How Many Hatchets

[Fryfly]

Hi Guys.

My results are now staying at 0 on both nitrite and ammonia. I think my cycle is complete Of course I'll keep an eye out but if they stay the same everyday till the weekend I think i'll go and get my hatchet fish. My question is the LFS offers a discount for buying 5 at once. A couple of threads have lead me to believe this may not have the fishes best interest in mind.
Will the large increase in fish numbers cause a problem in my tank and should I ignore the cheeper price and for example only purchase 3 at a time? Any suggestions?

Current stock in 60 litre tank
3 guppies
5 glowlights
3 shrimps


Thanks,
Glynn

 

[onlinebug]

So you have done the cycle with fish in? And they have been fine during this process? If you can pick the fish at the store then common sence would tell you to pick the most healthyest fish, not skinny/to fat or even to small. You want an average size between the shoal as it will stop fighting between any fish.

 

[Fryfly]

So you have done the cycle with fish in? And they have been fine during this process? If you can pick the fish at the store then common sence would tell you to pick the most healthyest fish, not skinny/to fat or even to small. You want an average size between the shoal as it will stop fighting between any fish.

Yes I did the cycle with the fish in because of bad advice from LFS and not doing enough research before getting started. I'll look for the healthy fish thanks for the tip. I'm looking to understand more around the number I should purchase. research on the species tells me they should kept in numbers so was looking to purchase 5 or 6. My concern is can you purchase them at once or do you need to do it in stages.

Glynn

 

[rabbut]

Looking at your fish load already, I'd say you should get away with adding a group of 6 in one go. Feed twice dayly untill you get them, then cut back on feeding a little after they are in, and I wouldn't expect any painful spikes. Remember that hatchets jump, so need a tight fitting lid. If there are any large hole in the lid, they will find them. Their jumpy nature would make me want to keep lights off for longer than normal after introducing fish, say 24 hours, just to be shure that they are settled sufficiently to not jump at the lights going on.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[onlinebug]

Some people say "one inch per gallon and always leave atleast 20/30% space free for the fish to swim" so i'd recommend about 20 inches of fish in your tank as it will be enough to enjoy but still be ok on the filter.

As for purchasing the fish, i'd do it in stages but by the shoals together so they accept each other. And don't be afraid to ask the LFS questions about the fish as its the welfare your intrested about. Your the one keeping them after all.

 

[Matt_northants]

What species of Hatchet are they? Silver Hatchets get to 3inches long whereas some species stay at about 1.5inches.

 

[rabbut]

60l is about 10 gallon. Though 20 inches is possible in your tank, while your starting out, it would be best to stop at about 10 inches for 6 moths or so, while you get yourself formiliarised with the hobby. Stocking past the one inch per gallon rule is fine, but you must remember that in a tank with a heavier stocking, when things go wrong, they go wrong far more quickly. Overstocking is something that IMO is only safe to do with experience. It's not just about the nitrogen cycle, its also about reading your fishes behavior. Also, in an overstocked tank, problems must be correctly diagnosed and fixed quickly. Posting about the problem and waiting for responces on here may be too slow, and thus result in deaths. Once you have experienced most of the common problems, you are reasy for overstocking, as you will be in a position to fault find yourself, rather than relying on us.

Sorry if this is a bit of a lecture, but I lost my first tank, due to problems exagerated but overstocking, thus am keen to prevent others going through the same.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[onlinebug]

60l is about 10 gallon. Though 20 inches is possible in your tank, while your starting out, it would be best to stop at about 10 inches for 6 moths or so, while you get yourself formiliarised with the hobby. Stocking past the one inch per gallon rule is fine, but you must remember that in a tank with a heavier stocking, when things go wrong, they go wrong far more quickly. Overstocking is something that IMO is only safe to do with experience. It's not just about the nitrogen cycle, its also about reading your fishes behavior. Also, in an overstocked tank, problems must be correctly diagnosed and fixed quickly. Posting about the problem and waiting for responces on here may be too slow, and thus result in deaths. Once you have experienced most of the common problems, you are reasy for overstocking, as you will be in a position to fault find yourself, rather than relying on us.

Sorry if this is a bit of a lecture, but I lost my first tank, due to problems exagerated but overstocking, thus am keen to prevent others going through the same.

All the best
Rabbut

Sorry, thought it said 60gal not 60l My mistake

 

[Fryfly]

You're mearly passing on your experience and taking th time to reply so no need to appologise I appreciate the advice. I'm not looking to overstock my tank. I'll go slowly till I have a fill tank then buy a bigger tank.

I'm looking at marble hatchets, because as you say they are a smaller size and actually I think really beautiful.

I would like to get my tank to contain the following as the LFS said it would be fine. By what you have posted this would not be. I know whos advide I'd rather go with and its not the lfs. Looks as though I will have to completely re-consider my tank.

2 x rams (3')
1 x snowball plec (5.5')
5 x tetra's (2')
5 x Marble hatchets. (1.5)
Total = (29')

Glynn

 

[Fryfly]

Does the knowing the filter help, Its a Fluval internal #3

 

[onlinebug]

You're mearly passing on your experience and taking th time to reply so no need to appologise I appreciate the advice. I'm not looking to overstock my tank. I'll go slowly till I have a fill tank then buy a bigger tank.

I'm looking at marble hatchets, because as you say they are a smaller size and actually I think really beautiful.

I would like to get my tank to contain the following as the LFS said it would be fine. By what you have posted this would not be. I know whos advide I'd rather go with and its not the lfs. Looks as though I will have to completely re-consider my tank.

2 x rams (3')
1 x snowball plec (5.5')
5 x tetra's (2')
5 x Marble hatchets. (1.5)
Total = (29')

Glynn

The Rams and pleco will grow to large for a 60l aquarium, i'd suggest you get 5 small tetras to begin with and then if you can get some small guppys or white cloud mountains as they are a peaceful and make a great addition to any tank, and then if everything settles in fine then considder the hattchets.

 

[Fryfly]

Current stock in 60 litre tank
3 guppies
5 glowlights

I'm looking at the Hatchets now. Ultimately I would be looking at replacing the guppies prior to getting any other fish once i have my hatchets.

The plec, I can understand but the Rams (butterfly cichlids) only grow to 3', do they have special needs that they require larger tanks ?

PS this is my tank....

 

[onlinebug]

I'm looking at the Hatchets now. Ultimately I would be looking at replacing the guppies prior to getting any other fish once i have my hatchets.

The plec, I can understand but the Rams (butterfly cichlids) only grow to 3', do they have special needs that they require larger tanks ?

Nice tank, how much gravel do you have in that? dosen't look like enough to me Larger fish need more room to roam and if they feel trapped they can get stressed which can sometimes lead to death. Also larger fish will pick on smaller fish if they feel they like it.

 

[rabbut]

Rams are excellent little fish, but need 20 gal per Ram to use as individual teritorys, otherwise they may pick on each other. Even males and females will fight, if either don't like the other. The space quoted above gives hem space to run, should they need to. They require impecable water quality, and tend to be short lived. They only usualy do well in soft water with a low pH. People have kept them in hard water with a higher pH, but may strugle to keep them in these conditions. pH should be arround 6.5, unsure of theis ideal hardness though.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Fryfly]

No Rams then Till I get a bigger tank

I put the 3 bags the LFS said I would need and an extra one when that wasn't enough. I'd put more in but I dont want to upset my plants and the tank. Is there a negative effect of too little sand?