Need Suggestion On Choising Starter Fish

[citylover]

I'm a complete beginner, just got a 55 gallon tank ready (install filter, heater, add water conditioner, etc) for African cichlid. The local pet store is offering discount on baby Red Zebra and Electric Yellow. They are very small (around or less than 1"). I don't feel ready for more expensive adult cichlid fihs, so I'd like to try with these babies. Please give me suggestion on which one and how many should I get. Can Red Zebra and Electric Yellow live together? If so how many of each species shall I get? If not compatible, which one is easier or less aggressive (in case later on I want to introduce new fish into the tank)?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[CheniseMummy]

I'm no expert but have learned the hard way, Have you read the info about fish less cycling, thats your first step is to cycle the tank. I dont know about the fish you are planning but you will need to take into consideration what sort of setup they will like.

Hard-soft water
PH
planted or rocks
Stable water conditions

Somone with more expertise will anwser soon as to the type of fish etc.

What ever the LFS says you can not just chuck them in after 1 week it takes carefull planning and cycling to ensure healthy fish.

 

[BethK]

as said above, ensure your tank is cycled before adding fish. I have added below some useful threads regarding cycling;

fishless cycle

have a look here, for useful info on cichlids. they are more of a specialized fish, i think and they need certain water parameters (temp and ph), compared to other fish. this is something you have to have, to ensure a long and happy fishy life

Click this link, to find out more about the electric yellow but i am not too sure what the zebra one is, sorry

read up on their food too, some can not bed fed blood worm, which is a need to know.

I am not an expert on cichlids, far from it but they will need a lot of research don't be afraid to ask x

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Citylover. You have had good advice already about doing a cycle and avoiding killing cheap fish in the process. I might add that having all the fish in a tank die because you are trying to cycle a tank is a very negative thing to experience just to let a pet shop sell some cheap fish. A bottle of ammonia never does die, mine is over 6 years old already, and you won't need to feel bad about any losses from using it. Please ignore your pet shop on this subject and go with a fishless cycle.

 

[FishyWishie]

My local pets @ home told me (after id alreday found this forum thankfully) that all i had to do was Fill the tank let the water sit for a week and i could start stocking

 

[citylover]

Thanks a lot to all of you replied. I was actually to head out to buy those baby fish today. But lucky that I read your posts before I took off. Local pet store only told me to add some tap water conditioner before stocking. Never heard of "fishless cycle"! Now I'm going to spend more time reading those posts and hopefully start my own cycling soon rather than starting to kill those baby fish right away. Thanks again! I'm sure I'll come back with more questions later!

 

[OldMan47]

Please feel free to return with any questions you might have Citylover. We each take some pride in providing the best advice we can for a given situation. You are lucky to have found a location to help you through a fishless cycle before becoming embroiled in a fish-in situation. At the very least we can help you avoid the worst of the actions you might otherwise take based on your LFS' advice. We do not really have the same profit motive as your local fish shop. Most of us here are somewhat experienced fish keepers who really only want you to succeed. It gives me a great feeling when someone I am helping gets a good solid cycle established and adds their first fish without an incident of fish losses. There can be no profit motive because you are not buying my surplus fish.
I can't always say that since I do sell my surplus fish at a fish club auction. In that situation I am indeed a fish seller who wants the best possible price for the fish I offer for sale. Even then, though, I hope that I keep the best interests of my fish in mind. I have been known to bid on my own fish in the auction to keep them out of the hands of people who seem more interested in buying my fish as food for their larger cichlids. My fish are not being offered as food for other fish and are not available at a price that would make it even remotely possible to use them that way.

 

[BethK]

good choice citylover; i would suggest, so that you can get the best advice possible, to start a 'fishless cycle' diary, in this section of the forum.

I've gone through 1 fishless and 2 fish-in cycles and fortunately, i crossed the finishing line with everyone in tact but i wouldn't advise anyone to conduct a fish-in cycle, if it can be avoided, 1-2 water changes a day can become time consuming and overwhelming if i was to start again, i'd go with a fishless cycle, esp with this forum to hand.

Oldman has posted some wise words

let us know how you get on x

 

[CheniseMummy]

I agree i am currently in a fish in mini cycle having to do two major water changes a day. It is time consuming and overwhelming.

 

[mp0033price]

I have the zebra in my tank and they are are very hardy in my opinion. But very aggressive. While you are cycling your tank you will have time to read about them and decide if they are the fish for you. I really love mine, but it does take time and "lots of hiding spots" such as rock work, etc to keep these guys happy! Oh yeah, and once they are grown, you may have to thread out some males to keep aggression down as well. They prefer higher pH. Mine stays around 8.0 usually. API freshwater test kits are great for helping you with this and you can find them on ebay. My substrate is specific of African's and really help keep mine up.

 

[OldMan47]

I wish you all the best MPprice. Although you do not follow my own preferred method for fish keeping, you are certainly entitled to your opinion on the subject. If you should prevail, I will gladly give you the credit for helping outand will withdraw my own posts on the subject. After all, the posts we rely on should be free of individual prejudices.

 

[citylover]

Thanks everyone. I've done my reading and bought everything needed. Will start a "fishless cycle diary" like BethK suggested!