Shall I Give Up?!

[Something Fishy]

Since having my tank I have had no end of problems trying to get fish to live happily together, everytime I introduce new fish the tank I end up with casualties.
I have always gone for what I believed to be placid cohabiting fish but that still doesnt help. I started off with danios, I added guppies, and the danios killed them, I have also added platies and the dnaios killed them, the danios even at one point killed eachother! Well I have happily lived with 5 danios for ages now, but a tank needs to be more interesting than that! so I now added Tiger Barbs and they are kissing (which apparently is aggression!) and I've just come home and they have eaten the eye out of one of my Danios (so sad!) .. who is needless to say now on the way out.
I really love my tank and wish to keep it going but I really am starting to lose hope .... Any ideas as to what I am doing wrong?

BTW my tank is a 40litre ... I have been told that this is a hard tank to keep .. would a larger tank be easier and have less conflicts?

 

[tetraqueen]

I make mistakes on here too.

 

[catxx]

get rid of the danios!! and tiger barbs. they're both aggressiveish fish.
start over.

get just tetras.
or maybe just guppies.
something easy to start off with and get your confidence in fishies back again!

 

[annka5]

IMO 40 litres just isn't giving your danio's enough space to swim around in, making them nippy with other fish. They really need at least a 24" long tank to have enough space to swim in.
The tiger barbs should be in larger groups - if you have a min of 6 then they focus more on each other with the aggression/ nippiness. However, your tank is probablly too small to support that many, particualrly with the danios.
Don't give up. I'd really recommend a bigger tank if feasible.

 

[chishnfips]

40 litres isn't a big tank, and your stocking is limited, you would be better off and probably more successful with a larger tank, I started with 12g tank which is 3gallons - 4gallons bigger than what you have. I personally wouldn't keep all those danios and guppies in a wee tank like that, along with barbs aswell.


I think the reason you are having bother is the amount of fish in a small space. If you ask around ther forum you will get some good stocking suggestions, Don't give up yet, you can still have a nice tank and enjoy it.

My mate has a wee hex tank which is about 40 litres, all he keeps are 5 tiger barbs, and he has been really succesful. Smaller tanks are harder to keep than larger ones definately.

 

[tetraqueen]

Never give up! Please. I think perhaps rather than choosing what you like ask the guys in the shop. I was a fool and still act like one. If you go to a good place and I think mine is great. I live in herts which has a good place. No seriously, try getting compatible fish but also check that the water is okay first. I found another tip was to move around the contents of the tank as this changes territory and as you add new ones always change water the week before let it settle add new fish and allow them to get used to water temp in the bag for half hour, I always then feed and then leave well alone without the light.
Please once it works do precious little and the pleasure is great. I want a bigger tank. My hubby thinks its the best thing he's done I only nagged when my water was bad and I got no fish.

 

[Jules H-T]

Are there any other fish in there?

That's much too small for the tiger barbs, and the danios too (danios are fast swimming and like their room, despite being small). That's undoubtedly the root of all of your problems.

Yes, a bigger tank will be much easier to maintain provided you don't overstock that too. It will also allow you to have a wider range of fish. Something 3 foot long is a good size to manage, and can look impressive.

It would be best if you (1) take the tiger barbs back, and (2) get a bigger tank, and transfer the danios over. I wrote a guide on how I did that here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=101203&st=0

Then once things are settled, add more fish, AFTER you've decided what you want and checked back here.

This is a great hobby, and you'll get a lot out of it. Everyone makes mistakes so don't beat yourself up about it, the important thing to do is learn from them. Chin up.

Tiger barbs are notorious for hassling other fish, especially when kept in smaller numbers.

 

[AndyTaylor]

Don't give up, you just made a few basic beginner mistakes like we all do. Now is the time to learn from those mistakes... If you can bring the danios and barbs back to the shop you might consider doing that and restocking with more suitable fish.
Alternatively, as people have pointed out, a bigger tank would be easier to look after but that may not be possible for you.
Consider your options and if returning fish and restocking is the way for you, then come back here and ask for stocking advice... Or advice on a bigger tank...either way, ask questions first, ok?
Don't worry, it can be fixed....

Good luck

 

[Something Fishy]

Right thanks for all your help everyone. I think like you say I made the mistake of starting off with Danios. Yes all I have in there currently is 5 (well 4 now!) Danios and the 3 Tiger barbs I added yesterday. I think I shall take the Barbs back in the morning. Silly me believed the assistant when she said they would be fine with Danios!
So am I right in thinking that in a 40 litre tank I will probably have no luck if I add anything else in there with the 5 Danios? So i should either live with just the Danios, rehouse them and start again .. or get a bigger tank!
Was just loathe to buy a bigger tank if I fail with that aswell!

 

[chishnfips]

as long as you do the homewrork and take good advice there is no reason why you should fail. Once everything is going smooth it is great to watch.


keep it up and I am sure you will do great

 

[annka5]

IMO, keeping the danio's where they are is not really an option - you will always struggle with them in a tank that size.
Rehome them and start afresh or get a bigger tank and transfer them to that.
I'd always go for the bigger tank option as it really will be easier to keep.

 

[Fella]

Totally. It's no wonder you're having problems if you're incorrectly housing the fish.

 

[Something Fishy]

Tiger Barbs have gone back to the shop :0) .. so now have my 40 Danios in 40litre tank. Am now going to decide whether to rehome then and start a fresh .. or aim to get bigger tank for christmas and move them into there!
I'm thinking I may rehome Danios and get some Guppies to get my confidence up b4 getting abigger tank!
How many Guppies could you house in a 40litre tank?

LOL!!! Typo! I meant 4 Danios not 40!

Tiger Barbs have gone back to the shop :0) .. so now have my 40 Danios in 40litre tank. Am now going to decide whether to rehome then and start a fresh .. or aim to get bigger tank for christmas and move them into there!
I'm thinking I may rehome Danios and get some Guppies to get my confidence up b4 getting abigger tank!
How many Guppies could you house in a 40litre tank?

 

[chishnfips]

4-5 guppies maybe, I am not sure of the male-female ratio for them. someone more experienced than me will be able to tell you about that one, they aren't incredibly dirty fish you should be ok with them.

But they are prone to dying for no reason. Saying that I have kept guppies succesfully in all my tanks.

what about some sort of tetra you get some really nice ones but again they might need a slightly larger tank for swimming room.

 

[akudewan]

Maybe some corys and tetras would do well in the tank, corys are mostly at the bottom, so I don't think the zebras should bother them (correct me if I'm wrong)