What to do!!!!

[Rubberducky]

Hello I am new to this fishy business but I'm quickly becoming hooked (lol) I got a 90L almost a yr ago and im sure ive made way too many mistakes. My first batch of fish lasted a fair while but i just chose pretty fish and didnt realise there was much more to it than feeding and watching them swim about next time i researched a bit more and googled gentle friendly fish so I got 5 platy's 4 Molly's 6 neon tetras. I already had 2 corys and 2 shrimp (they are cool and my son likes them lol) from my first fish. All the live bearing fish are girls so no fry unless they were pregnant already. We have about 8 babies (SO excited) but as I'm so new at this I'm sadly expecting them not to survive I'm doing my best and I'm researching like crazy but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
In the mean time I got a 40L (told you I was hooked) for my son's room and he has 2 boy platys 3 danios and 3 mini frogs he's very happy boy
Now... I recently acquired my friends tank (125L) which I thought only had one or two fish inside and I planned on putting all my fish in there to give them a bit more space and so I could get few more corys.
Can't happen!!!!!! Tank came with 2 clown loaches a aucking loach and 6 huge rainbowfish!! All of which I think grow too big (I think so but tell me if I'm wrong lol)
Anyway my problem is what to do with the fish? I rang my local fish shop who said they would take them if I needed but I would prefer to find them homes as I can't get ANOTHER tank lol (I mean....i would but house is quite tanked up already lol)
Will my over full 90L be ok for a while till I can move them?
Can I rejig any fish to make them more comfy? I'm scared to combine any fish from either tank incase they get eaten or bullied etc.
Please help!!!!!
Sorry for my ramble lol
I posted this message in the introduce yourself section as well....im sorry im not sure how this works yet lol.

 

[Rubberducky]

Oh and the pictures are of the 125L and the fish in it. I think they are rainbow and sucking loach? Correct me if I'm wrong

 

[julielynn47]

The one you are calling a sucking loach looks like a Chinese Algae eater to me. I love those fish! I have had a couple of them over the years and I never had an issue that people warn about with them. IMO they are great fish.
Someone else will come along and help you better than I can I am sure. If the tank inhabitants are happy they way they are, then why change it?

I understand that some of the fish may get big, but for now, if they are small, I see no reason to mess with success

 

[Rubberducky]

Thanks fpr your reply
Yes I think that's right Chinese algae eater, I've just looked up photos...really you've had no problems?? Thats bit of a relief. I had nightmares of coming downstairs this morning and seeing huge massive fish with bites out of them lol. Can you (or anyone) suggest a combo of my fish that can co exists happily? I'm worried my 90L has too many fish in which is why I got the bigger tank!! Since the rainbows are different types they swim mostly with they're own so could i split them up and do 3 in each tank and put my platys in the big tank? Will the loachs chase them?
And I know the fish are small enough now but won't they grow badly if they're kept in a too smaller tank? Have I over googled the problem lol.

 

[Essjay]

And I know the fish are small enough now but won't they grow badly if they're kept in a too smaller tank?

Yes they will. I'm afraid the 'fish only grow to the size of the tank' thing you often come across is a myth. They will become stunted and should be moved to a big enough tank before that can happen.

The sucking loach, aka Chinese algae eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, will grow to at least 20 cm (8 inches) and will need a tank with a footprint of 150 x 45 cm (60 x 18 inches)
And julielynn may not have had problems with hers but many people do have problems with these fish.

Of the rainbowfish, one species looks like the dwarf rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox. This species should be OK in the 90 litre tank.
But I can't identify the others, and some rainbow species get quite big and therefore need big tanks.




Which country are you in? There are ways of rehoming fish but I'm only familiar with the UK.

 

[Rubberducky]

Yes they will. I'm afraid the 'fish only grow to the size of the tank' thing you often come across is a myth. They will become stunted and should be moved to a big enough tank before that can happen.

Yes!!!!! I thought that!!!!!! I really don't want that to happen when I mention it to the friend I got the tank from he just shrugged and said it didn't matter (!!!) I'm glad I'm not just suffering from new tank owner paranoia lol.

The sucking loach, aka Chinese algae eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, will grow to at least 20 cm (8 inches) and will need a tank with a footprint of 150 x 45 cm (60 x 18 inches)
And julielynn may not have had problems with hers but many people do have problems with these fish.

Yep that's what I found when I looked them up...sad, he looks a cute fellow atm but I've spotted him darting at the rainbows a few times and i know he will get way to big...same for the two clown loaches.


Of the rainbowfish, one species looks like the dwarf rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox. This species should be OK in the 90 litre tank.
But I can't identify the others, and some rainbow species get quite big and therefore need big tanks.

I've been googling my ass off lol and I have 1 boeseman 3 red and 2 dwarf
The 2 dwarf can stay bc they are as big as they are going to get and apparently they are calm and friendly, but I am going to have to re home the others asap.

I'm from the UK too..... Do you know anyone in Telford (near the famous Ironbridge) who would be able to care for them? Right size tank etc?





Which country are you in? There are ways of rehoming fish but I'm only familiar with the UK.

