happens to everyone! , Welcome to the forum

lol, thanks! Glad it wasn't just me... Believe it or not I used to be a mod for a large ISP! Ah well.

 

[chigwellhammer]

Lol, Have you got a picture of your tank?

 

[Doodle]

Lol, Have you got a picture of your tank?

I haven't just yet... Working on it! Will have by next week

 

[chigwellhammer]

Okay, Ill look forward to seeing it

 

[Jenste]

welcome!!! no worries about the multipost, its a quirk that has been happening a lot lately!

can't wait to see pictures of your tank...also glad you are one of those who tries to integrate a betta into a community system


as for the mollies... don't know if you know yet, but for any livebearer (molly, platy, guppy, swordtail etc) it is always best to keep a ratio of at least 2 females per male. more females if you can. males think of nothing but mating, and they can even attempt to mate with a female so much that she dies from exhaustion from trying to get away from him.
with more females, he can spread around his "attention" and each female can rest.

your best bet for a happy and healthy tank would to be either adding one more, possibly two more females. the species doesn't matter...they will cross breed.

or by exchanging two fish so you have all of the same sex

 

[hihi100202]

Oh great more noobs.. lol jk

Love to see pics of the tank!

uhhmmm... Whats an ISP?

 

[the biffster]

omg I am so sorry everyone, I have managed to post this 3 times!!!

hi and welcome it seems to happening a lot at the moment
so dont worry about it just click post button once lol
hope you enjoy and theres a lot of people on here to
help you in your time of tropical fish keeping needs

all the best the biffster

 

[Doodle]

hihi100202 an ISP is an Intenet Service Provider... I was trying to be good and not name names lol.

Thanks for the welcome The Biffster. Am sure I'll have lots of questions in the coming weeks!!

Jenste, thanks for that. I hadn't realised until after the fact, but my tank has completed it's cycle (with no losses! Check me out! lol) and is ready for a couple more little darlings, so am going to have a look at some females today! ) The Betta (Dyllan... DOn't know why, it just suited him) isn't one of the expensive ones that are show quality or anything, truth be told I bought him because I felt a bit sorry for him, he had had a few nips here and there along his journey, but he seems to be enjoying his new home, and the Mollies don't bother him at all ) He is quite chilled out, and always greets me when I come into the room! (probably looking for more bloodworms!)

I've been watching the bigger female molly quite carefully over the last few days, and I still can't decide if she's ready to drop after looking at her today. I don't think she seems as square as some of the pics on the posts, and I can't see a gravid spot, do they always have one? She is hiding among the plants and things, but looks very healthy, and always comes out for food. She was a very active swimmer up until a few days ago, and loved to be at the front of the tank. Or do you think she's maybe a bit fed up?

Sorry for all the questions! lol

 

[Jenste]

depending on the coloration, not all mollies have a visible gravid spot. did you pick up a couple more females today? that will also help your female if she is close to dropping...the males will have more females to pester, giving her more time to try and hide. males often pester a female before she gives birth to eat the fry as she delivers - - this way they can be the first to mate with her again and pass on "THEIR" genes. however, they will do this every time she drops because they have no memory of the fact that they were the ones to mate with her (men!)

 

[Doodle]

depending on the coloration, not all mollies have a visible gravid spot. did you pick up a couple more females today? that will also help your female if she is close to dropping...the males will have more females to pester, giving her more time to try and hide. males often pester a female before she gives birth to eat the fry as she delivers - - this way they can be the first to mate with her again and pass on "THEIR" genes. however, they will do this every time she drops because they have no memory of the fact that they were the ones to mate with her (men!)

Hello again Yep, I did get 2 more females today, 2 beautiful black ones... They're a bit different to most black ones I've seen, though, as they have clear fins and not black! I think I may have been a little hasty, though. I've posted somewhere in the fish emergencies board about one of them as by the time I'd got them and settled them in the shop was closed

Thanks for the info, though!