My New Fish Tank

[fluttermoth]

The golden loaches I think were actually labelled golden algea eaters, really they are more to keep my lego nice and clean, which they are doing brilliantly! When I spoke to the chap in the shop he informed he that they would be ok in a small group, and wouldnt get too big, probably max of 15cm. My parents one is about 10cm and is fine with the fish they have.

*gives hollow laugh*

If they are the golden morph of the Chinese sucking loach Gyrinocheilus aymonieri they get to more like 30cm. They start off being ok in a group and eating algae, but they get more and more territorial as they get bigger, and by about the 10/15cm mark they'll give up eating algae almost completely, prefering instead to feed on chunks rasped out of the sides of your other fish while they're sleeping.

I'd get rid of the *@%$£*$@% things now if possible. One of the very few fish in the known world I actually actively dislike...(yes, yes, I know that's just the way they've evloved and that they can't help it, but even so...)

You're not the first, nor will you be the last, who's been given wrong information and bad advice by 'the man in the shop', either through blatant lies to make a sale or blather made up on the spot because they don't know.

We see the same thing here near enough every day

P.S; I love the Lego though; that looks brill Nice to see something a bit different!

 

[coldcazzie]

I'd get rid of the *@%$£*$@% things now if possible. One of the very few fish in the known world I actually actively dislike...(yes, yes, I know that's just the way they've evloved and that they can't help it, but even so...)

It's not so much the fact that they have evolved that way, but that they are sold as being suitable for the general aquarium and owners are told they'll eat algae and only grow small. Then they are usually put in a tank that is too small for them, with poor water conditions and probably not enough algae, and thus, die young, and then the myth continues (similar story to common plecs really).

(Please note, chicken83: I am not saying that you have a tank that is inappropriately tiny, or that you have poor water quality, because quite frankly, I have no idea what your water quality is like, I'm saying that generally, the aquaria that average Joe Blogs keeps is filthy and too small for the fish living in it, and also that most lfs employees wouldn't know a CAE if it rasped a chunk off them while they were sleeping! )

 

[Carlovel1]

LOL @ having Khuli Loach and Leopard Bushfish in the same tank

 

[This Old Spouse]

Let me also say that an LFS has one goal: selling fish and supplies. They don't really care what happens once their fish leave the store. After all, if your Leopard Bushfish eats all your fish, you'll just have to buy more, right?

 

[KittyKat]

Glad to see you've been getting on track while I was away.. that's a lovely sized tank and not anywhere near fully stocked, so there is an option for more fish, but only *after* current stocking is completely sorted.

Re: blue rams. I currently keep three pairs in a 5ft tank and think that it could easily take a couple more. BUT, I have #105### loads of plants, which break up their line of sight from one end to the other, and I have made sure they have double the good spawning sites that they need.

 

[chicken83]

Cheers for all the help guys. I will try and add some more Khuli's (i actually have 3 I was wrong)and rehome the leopard bushfish (I have some spare tanks)

This would leave me....

9 x Corys

8 x Columbian red finned tetra
8 x Blue phantom tetra


3 x Khuli loach (will make up to at least 8)
1 x Bullnose plec

2 x German Blue Rams (pair)
2 x Gold Ram (pair)
1 x Electric blue ram

Will I be OK adding Marbled Hatchets and some angels to this mix, and if so how many would you recommend?

I thought the guy in my LFS was good as he always seems to have good advise on what goes with what and has refused me fish in the past that wont fit in. The leopard bush fish were not from the normal guy tho.

 

[KittyKat]

First, I would change to the following..

10 x Corys of one species
10 x Columbian red finned tetra
10 x blue phantom tetra (what is the species?)
10 x khuli loach
1 x bullnose plec
3m 3f x blue rams (get a female of any colour morph, although I recommend wild-type)

Next, plant the tank, if it is not already planted.

Then, if your filter can handle it, add..
* 10 hatchets of one species
* 6-10 angels (but only if your tank is 2ft tall)

 

[chicken83]

Cheers Kitty

 

[KittyKat]

Stocking slowly, of course!

 

[coldcazzie]

Stocking slowly, of course!

Yes! Don't add them all at once! Add a few fish at a time but that stocking sounds good!