 

[Rubberducky]

Not sure what I've done there....can you read that reply lol? Iv put it all in a quote somehow!!!!! I'll get the hang of this soon

 

[Gruntle]

Clown loaches get massive (up to a foot, I believe). The best thing you can do for them is to find someone to take them off your hands unless you want a 6' tank...

 

[Rubberducky]

Clown loaches get massive (up to a foot, I believe). The best thing you can do for them is to find someone to take them off your hands unless you want a 6' tank...

I def can't fit that in lol. Any one near Ironbridge Telford who can care for these fish properly?

 

[Rubberducky]

Clown loaches get massive (up to a foot, I believe). The best thing you can do for them is to find someone to take them off your hands unless you want a 6' tank...

I def can't fit that in lol. Any one near Ironbridge Telford who can care for these fish properly?

 

[Rubberducky]

Replying properly to essjay. Sorry!! !

Yes they will. I'm afraid the 'fish only grow to the size of the tank' thing you often come across is a myth. They will become stunted and should be moved to a big enough tank before that can happen.

Yes!!!!! I thought that!!!!!! I really don't want that to happen when I mention it to the friend I got the tank from he just shrugged and said it didn't matter (!!!) I'm glad I'm not just suffering from new tank owner paranoia lol.

The sucking loach, aka Chinese algae eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, will grow to at least 20 cm (8 inches) and will need a tank with a footprint of 150 x 45 cm (60 x 18 inches)
And julielynn may not have had problems with hers but many people do have problems with these fish.

Yep that's what I found when I looked them up...sad, he looks a cute fellow atm but I've spotted him darting at the rainbows a few times and i know he will get way to big...same for the two clown loaches.


Of the rainbowfish, one species looks like the dwarf rainbow, Melanotaenia praecox. This species should be OK in the 90 litre tank.
But I can't identify the others, and some rainbow species get quite big and therefore need big tanks.

I've been googling my ass off lol and I have 1 boeseman 3 red and 2 dwarf
The 2 dwarf can stay bc they are as big as they are going to get and apparently they are calm and friendly, but I am going to have to re home the others asap.

I'm from the UK too..... Do you know anyone in Telford (near the famous Ironbridge) who would be able to care for them? Right size tank etc?





Which country are you in? There are ways of rehoming fish but I'm only familiar with the UK

 

[Essjay]

When I have needed to rehome fish in the past (usually too many fry!) I have used the website aquarist classifieds - google finds it easily. I have found that placing an ad on there gets quick replies if you use the word 'free' in the title. That always gets people's attention, unless you do want payment for the fish. Give as much detail as you can, and photos help on there too.

I'm sure other UK residents will have their favourite ways of rehoming fish as well.

 

[julielynn47]

I know absolutely nothing about Rainbow fish or clown loaches, so I can't comment on the whys or hows etc. But I knew someone with more experience would come along and help you out on those points.

But I really do think that Chinese Algae eaters get a bad rap. I have had 2 of the normal colored ones, as shown in this picture and I had a golden yellow one. The only problem I had was the fact that there were 2 of them at once in the tank. They do not play well with each. One was dominant and chased the other relentlessly.

But as for bothering other fish, such as sticking to their sides and sucking the slime coat off, that was something that never happened. I have thought about this before, when I hear others bring that up, and wonder if it is because they are simply hungry? I overfeed, and I readily admit it, but I never have fish chasing each or trying to eat each other. No matter what sort of fish I have in the tank. So I don't know....it raises interesting questions to me...

Anyway, congrats on the Chinese Algae Eater, I for one, maybe the only one, love those fish!!

 

[Rubberducky]

I know absolutely nothing about Rainbow fish or clown loaches, so I can't comment on the whys or hows etc. But I knew someone with more experience would come along and help you out on those points.

But I really do think that Chinese Algae eaters get a bad rap. I have had 2 of the normal colored ones, as shown in this picture and I had a golden yellow one. The only problem I had was the fact that there were 2 of them at once in the tank. They do not play well with each. One was dominant and chased the other relentlessly.

But as for bothering other fish, such as sticking to their sides and sucking the slime coat off, that was something that never happened. I have thought about this before, when I hear others bring that up, and wonder if it is because they are simply hungry? I overfeed, and I readily admit it, but I never have fish chasing each or trying to eat each other. No matter what sort of fish I have in the tank. So I don't know....it raises interesting questions to me...

Anyway, congrats on the Chinese Algae Eater, I for one, maybe the only one, love those fish!!

Lol. Thanks for your replies ☺☺☺ I think if I was more experienced and felt a bit more confident AND had a bigger tank lol I might be less worried but if the room to move is cramped then I guess fish are like humans and will end up getting crabby with each other and if there's a aggressive tendency it will only get worse
It's sad through bc I agree he's a cute little fellow lol. Hopefully I will find a nice home for them all.

 

[Rubberducky]

When I have needed to rehome fish in the past (usually too many fry!) I have used the website aquarist classifieds - google finds it easily. I have found that placing an ad on there gets quick replies if you use the word 'free' in the title. That always gets people's attention, unless you do want payment for the fish. Give as much detail as you can, and photos help on there too.

I'm sure other UK residents will have their favourite ways of rehoming fish as well.

Great thankyou so much I will try addvertising there....