I Need Help

[Royster]

Time to explain ......

I got my first tank about a month and a half ago and originally I was going to get just goldfish as I was lend to believe tropical fish where high maintenance and too much work for a beginner, but a chat with a few tropical tank owners and I was reasured if I picked the right fish I'd be fine. So I got myself some rasboras, a betta some cories and a few shrimp and everything is fine.

Until a friend in work approaches me and asked could I take his tank and fish as he's getting old and is moving to a retirement village and it'll be too much for him to move and set up at the new flat. Being a soft touch and not wanting harm to come to anyone I agree without even asking what's in the tank !

So I'm now the keeper of a
Mollie ( kinda black and silver looks like marble )
A bristlenose algae eating critter
And a cichlid ! Which has an attitude problem and has been nipping the mollie.

So know I'm in the world of salt tonics fish fights and I don't know if I should give the fish away to members who know how to look after them or give it a go myself, I'm all for learning but not at the expense of somethings health !!

Help guys , what would you do ?

Plus these guys are in a 60l tank ( 61x30x30) so I guess they are crampt a little !!

 

[fluttermoth]

What kind of cichlid is it?

 

[minnnt]

The Mollie would probably be ok without the salt. I have kept them fine without adding any aquarium salt what so ever. Also the salt will probably not be doing the BN and the Cichlid much good. If you know what type of cichlid it is, then someone will be able to advise you on the care it needs. Try and get a picture of it up here and then we will be able to help.

 

[Royster]

Lol not a clue

It's kind of off White/pale with blue flecks and a black spot on it's side, I've been told he's male.

 

[minnnt]

Possibly a Ram of some sort?

 

[england]

Thats dificult to id, is it big/small? from that, iam thinking a jewel cichlid

 

[fluttermoth]

Could it be a ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi? If it is you definitely want to stop the salt (I'd do some huge water changes ASAP to get the salt out asd well)

Can you try and get a pic of it? Even a blurry one might help.
We really do need to find out as cichlids range from fairly peaceful 2 inchers that need soft, acidic water to highly aggressive 6 inchers that need hard, alkaline water. Some cichlids grow to 18 inches!

 

[minnnt]

jewel cichlid

Ram

 

[Royster]

mollie,here's fatty, not even sure she's meant to look like this.size about 3"

cichlid, he looks kind of like a jewel but albino lol,size about 5/6"

and if you look at the filter there is a serious amount of algae on the outside of it, i need to find a way to remove that incase it starts to effect the rest of the tank (not the origional tank by the way, or water so it's saltless at the minute)

 

[minnnt]

It's a jewel cichlid mate by my reckoning. There are different colourations ranging from the one you have to blood red (which i have)

I would try and rehome it tbh, they can be extremely aggressive.

 

[Royster]

yeah mate i think your right, i'll put a post up in the sales section and if anyone in N.I. fancies it they can get it touch.

so what about the mollie and the BN ? hopefully i can get a new home for them also....

 

[minnnt]

Depends on what your plan is for them. Do you plan on keeping the tank setup? If so then what way do you want to go with it? I personally like BN's and from your picture i would say it is a balloon molly which i also like. I think 60 litre is a bit small for the BN though. If keeping the Mollie i would knock the salt on the head, but do it by doing 10 - 15% water changes once or twice a week.

BTW, your original tank sounds really nice.

 

[Royster]

No I think I'll let them all go so someone can enjoy them and give them the care they need.

And cheers for the nod towards my original tank,things seem to be going well in it and I'm trying to care for it as best I can..... I forgot the neons too ...

 

[minnnt]

Sounds like a plan... could you keep the BN?

Also... this leaves you with a free tank. so, what's it going to be?

 

[Royster]

Yeah your right, this leaves me with a 60l and an 80l and I'm not sure what to do with them, some tiger barbs would look amazing but I think the tanks too small, in fact I think it's a bit small for most things, what would you guys put in them that I don't already have in my other one?