Hi My Name Is Amber And...

[Flyeagle]

My son who is a whopping three and my husband who is a whopping... nm anyhow they both have been trying to talk me into some fish. (I'll be the one taking care of them. Hubby travels for a living and again my son is only 3.) So anyhow I told my son (and hubby) okay about a week ago and like every other idiot out there I didn't bother to actually do any research until I was home fish in hand. I was bright enough to let the tank heat up and run for a day or so (before getting fish) but not bright enough to know anything (prior to finding this forum) about the nitrogen cycle. Of course the local chain store told me nothing about the cycle or its importance in fishy health. All that said to say do I just hope for the best until it finishes cycling. I told my hubby that if I could keep the twenty gallon for a few months w/o troubles after the cycle finishes we could get a bigger tank (he really wants one). The work doesn't bother me because I stay at home with my son so I have the time to feed the fish and do water changes and whatnot. What bothers me is that I feel like there isn't much I can do at this point other than hope for the best. My son picked out a dinosaur eel, a dwarf gourami, and a tiger barb and of course the perfunctory (and I now know they get huge) pleco. We will be upgrading to a new (bigger) tank in a few months. I need to figure out how big a tank the dinosaur eel needs and I think we will try to rehome the pleco (given that it survives the cycle). I also know that probably trying to get some more tiger barbs might not be a bad idea but I don't want to subject any more fish to the uncycled tank. If it does somehow manage to survive hopefully I can get it some buddies then. Did I process the information I read correctly?

Anyhow, so thats my intro lol. I look forward to gleaning some more information from the forums and getting to know a few of you and your fishy friends a bit better.

Amber

I feel like such a dunce. I would never have bought a reptile without doing the research first, I don't know why I thought I could do fish that way. They have been in the tank 3 days and the tank has been "running" for 4.

 

[Boxermom]

Hi. I'd return the dinosaur eel if I were you. Its commonly known as a senegal bichir and gets around 12-20", requiring a very, very large tank.
http/aquaticpredators.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4213

Also, tiger barbs need to be in a group of at least six.

How big is your tank?

 

[Flyeagle]

Hi. I'd return the dinosaur eel if I were you. Its commonly known as a senegal bichir and gets around 12-20", requiring a very, very large tank.
http/aquaticpredators.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4213

Also, tiger barbs need to be in a group of at least six.

How big is your tank?

We have a 20 gallon tank.

We are looking to get a 55 gallon tank in about two months. Unfortunately, returning this fish (or any) is not an option. I will either have to rehome with someone else or just hold out. I am aware (now) that tiger barbs need to be kept in groups but I don't think it would be a good idea to try and add more fish to an "uncycled" tank. I think the risk to the other fish (incl. the ones that I would add) far outweigh the benefit to the one I have. In a couple more weeks if the barb survives the "cycle" than I do plan to get him more barbs. Thanks for the reply, especially the link.

Amber

 

[Boids-n-more]

For the price difference instead of the 55 gal you might want to look at the 125. here there about 150 more but it would be large enough to home your fish and give you some room to add additional fish and hides. Also get a test kit to test amonia , nitrite and nitrate at the minimal. With that fish load in a 20 gallon you might want to do a water change 2 to 3 times a week and make sure to dechlorinize you water first or the chlorine will kill your benificial bacteria. You can also check a local fish store to see if they sell any seeded filter media or gravel. Also if your going to get a bigger tank down the road get the filters first and put them on your exsisting tank , that will get the good bacteria going and when you get the new tank set up you just move everything over and its instant cycle. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Flyeagle]

For the price difference instead of the 55 gal you might want to look at the 125. here there about 150 more but it would be large enough to home your fish and give you some room to add additional fish and hides. Also get a test kit to test amonia , nitrite and nitrate at the minimal. With that fish load in a 20 gallon you might want to do a water change 2 to 3 times a week and make sure to dechlorinize you water first or the chlorine will kill your benificial bacteria. You can also check a local fish store to see if they sell any seeded filter media or gravel. Also if your going to get a bigger tank down the road get the filters first and put them on your exsisting tank , that will get the good bacteria going and when you get the new tank set up you just move everything over and its instant cycle. Hope this helps and good luck.

Thanks so much! I will look at getting the larger tank. If I can find a local fish store I will ask about the "seeded filter media or gravel". I have been doing daily water changes of about 2 gallons (10% maybe). The water is declorinated. I will remember to let the filters run on the old tank (very smart idea). I am going out tomorrow to get the test. So I will actually know how "bad" things are and when the cycle finishes. I don't plan on adding any more fish until we get the bigger tank definately. Right now its not too bad because they are still small, but I know it likely won't take them long to grow up.

Amber

 

[funnibunni80]

Hi Amber! I started with a 3 year old, and no research, so don't feel bad. It's taken me 9 months to think of joining a forum, lol. At least you opted for a nice big (slightly crowded tank)! I opted for a slightly crowed BOWL with three fish in it! The bowl cost us 4 fish (one at a time) before I finally got a clue. So kudos to you! And