SpookyTooth
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- Aug 18, 2010
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Hello.
My name is Rachel, I'm new to the forums and mainly joined with a dilemma I'm trying to tackle. I hope it is all right to ask a question so soon, but I've found myself in a bit of a pickle after having acquired some new information and am hoping for some advice, if I may?
I've kept coldwater fish for a few years, however my question is regarding a tropical species and also tropical tanks. I've read the forum rules and guidelines and hope that this is the right place to post my enquiry, and I apologize if it is not. I have also tried the search function, but I honestly don't know what to search in this instance, and ended up with 40 pages of posts. I also apologize for the long topic title and the length of this post.
Roughly a week and a half ago, I decided to purchase a new tank for my coldwater fish. I only had two at the time but their old tank was second hand and the glass was slightly tinted so it was very dark inside. Alongside the new tank, I thought I would add some new fish to my community as this tank was rather large.
Now, the pet store I went to is where I have purchased several fish over the passed couple of years, and they have all been in great health and have lived long, happy lives. I've also gotten a lot of great advice from them. I saw they had new stock in their coldwater section, and fell in love with the vibrant colours. After asking how they would react with a different species of fish, I was informed they were docile and a wonderful addition to a fish community. I double checked that they were in fact coldwater fish with the assistant, and she said yes.
Yesterday, I went to a different gardening/aquatics centre. I wanted to get some fluorescent lighting and plants, but thought I'd have a look at their fish while I was there. The tanks weren't labeled as coldwater or tropical so I asked an on-hand assistant who informed me the only coldwater fish were your typical Shubumpkins (which I have kept many of over the years), American Flag Fish (I've also kept a pair of these) and your classic Goldfish. She also said that Danios weren't bad in a coldwater tank, as long as you kept an eye on the temperature during colder months.
The fish I had purchased from the previous store a week earlier were Platys. I was confused, as this store also had Platys. I told the assistant what had happened at the other store, and she was very surprised. She said that Platys were tropical fish, and should not be put in a coldwater aquarium, although they are hardy it's just not wise. This grieved me a little as the pet store where I purchased the Platys said they were coldwater, it was labeled coldwater and they told me they would thrive in a coldwater aquarium. I've done more research online and it has confirmed what the kind lady had said. Now I have a dilemma.
The Platys have been thriving in my new tank and have in fact been showing signs that they are breeding. It is summer in the UK, and I think the warmer weather may have warmed the water in my tank up to a degree suitable for all the fish to live in harmony, but I'm very worried as Autumn is fast approaching and when Winter gets here I don't know what'll happen to the Platys.
I'd like to purchase a heater and slowly "change" my tank from coldwater to tropical, but I don't know how my other fish would handle it, and I have no idea how I would go about this. My original fish are a type of guppy (he is the offspring of a "coldwater guppy" purchased from the pet store where I got my Platys. He does not have the fanned tail and vibrant colours of your tropical guppies, so I haven't questioned it. He's a bit of an unknown species though) and a molly -- which to my dismay I have been informed is ALSO tropical, though I've had her in this tank for over six months and she is absolutely thriving.
I have to admit I feel very guilty. I want to give my fish the best care I possibly can, and I feel I've done everything wrong. Fish are a huge part of my life at the moment, as they offer relaxation and I simply love watching them grow and change through their lives.
I'm mainly wondering if anyone has any advice on how I could possibly "change" my coldwater tank (if I can) to a tropical one, or just increase the water temp, so the Platys and the Molly live their lives happily. Sure, the Molly seemed okay. She's been swimming around happily, eating plenty and has grown quite a lot since I purchased her, but I can't stop this wrenching feeling that I've been doing her more harm than good. I'm trying to identify this "coldwater" guppy of mine, but without being able to take a photo there's little I can do. I'd like to offer a description, but my post is getting rather long and I don't want to bombard everyone with too much at once. If anyone would like a description, please let me know and I'll post one below this topic. I'll also try to find a photograph online that is similar to my little unknown quantity.
Thank you so much for your time.
