My First Setup

[bailey0789]

Right now I have Dalmation Molly's, Neon Tetras, and some kind of red tailed Guppy. Is this a good mix. The Guppy's seem a little scared. I had to take out two Skirt Tetra's, the whole aquarium was upset. Was it just nerves or are they aggressive.

 

[bailey0789]

Well, looking at the two Skirt Tetras in a jar even the black one seemed scared of the Yellow. So i guess the yellow is crazy or aggressive. I took him back, got another Black Skirt Tetra and he seems to be doing fine with the rest. Guppy's have calmed down too, so all seems well.

Any advice on what species to put together?

 

[Wills]

Hi what size tank is it?

 

[the biffster]

and as the tank been cycled or how long as it been up and running
and what type of filter do you have

 

[bailey0789]

Tank setup is good, 10gal. I talked to the guy at Petsmart and he said when you have a pair of schooling fish they will constantly struggle for leadership. I put a third of each type and immediately they all calmed down. Neons are still scared of the Black Skirt's. I think thats normal though. I was thinking of adding more Neons, make them feel safer.

 

[Assaye]

A 10 gallon is no where near big enough for two full shoals of fish + mollies. The shoals should be at least 6 fish per species (and it's frankly unfair to keep them in less) and the mollies can reach 4 inches and should be kept in a 15 gallon/24" tank as an absolute minimum.

The guy at Petsmart has given you pretty bad advice. You should never keep shoaling fish in 1/2/3s and you need to take into account the amount of swimming space the asult fish will have.

To keep all of your fish (so mollies, 2 shoals of tetras and guppies) you should be looking at a 24" tank as a minimum and that doesn't give you any more space for new fish. If you want more fish, you need to be looking at a 36" tank.

Resource Centre - essential reading for all newbies!

 

[OldMan47]

The black skirt tetras are far too aggressive to coexist with guppies and similar peaceful fish in anything but a large tank. If you have enough room, almost any fish combination can work, even a combination where some fish are prey species for other fish in the tank. A 10 gallon is not a bad starter tank but is tiny if you have any desire for a mixture of species. I have several 10 gallon tanks that are used as single species tanks for small fish like golden teddies or even Heterandria formosa. Be aware that Heterandria formosa were once thought to be the smallest fish species in existence. Although that has proven wrong, they are quite small fish and can have a breeding colony in a 10 gallon.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree, Black Skirts have beem among the most aggressive in things I have kept over the years. WD