Some Newbie no-nos

[xxBarneyxx]

As this is for newbies, I feel I should address a couple of points here:
Matching temp is not necessary. At a 20% water change the maximum possible temp drop (assuming the water is coming out of the cold tap at the coldest it will ever run in Scotland) on a 24 degree tank is less than 4 degrees. I perform 40% water changes and have never seen more than a 2 degree drop. I never add any heated water in my changes, but take all the water straight out of the cold tap. I also don't have any heaters in my display tanks.

That is very interesting to hear. Must be that I have very cold water as if I do a 30-40% water change it can drop the temp by a good 5-6 degrees. I have also heard of people losing fish after doing a water change due to rapid temperature drops (of course this could be due to other causes).

It is also interesting to note that many ray keepers (known as a particularly sensitive fish) just fill with cold with water and many fish happily swim into the colder water, or use it as a que to spawn (such as cories).

I know nothing about Rays so couldn't comment You are right about the Cory's of course and Danios also like the cooler water. I still prefer not to risk it though.

Dechlorinator can be added before, during or after. It seems to make no difference. It also acts as close to instantly as you can get. Tolak has seen this in a display from a rep with a tagging agent to show up the chlorine.

Thanks! This is something I have always been curious about but never really knew the answer to. I always added some prior to adding the water and then added the rest as I was adding it (then left it 5 minutes before turning the filter back on).

Flake food has everything in it that a fish needs. It is a perfectly balanced diet forumlated after years of scientific research. A fish will be perfectly healthy if fed nothing but the correct flakes (assuming it takes them).

Yes, in theory a good quality flake food should contain everything that is needed. However almost every breeding article I have ever read for almost any fish has recommended certain foods (depending on fish species) to bring them into breeding condition. I personally like to feed a selection of food which, while I might be incorrect, feel is better for the fish in general (I also feed my cats a variety of different food for the same reason). It is up to each person though and I do know people that only feed flake food and do ok.

 

[scottrreiter]

As this is for newbies, I feel I should address a couple of points here:
Matching temp is not necessary. At a 20% water change the maximum possible temp drop (assuming the water is coming out of the cold tap at the coldest it will ever run in Scotland) on a 24 degree tank is less than 4 degrees. I perform 40% water changes and have never seen more than a 2 degree drop. I never add any heated water in my changes, but take all the water straight out of the cold tap. I also don't have any heaters in my display tanks.

That is very interesting to hear. Must be that I have very cold water as if I do a 30-40% water change it can drop the temp by a good 5-6 degrees. I have also heard of people losing fish after doing a water change due to rapid temperature drops (of course this could be due to other causes).

It is also interesting to note that many ray keepers (known as a particularly sensitive fish) just fill with cold with water and many fish happily swim into the colder water, or use it as a que to spawn (such as cories).

I know nothing about Rays so couldn't comment You are right about the Cory's of course and Danios also like the cooler water. I still prefer not to risk it though.

Dechlorinator can be added before, during or after. It seems to make no difference. It also acts as close to instantly as you can get. Tolak has seen this in a display from a rep with a tagging agent to show up the chlorine.

Thanks! This is something I have always been curious about but never really knew the answer to. I always added some prior to adding the water and then added the rest as I was adding it (then left it 5 minutes before turning the filter back on).

Flake food has everything in it that a fish needs. It is a perfectly balanced diet forumlated after years of scientific research. A fish will be perfectly healthy if fed nothing but the correct flakes (assuming it takes them).

Yes, in theory a good quality flake food should contain everything that is needed. However almost every breeding article I have ever read for almost any fish has recommended certain foods (depending on fish species) to bring them into breeding condition. I personally like to feed a selection of food which, while I might be incorrect, feel is better for the fish in general (I also feed my cats a variety of different food for the same reason). It is up to each person though and I do know people that only feed flake food and do ok.

xxbarneyxx

read your thread last night and really like your tank. I saw that you have cherry shrimp. in a well panted 47 gallon tank can I put those shrimp in with may two small angles and 1 small guormie. I know they will be fine with my tetras.

Scott

 

[LauraFrog]

I can't answer the last question, but as a relative newbie (6 months or so in the hobby) I have a few no-nos as well:

- Don't buy the first fish that you see and think is pretty. Point out a few fish that you like. Ask about them. Discuss the set up and what they'll be like in it. If I'd just asked for the fish I wanted straight out, I would have bought the lyretail molly, but I talked to the people in the shop (and I know they know what they're on about, I've seen one dead fish in there and I spend half my waking hours in there lol) and they told me that my setup wasn't suitable for it. I left it there. I avoided wasting six dollars, I avoided a lot of disappointment and most importantly I avoided killing a beautiful fish.

- Don't overclean the aquarium. My friend was so determined to keep her tank clean that every three days she pulled out the filter and scrubbed the entire thing out with BOILING WATER. She pulled out half the gravel and rinsed that in hot water as well, and changed some of the water every day. She killed all the cycle bacteria and the fish were dead in a week. Obsession with keeping a tank clean can be as bad as leaving it filthy. (I explained what she did wrong and gave her some cycled filter media and the tank is ok now.)

 

[CathyGo]

Don't go for a small tank because you only want one to fit on a countertop or it's for a kid. It will be a ton more work and your kids will get to see their poor little fishies die.

