I Think I've Made A Mistake

[Elisabeth83]

Oh crap..I think I've made a mistake in purchasing these guys! I was told by a very trusted (30 years experience) guy at a shop I frequent that these guys would make good tankmates for my pair of Blue Acaras in my 200 litre tank (50 gallons I believe that is). They would keep the fry population down and would be fine size wise for the tank. He said they got to about 6 inches.

Argh! On coming home I've researched them a little better and it looks like they grow up to 35 cm (13 inches) That's a lot bigger than I bargained for! The guy told me it'll take years for them to get 6 inches yet upon reading on a site it says they grow extreamly quickly and will outgrow most home aquariums.


I'm about ready to jump off a cliff. Yes, yes I know I should of researched better but I was there looking for something to add to the tank to keep the fry population down and I trusted these people. I don't trust your typical LFS's but this place is different.

What should I do? I think I should/need to return them??

I don't think they are going to work out in the Acara tank anyways..the Acaras are trying to seriously kill them through the bag. I think I need to put them in an other aquarium?

#&#%#&#&

 

[pseud]

Just take them back...

 

[Elisabeth83]

Just take them back...

Yeah I'm going too...

I've put them in another tank for the moment..because I don't think they would of lasted long in with the Acaras. I doubt they would of lasted more than an hour.

My original plan was to get some Rainbow fish or some Giant Danios. They didn't have any Giant Danios and the guy told me he didn't think Rainbow fish would work with the Acaras. He thought they would be too slow...I'm not so sure about that?

Anyways I'll call the shop tomorrow...and return them within the week. It takes about 40 mins to get there so it's not something I want to do say tomorrow.

 

[Fella]

They keep Tin Foil barbs in a local shopping center aquarium, with a giant gourami. The sizes are nearly comparable.

 

[Elisabeth83]

They keep Tin Foil barbs in a local shopping center aquarium, with a giant gourami. The sizes are nearly comparable.

Yeah well I started freaking out when I saw a picture of a guy holding one in his hand and it was bigger than his hand I think the guy who sold me them must of been on something!! I don't know I mean it was busy so maybe he wasn't thinking straight

 

[CFC]

Taking them back is definately the best choice, i bought 4 a few years ago as dithers for my large predators but the barbs were such aggressive feeders that they out competed the other fish for food and left them starving, they soon grew to be around a foot long each and dominated the tank pushing all the other fish into hiding. The final straw came when a shovelnose catfish made a desperate dash to grab some food and one of the tin foil barbs ripped its gill cover off to get to the food within its mouth, i returned them to a store who in turn donated them to Colchester zoo as they were too large for them to house.
They are great fish but only really suitable for a large species tank.

 

[sylvia]

And seeing as you asked - yes, the rainbows would be too slow. I think the giant danio option is good. Alternatively, rosy barbs *might* work. If you can't get those danios right now, just eb patient until you can...

 

[Jules H-T]

Taking them back is definately the best choice, i bought 4 a few years ago as dithers for my large predators but the barbs were such aggressive feeders that they out competed the other fish for food and left them starving, they soon grew to be around a foot long each and dominated the tank pushing all the other fish into hiding. The final straw came when a shovelnose catfish made a desperate dash to grab some food and one of the tin foil barbs ripped its gill cover off to get to the food within its mouth, i returned them to a store who in turn donated them to Colchester zoo as they were too large for them to house.
They are great fish but only really suitable for a large species tank.

FFS, I'd love to see your fish room CFC, you seem to either keep, or have kept, a lot of interesting species.

Ps, don't know if you'll recall, but I found a good solid home for that labeobarbus burmanicus today. Thanks for the ID.

Sorry Liz. I can't add to your dilema.

 

[CFC]

Believe it or not i dont currently have a fish room, i just have every wall of the front room lined with tanks on two tier racks, though that is set to change when we move into our new house in a couple of months which has a 200+ square foot workshop at the end of the garden which will be converted into a purpose built fish house. Watch this space for even more interesting and unusual fish to come.

 

[cane76]

movnig house for you CFC is going to be a nightmare with all them tanks

 

[CFC]

Not really, since we are moving from a rented property to our own i can stagger the tank moving over a couple of weeks setting up an empty tank at the house to transfer the fish and filters from each tank into first before moving their tank so the move wont be any more stressfull than buying new fish from a store.

Getting the 200 gallon tank and its stand down the stairs is another matter altogether though

 

[Elisabeth83]

Taking them back is definately the best choice, i bought 4 a few years ago as dithers for my large predators but the barbs were such aggressive feeders that they out competed the other fish for food and left them starving, they soon grew to be around a foot long each and dominated the tank pushing all the other fish into hiding. The final straw came when a shovelnose catfish made a desperate dash to grab some food and one of the tin foil barbs ripped its gill cover off to get to the food within its mouth, i returned them to a store who in turn donated them to Colchester zoo as they were too large for them to house.
They are great fish but only really suitable for a large species tank.

Wow what a nightmare that must of been!! They sure are nice looking fish though. Too bad they grow so large and become aggressive. I bet they looking stunning in huge zoo type display tanks. Would love to see some full grown!

Anyways just got off the phone with the guy who sold me them and he said no problems about returning them and getting either something else or store credit. I was thinking instead of adding another type of fish maybe it would just be easier if I destroyed any future eggs the Acaras laid myself?

I have about 100 or so 2 week old fry at the moment but after speaking to a couple shops about them none are really interested in them. They say they can get them for real cheap and by the time they would be willing to take them from me they would have to be about 6 months old. Too much work for nothing in return if you ask me. Plus I don't have the room to raise that many fry in the tank to 6 months old anyways. The guy at the shop I was at yesterday told me I could bring him all the fry I have now and he'd feed them to all his fish in the shop. It's sounds cruel I know that's why I either have to get something that can destroy the eggs before they hatch or do it myself so I don't have to deal with actually seeing the fry and feeling bad. I'm just trying to find a fish(s) that'll be tough enough to do that.

CFC - Good luck with your move...getting a 200 gallon down a flight of stairs is gonna be tough!!!

 

[andywg]

Getting a tank downstairs is a lot easier than getting it up. Just carpet the stairs and gently slide it down. Not saying it's easy, but at least Newton is on your side that way