My name is Rachel, I'm new to the forums and mainly joined with a dilemma I'm trying to tackle. I hope it is all right to ask a question so soon, but I've found myself in a bit of a pickle after having acquired some new information and am hoping for some advice, if I may?
I've kept coldwater fish for a few years, however my question is regarding a tropical species and also tropical tanks. I've read the forum rules and guidelines and hope that this is the right place to post my enquiry, and I apologize if it is not. I have also tried the search function, but I honestly don't know what to search in this instance, and ended up with 40 pages of posts. I also apologize for the long topic title and the length of this post.
Roughly a week and a half ago, I decided to purchase a new tank for my coldwater fish. I only had two at the time but their old tank was second hand and the glass was slightly tinted so it was very dark inside. Alongside the new tank, I thought I would add some new fish to my community as this tank was rather large.
Now, the pet store I went to is where I have purchased several fish over the passed couple of years, and they have all been in great health and have lived long, happy lives. I've also gotten a lot of great advice from them. I saw they had new stock in their coldwater section, and fell in love with the vibrant colours. After asking how they would react with a different species of fish, I was informed they were docile and a wonderful addition to a fish community. I double checked that they were in fact coldwater fish with the assistant, and she said yes.
Yesterday, I went to a different gardening/aquatics centre. I wanted to get some fluorescent lighting and plants, but thought I'd have a look at their fish while I was there. The tanks weren't labeled as coldwater or tropical so I asked an on-hand assistant who informed me the only coldwater fish were your typical Shubumpkins (which I have kept many of over the years), American Flag Fish (I've also kept a pair of these) and your classic Goldfish. She also said that Danios weren't bad in a coldwater tank, as long as you kept an eye on the temperature during colder months.
The fish I had purchased from the previous store a week earlier were Platys. I was confused, as this store also had Platys. I told the assistant what had happened at the other store, and she was very surprised. She said that Platys were tropical fish, and should not be put in a coldwater aquarium, although they are hardy it's just not wise. This grieved me a little as the pet store where I purchased the Platys said they were coldwater, it was labeled coldwater and they told me they would thrive in a coldwater aquarium. I've done more research online and it has confirmed what the kind lady had said. Now I have a dilemma.
The Platys have been thriving in my new tank and have in fact been showing signs that they are breeding. It is summer in the UK, and I think the warmer weather may have warmed the water in my tank up to a degree suitable for all the fish to live in harmony, but I'm very worried as Autumn is fast approaching and when Winter gets here I don't know what'll happen to the Platys.
I'd like to purchase a heater and slowly "change" my tank from coldwater to tropical, but I don't know how my other fish would handle it, and I have no idea how I would go about this. My original fish are a type of guppy (he is the offspring of a "coldwater guppy" purchased from the pet store where I got my Platys. He does not have the fanned tail and vibrant colours of your tropical guppies, so I haven't questioned it. He's a bit of an unknown species though) and a molly -- which to my dismay I have been informed is ALSO tropical, though I've had her in this tank for over six months and she is absolutely thriving.
I have to admit I feel very guilty. I want to give my fish the best care I possibly can, and I feel I've done everything wrong. Fish are a huge part of my life at the moment, as they offer relaxation and I simply love watching them grow and change through their lives.
I'm mainly wondering if anyone has any advice on how I could possibly "change" my coldwater tank (if I can) to a tropical one, or just increase the water temp, so the Platys and the Molly live their lives happily. Sure, the Molly seemed okay. She's been swimming around happily, eating plenty and has grown quite a lot since I purchased her, but I can't stop this wrenching feeling that I've been doing her more harm than good. I'm trying to identify this "coldwater" guppy of mine, but without being able to take a photo there's little I can do. I'd like to offer a description, but my post is getting rather long and I don't want to bombard everyone with too much at once. If anyone would like a description, please let me know and I'll post one below this topic. I'll also try to find a photograph online that is similar to my little unknown quantity.
Thank you so much for your time.
esp now the hot weather is fading 
/i73.photobucket.com/albums/i235/x_grey_wings_x/Feesh/Pickle5.jpg
