I Have A Feeling My Tank Is To Small

[grape]

Hello all, I'm new here so go easy haha.

I have recently bought a new 60 litre tank, my problem is I've gone and bought a Rosy Barb for it without doing my research.

I now realize that these fish are capable of growing up to 4" and i need 5 or more for them to be comfortable amongst each other.

So you see my dilemma? If i have 5 RB's in a 60 litre tank, surely that would be to small for them all?

Thankfully I have just one at the moment as the pet shop advised that I just start with one due to the possibility of 'new tank syndrome' obviously a sensible move especially in cases like mine.

So what do you guys suggest I do? If i was to take it back would the pet shop likely take it off my hands?

I'm such a fish noob.

 

[challdog]

5 rosy barbs in a 60 L
should be fine

 

[Tizer]

The minimum size tank Rosy barbs should be kept in is 90 litres and 2 foot in length. If a fish is stationary it might "look" ok in a tank but these fish like to swim, a lot, and require a decent amount of space.

Have you cycled the filter? Or just dumped some fish in a new tank and expect them to survive?

Have a read of the beginners section on this forum matey, it will tell you what you need to know.

My suggestion would be to take it back to the shop, cycle the filter (this can take weeks) as described in the beginners section then introduce some fish suitable for the tank.

Lots of people will be able to suggest some nice ideas for that.

You dont really want to be doing a fish in cycle if you can help if, especially if you are new to the hobby.

The link in my sig might show you what that involves...its hard work and stressful to a new fish owner.

 

[grape]

Thanks so much for the reply. And no, I was'nt aware of cycling the filter.

My fish is unhappy, I can tell. I fudged up. It's going back asap.

Just hope it survives till tomorrow...

Thanks again.

 

[grape]

Not to make excuses up for myself but why on earth didn't the tank instructions mention ANYTHING about the filter cycling? I read them thoroughly prior to building the tank. For something so important you'd think they'd mention this.

I'm so annoyed with myself that I didn't research enough before setting everything up, I assumed it'd be a more simple process.

I'm going to religiously read the said beginners section whilst my filter's being cycled, this will not happen again.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

thats great Grape, get that cycle going, and u'll have cute little fish in that tank in no time!

 

[Hmongol]

Not to make excuses up for myself but why on earth didn't the tank instructions mention ANYTHING about the filter cycling? I read them thoroughly prior to building the tank. For something so important you'd think they'd mention this.

I'm so annoyed with myself that I didn't research enough before setting everything up, I assumed it'd be a more simple process.

I'm going to religiously read the said beginners section whilst my filter's being cycled, this will not happen again.

No worries friend, fish keeping is all about trial and error when we start.
You're right, the instruction says nothing about cycling and thats because they want to sell their products only. It's the very same reason why they sell a half gallon bowl with a goldfish on the front, marketing.

Always remember to research which pet stores will take in unwanted fish, therefore you can still keep the fish of your desire for a year or so until he outgrowns the tank.

 

[fluttermoth]

Always remember to research which pet stores will take in unwanted fish, therefore you can still keep the fish of your desire for a year or so until he outgrowns the tank.

Please don't take this personally, but that's a terrible thing to say, really There's every chance that a fish kept in too small a tank will never outgrow it as it'll become stunted, which will make it prone to diseases and shorten its life. Would you think it's ok for someone living in a tiny flat to get a Great Dane puppy and take it back when it got too big? Or get a pony foal for their garden until it grew too large?

I know the world is not perfect, and sometimes we end up with fish that aren't really suitable for our tanks (god knows, it's happened to me enough times!), but it's not something we should be so casual about.

If your tank isn't suitable for the fish for its whole life, I don't think you should be getting it. It's all very well to say, "oh I'll get it a bigger tank when it outgrows this one", but what if you lose your job and can't afford the bigger tank? Or it's already become stunted and will never grow properly?

Sorry to rant on (and like I said, it's not aimed at you personally), but it's something I feel very strongly about. Fish have a bad enough time as it is without people treating them as some sort of 'loan'.

 

[KISSfn]

Always remember to research which pet stores will take in unwanted fish, therefore you can still keep the fish of your desire for a year or so until he outgrowns the tank.

Please don't take this personally, but that's a terrible thing to say, really There's every chance that a fish kept in too small a tank will never outgrow it as it'll become stunted, which will make it prone to diseases and shorten its life. Would you think it's ok for someone living in a tiny flat to get a Great Dane puppy and take it back when it got too big? Or get a pony foal for their garden until it grew too large?

I know the world is not perfect, and sometimes we end up with fish that aren't really suitable for our tanks (god knows, it's happened to me enough times!), but it's not something we should be so casual about.

If your tank isn't suitable for the fish for its whole life, I don't think you should be getting it. It's all very well to say, "oh I'll get it a bigger tank when it outgrows this one", but what if you lose your job and can't afford the bigger tank? Or it's already become stunted and will never grow properly?

Sorry to rant on (and like I said, it's not aimed at you personally), but it's something I feel very strongly about. Fish have a bad enough time as it is without people treating them as some sort of 'loan'.

I could not believe the amount of harassment (for lack of a better word) I received from my co workers because I would go straight home after work (while my tank was cycling) to do a water change, instead of joining them at the bar (pub). Their attitude is "they're only fish", "If it dies, go to the petshop and get another for $2" It seems the general public and the fish selling industry treat fish as a disposable and easily replaceable "thing" Sad.