Not all chain petstore employees are bad. Some are hobbysist like you that just want whats best for the fish. Talking to them and getting a feel for their level of fish knowledge is an easy way to weed out the one's who aren't so "into" fish. At my store 5 out of 7 would probaly have the answer to your question. The other 2 will tell you when they don't know and either go get a manager who used to work in the fish department or look at the schedule and tell you when somebody who knows more will be in. The other chain store down the street always has various parasite infestations from their supplier and one of them didn't even know what fin rot was when I pointed out that 1 of the bettas had it. 1 of the others I have met there knew fish a little better but refused to sell me any because I was under 18. I also have never gotten a straight answer to whether they are medicating the fish or not.

 

[Espyish]

Another Rule: Don't keep coldwater fish with freshwater tropical fish. I made that mistake when I was first starting. LOL I have a Mini Fantial Goldfish in with some Platies and a Molly and it is fine but to be on the safe side, don't do it! Think BEFORE you buy. Never buy on impulse.

 

[adam98150]

Nevermind.

 

[aimeec]

I have had 3 bad experiences with 3 different stores - 2 specialist aquarium stores, and a very large mostly aquarium store.

As a newbie who has been alot of bad advice, I would have to say:
- go to your LFS and ask their opinion/advice, then dont buy anything straight away.
- go home and research what they said and see if it is accurate, and if they have left anything important out.
- then go back and purchase based on your research.

And have a good look in all of the tanks in the store, not just the fish youre interested in.

The entire goldfish section in one of the stores near me looked terrible. Im talking 10 or so 2ft tanks packed with fish of all different sizes, and every single tank had several dead fish, at least half of the population looking almost dead(ich, fins tucked in, swimming on their side, siting on the bottom).
Then, the rest of the store wasnt so great. Atleast half of the tanks had dead fish in them.

Also, goldfish will try and swallow anything they can get in their mouth. So, break peas up before giving them one.

 

[sarah.petch]

Hi
Ive just re set up my tank and am having problems with high amonia levels i was told by my local fish shop to do a 50 % water change and feed ever other day which i did as my levels were very high and i am cycling with fish. since i did my water change i know have a white swirl in my water can't seem to get in chrystal clear or find out what it is. im paying £1.50 every 4 day's to get my water tested am i better of getting home tesing kit. don't really no what to do all advice welcome

 

[5teve-0]

Hi
Ive just re set up my tank and am having problems with high amonia levels i was told by my local fish shop to do a 50 % water change and feed ever other day which i did as my levels were very high and i am cycling with fish. since i did my water change i know have a white swirl in my water can't seem to get in chrystal clear or find out what it is. im paying £1.50 every 4 day's to get my water tested am i better of getting home tesing kit. don't really no what to do all advice welcome

sounds like bacteria bloom

 

[Hook. Line & Sinker]

11. Don't keep a male betta with guppies, or angelfish, or tiger barbs, or particularly another betta. In fact, be very careful indeed about what you put with a betta.

12. Don't put salt with corys, plecos or loaches as it'll burn their skin.

That's a dozen for now but if you want to argue with me or make further suggestions, please feel free.

Um... I have freshwater salt in my comunity tank and I have a small pleco.. I don't want to burn his skin, what are signs that I am doing this?? He seem's fine...

Can you put female bettas in with angelfish??

 

[aaronus]

"11. Don't keep a male betta with guppies, or angelfish, or tiger barbs, or particularly another betta. In fact, be very careful indeed about what you put with a betta."


Are you sure about not putting bettas with guppies, and why? I thought a male betta could be okay, depending on his particular personality

 

[xxBarneyxx]

In general putting a male betta in with any other fish is not a good plan. One of two things normally happen.
1) The betta beats the crap out of the other fish.
2) The other fish just cant resist chewing the hell out of the bettas long fins (guppy's, tetras and barbs are particularly bad for this).

 

[Diz1979]

dont keep angels with neons? i have never heard of this, angels will live peacfully with neons IF they have a bog enough tank, but they wont eat neons just because they are there angels are terratorial and will fish any thing that gets in there side of the tank.
And betas will also live peacfully with angels, all this is tested by myself and my angels and DISCUS live peacfully with neons and a betta. all the rest of the information is good though.

Agreed. I always had Neons with large Angelfish and they never got eaten. I think as long as your fish are properly fed they tend to leave one another alone

 

[dburling]

Here's one I learned a few years back....

Do always ensure that your water change buckets never get used for anything other than aquarium maintenance. My water heater went out and the plumber helped himself to my bucket to collect the water. He also dropped a few pieces of copper in during the process. I didn't clean the bucket and ended up killing a very nice Oscar with the residual copper in the bucket! Totally sucked!

 

[Jpmc™]

1. When you have a fish DON'T Feed him 4 Times a day! I feed my fish Twice a day and do my weekly water changes.
2. If you keep Goldfish, DON'T Put him in a sloppy old bowl, the most your Goldfish will live is 2 years. . Get a nice big sized aquarium (or a pond) and some friends. (Counting that you have the space for them). They can live up to 20 years!
3. ALWAYS have a way of Oxygen and Flitration for your Fish.
4. Make sure you have the time for your fish, if you go out on vacation, get someone who knows how to keep fish.
5. AND PLEASE NEVER EVER EVER Get bored of your fish AND/OR let it go into the wild. It will most likely die.
6. Oh, and yes, you see some pretty little acrylic shells and fishy rocks at Wal-Mart, DON'T get them, get something that will do some filtration, like Live Rock or Gravel. Sand's good. too.
7. and please god help me CYCLE. I know you get impatient, but it's WAY better to have your fish live longer, right?
8. Only have a Male Betta with a Female Betta, IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO SPAWN THEM. You might end up with little ol' Mr. Bettaman with half a tail. Or a Mrs. Betta not so happy.