What do i need? And what fish can i have?

[mariojoshi]

hey all...

im starting a coldwater fish tank and need some help

its only gonna be small 46 X 25 x 25 CM cos i dont really have either the money or the space.. buy hey.. its something

i found the tank at my local aquarium.. and its ideal.. im planning on only having like 4 fish so theyve got enough space... (thats what the guy at the shop said)

what do i need.. my list so far is:

tank
gravel
dechlorinator
filter
plastic plants
ornaments


and what can i keep?

i was thinking 2 shubunkins and 2 goldfish
how long do these things take to grow and how big do they get?!

thanks in advance Josh

 

[Fuzzy]

well i can answere the last part. Goldfish grow depending on size of ur tank. The bigger the bigger they get. So urs will saty pretty small

 

[mariojoshi]

ah... thats ok then.

the guy said 4 goldfish..

would four erm.. cant remember what they are called now.. orandas..

be ok in ther instead or 2 of each?

josh

 

[Opcn]

Why plastic plants? real ones will help you deal with the amonia that will build up as a result of your fish deficating in the water that they breath. Goldies are very dirty fish and you may lose a few and the ones who live will have damage to there gills before the bactirial colonys that break down amonia form. look in the Newbie forum for more informationon cycling and the best of luck to you.

best wishes

Opcn

 

[mariojoshi]

hey again.. thanks for the posts..

ive got my tank now its a 6gal apparently.. have filled it.. got the filter, gravel,artificial plants and rocks in etc... am gonna leave it for a week min to start up and

then put 2 white clouds in and see how it goes before adding any more

im gonna get summat like a calico fantail, a red cap and sum sort of other oranda

all sold at my LFS

only prob is thers no light.. and the hoods a crappy plastic one.. so im gonna buy a light with fitting etc.. fix a piece of thickish perspex to spread the weight and bolt that to the hood.. and screw the light to the perspex./. prob put a splash cover on too.. the tank has 2 mini shelves

im really happy now ive got my tank... it looks nice just on its own!

josh. (also got ammonia tester kit.. so will make sure the white clouds are ok first )

 

[Juggernaut22988]

Sounds good but be sure to give them a bigger home in the future

In about 4 years, each goldfish will need 10gallons to live happy
I suggest adding some aqua salt before adding the fish (or after)
half tsp per gallon is good (add it little by little)

Orandas are kinda hard to take care of
I had two and both died after a few months

Good luck!

 

[mariojoshi]

thanks for the reply... i heard that most of these fish wont really grow that much since the environment in general is fairly small cos they work it out by swimming back and fowards or summat....

what is this aqua salt.. just salt>? special salt? would my LFS sell this? why do i need it?

thanks in advance, josh

 

[goldene]

Mariojoshi hi, I have only just seen your post 'sorry' the size tank you have is no good for goldfish or fancy goldfish its far too small, the white cloud are ok and you can get other small fish for a cold water tank to go with them, but goldfish grow very quickly and your tank would be too small even for 1 fully grown fantail etc. you can also stunt their growth so they wont live long 'not nice' they do not take that long to get large my youngest goldfish I have had for 1 year and it is 6 inches nose to tail and still growing my two fancys are nearly 3 years old and 1 is 7 inches the other 8 nose to tail so you can see they do not stay small, I had them in a 4ft tank and that was too small so in the end my husband bought me a larger tank, if you take a look at members aquarium pictures you will see my new tank photos and fish photos and you will see how big they grow and mine are still growing? also you only need salt for coldwater fish if they are ill a specialist at Tetra told me that, also do you understand about the time it takes to cycle a tank etc, Take a look in the tropical section under beginner questions : Avoiding and treating new tank sydrome : speak to you soon.

 

[mariojoshi]

hey goldene...

oh... the ppl at the shop said theyd be fine and not really grow that much because of the environment.. so stay pretty small like the size they are in their tanks.. is this going to be like a bad quality of life for them?

i was really looking foward to getting some.. the white clouds are so tiny.. and ive bought everything lol.. i cudnt afford a bigger tank really. btw, what temps are all you peeps running your coldwater tanks at? i think mine may be a little warm.. the ppl at the lfs said that they shud be ok.. just curious

 

[goldene]

Hi the only way I can described putting 4 goldfish in such a small tank is like putting a baby in a dolls house and saying it will only grow to the size of the house, 'its stupid' fish get stunted and die if you have them in a tank that is too small plus when they start producing poop the filter will not be able to cope and toxins increase so poison the fish, you may get away with a couple of small fancys for about 6 months 'if they last that long' but then you willl need a bigger tank, some fishshop people don't always know what their talking about and will tell you anything to get a sale, tank temps normally room temperature 20-22, speak to you later.

 

[mariojoshi]

cheers for the reply.... my tank is abit warm then.. its between 25-27

25 overnight... when the heating was off too.. and its not near a rad or a window any more either! eek

the white clouds seem ok... they seem to like swimming against the current by the filter.. its funny.. but odd

i agree that fish shp ppl sometimes know jack sh!t and just want to make a sale... one guy told me that a golfish would eat a white cloud.. if i put em together... (maybe when its very big.. but i doubt it at that size)

this doesnt sound very good... ill have to talk to them again i spose... what would you reccommend putting in there then?

more white clouds.. danios.. zebra danios? just small stuff that doesnt grow?

seems such a shame.. was really looking foward to having some colorful nice fish in there... but i dont want to kill em or make them have crap lives!

you on MSN messenger goldene.. you seem to know what your talkin about.. would be useful to have a chat... ( [email protected] ) (dont ask) if not, thanks alot for the replies.. really useful.. and prob save me money by not killing poor defenceless fish!

 

[mariojoshi]

ritey.. after much confusion about what is gonna be suited to my tank....
i think im sorted...

the current white clouds seem to be doing ok.. and the ammonia test isnt showing anything after 4days... so its going ok so far will contiue to monitor the levels.. the white clouds are on a diet atm to keep things nice and safe. hopefully no semi poisioned fish.

think what im gonna get is 2 more white clouds.. so a mini shole of 4..
2 danios
2 zebra danios
1 sucking loach.. not a pleco or anyhting enormous!

that should be a nice happy community of fish i hope.. and since im a begginner the smaller ones should be easier to look after than <messy> golfish.

hopefully i can borrow my mates digicam and get a piccy of the tank..
thanks for the replies..
josh.

 

[goldene]

Glad you seem sorted with your fish Josh will speak to you on msn later if I can get a look in with my daughter 'school night so earlier to bed'