Tetra Staying at bottom of tank

[styla12]

Don't listen to anyone who works in Pets at Home. Most of them know nothing about fish. They have a terrible reputation.

Yes I agree about the lack of knowledge of staff.

But im speaking more about their points system which they have established as a business rather than thoughts is staff members.

Basically how it works is whatever the size of your tank in Litres you divide it by 2. So my 240L tank/2 means I have 120 points.

Then they have allocated a certain number of points to each fish which is displayed alongside its name. Mollies are 3 points, Rams are 2 points each whereas guppies are 1 point each etc.

Does that seem like a bad system?

From my experience they do seem to care about fish since they always ask what you have in the tank and even refused to sell me Betta because they said would he incompatible with guppies etc. So I like to think they would have thought well about the system before rolling it out across stores but would be good to hear your thoughts on this?

As a new hobbyist I obviously like to take other opinions and thoughts into account. Thanks for the help!

 

[utahfish]

Yes I agree about the lack of knowledge of staff.

But im speaking more about their points system which they have established as a business rather than thoughts is staff members.

Basically how it works is whatever the size of your tank in Litres you divide it by 2. So my 240L tank/2 means I have 120 points.

Then they have allocated a certain number of points to each fish which is displayed alongside its name. Mollies are 3 points, Rams are 2 points each whereas guppies are 1 point each etc.

Does that seem like a bad system?

From my experience they do seem to care about fish since they always ask what you have in the tank and even refused to sell me Betta because they said would he incompatible with guppies etc. So I like to think they would have thought well about the system before rolling it out across stores but would be good to hear your thoughts on this?

As a new hobbyist I obviously like to take other opinions and thoughts into account. Thanks for the help!

The idea of a point system isnt an awful idea just incomplete, as it doesnt take into account water parameters for fish aggression levels compatibility or whether or not a fish belongs in groups or singly and whether or not they do better in long tanks or tall tanks. Theres alot that goes into stocking a tank which is whybeven inch/ gallon rule has its flaws as does a point system assigned to fish

 

[Essjay]

The points system is terrible and should be ignored. All it tells you is how many of this species will fit in that tank. It tells you nothing about the requirements of the fish eg soft/hard water, whether they are active swimmers or sedate fish. In other words, it tells you nothing about which fish can be kept together, or how many of each species should be purchased.

I also dislike the practice (as with so many other fish shops) of selling shoaling fish as £x per fish and £y if you buy 5 fish. If you want 8, you pay the single fish price for 3 of them. My favourite shop sells shoaling fish as £x per fish and 10% off if you buy at least 5 of them and the 10% off applies no matter how many you buy over 5.

 

[styla12]

Yeah makes sense guys I agree with your thoughts.

That's why I always like to do my own research before going to buy them to make sure I cause as little stress as possible.

 

[Colin_T]

Perfect thanks mate. I'll give that a go then. What are your thoughts about the stocking level of my tank question I posted?

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

 

[styla12]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

I have a Fluval Roma 240

Length = 120cm
Height= 55cm
Width = 40cm

I also have Fluval Canister filter which does 1150 Litres per hour.

Water parameters:
Hardness = 292ppm
pH = 8

Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

8 Neon Tetra
8 Glowlight Tetra
15 Guppies
8 Mollies
8 Platties
8 Swordtails
6 Rams

Your water is great for livebearers like mollies, platies swordtails and guppies, but it's too hard for tetras and rams.

The tank itself is big enough for all those fish but the GH is not suitable for the soft water species.

Don't keep swordtails and platies together because they cross breed and they are already messed up enough as it is.

Platies, guppies and mollies would work. You could add some or the smaller rainbowfish to go with them. There's more info on rainbowfish at the following link.

Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae

A website dedicated to Rainbowfishes of Australia and New Guinea

rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au

 

[styla12]

Your water is great for livebearers like mollies, platies swordtails and guppies, but it's too hard for tetras and rams.

The tank itself is big enough for all those fish but the GH is not suitable for the soft water species.

Don't keep swordtails and platies together because they cross breed and they are already messed up enough as it is.

Platies, guppies and mollies would work. You could add some or the smaller rainbowfish to go with them. There's more info on rainbowfish at the following link.

Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae

A website dedicated to Rainbowfishes of Australia and New Guinea

rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au

What do you mean by they're already messed up? Is there an issue if they were to cross breed?

Wouldn't adding additional rainbowfish overstock the tank? Or are you saying I should return the tetras and then replace with rainbowfish?

Thanks so much for the help buddy

 

[Colin_T]

Years ago swordtails and platies were hybridised to get more colours. Since then people have been trying to keep the species separate. If you have swords and platies in the same tank, the males will argue/ fight over females and the swordtails will win. They will also cross breed and that is not something we want if we can help it.

I didn't know you had already bought the tetras. You can either keep them or return them. If you do keep them they probably won't live as long as they could due to the harder water. Same deal with the rams.

If you do have all the fish you listed in post #7, then don't add any rainbowfish or anymore fish. When the livebearers start producing young you will have plenty of fish in that tank.

 

[styla12]

Years ago swordtails and platies were hybridised to get more colours. Since then people have been trying to keep the species separate. If you have swords and platies in the same tank, the males will argue/ fight over females and the swordtails will win. They will also cross breed and that is not something we want if we can help it.

I didn't know you had already bought the tetras. You can either keep them or return them. If you do keep them they probably won't live as long as they could due to the harder water. Same deal with the rams.

If you do have all the fish you listed in post #7, then don't add any rainbowfish or anymore fish. When the livebearers start producing young you will have plenty of fish in that tank.

Oh right makes sense.

Yh I already have 4 Neon tetras and 4 Glowlight Tetras. I heard that in nature their life is usually 1 year anyways so if I can get that out of them I'd be happy. Probably won't bother buying anymore than what I have then since conditions aren't perfect for them.

If the livebearers were to produce young wouldn't they get eaten alive in my tank? Would I have to separate them somehow?

 

[Essjay]

Tetras live a lot longer than 1 year, provided they are kept in suitable, clean water. By that I mean soft water that has regular water changes. They won't live as long in hard water or tanks that are not kept clean.

 

[Colin_T]

some of the young might survive, especially if there are lots of plants in the tank.

 

[styla12]

Tetras live a lot longer than 1 year, provided they are kept in suitable, clean water. By that I mean soft water that has regular water changes. They won't live as long in hard water or tanks that are not kept clean.

My tank is always kept super clean with weekly water changes and trimming dead plants and removing all dirt etc.

Currently I do around a 30% water change would you suggest I do 50%? Also, should I do even even more than 50% at any point?

 

[styla12]

some of the young might survive, especially if there are lots of plants in the tank.

Ah right! Got plenty of plants in there so let's see what happens. Will keep you all updated

 

[utahfish]

Oh right makes sense.

Yh I already have 4 Neon tetras and 4 Glowlight Tetras. I heard that in nature their life is usually 1 year anyways so if I can get that out of them I'd be happy. Probably won't bother buying anymore than what I have then since conditions aren't perfect for them.

If the livebearers were to produce young wouldn't they get eaten alive in my tank? Would I have to separate them somehow?

Neon tetras can live up to 10 years, in hard water probably a year.
It really would be in yours and the fish best interest to return the soft water fish. Rams can live up to 5 years but in hard water theyll go quick theyre sensitive to water