Are My Fish Fighting?

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid that tank isn't big enough for mbuna. Would your LFS (local fish shop) take them back? How long have you had them? Was the tank cycled?

I hope you don't feel that we're being too harsh on you; we just want to help you have happy, healthy fish

 

[Klona]

Err, the fish shop i bought them from aren't fancy shops, they look like some ugly fish stores.
These are the prettiest fish i found.
I don't think the store will take them back anyway.
I've had them for like a month now.
What do you mean by tank cycle?

 

[librarygirl]

Wow that seems like a very small tank for these fish. The environment for them is not suitable at all.

How long have you had them? Can you somehow take them back to the store? Don't add anything else to the tank right now, your first priority is to properly rehome these fish.

 

[Louiseness]

I don't know what size my tank is, but i googled these livebearers... they're not really my type.

What is 'your type'? You'll have to give us some hints.

But the first suggestion is definitely either take these back or rehome them with someone else, because they WILL kill each other, pretty or not.

The second suggestion is to read the beginners resource centre about cycling.

The third is to grab a tape measure or ruler and measure your tank so we can give you some better suggestions for fish that will fit in it

 

[fluttermoth]

Most shops will take fish if you ask them.

Please don't take this personally, but there is more to chosing fish than which ones you think are pretty. Sorry if I sound harsh, but they're not going to look so pretty when when they start ripping each other to pieces....they've been ok up until now because they're only juveniles; as they reach sexual maturity, your problems are only going to get worse.

Cycling a tank means growing a colony of good bacteria in the filter to eat the wastes from the fish. How often do you do a water change?

 

[Klona]

When i was at the fish stores (lots of them are beside each other) I liked non of them, expect for these.
I don't really have a ruler now.
I like fish with no ugly face.
What are these fish? i found their picture on the internet, they seem really pretty :

EDIT : I had these fish for a month, i changed their water 2-3 days ago.
Btw, what is this about growing bacteria in the tank?

 

[fluttermoth]

That looks like a fairy wrasse to me; another marine fish.

You really need to be concentrating on the welfare of the fish you have right now, rather than looking at others.

These are living creatures, remember; they need the right conditions to be provided for them, and if you can't give them what they need, then you must find them a hone with someone who can, whether that's through your LFS or an advert on Aquarist Classified or whatever.

They're not like cut flowers where you can just buy the prettiest ones and keep them until they die and then get new ones.

Maybe fishkeeping just isn't for you?

 

[Louiseness]

When i was at the fish stores (lots of them are beside each other) I liked non of them, expect for these.

If you want to keep cichlids like these properly you're going to need a tank that's probably 10 times the size of the one you have now, or even bigger. They also need very specific water and tank conditions.

If these really are the only fish you like out of all tropical fish EVER then you have to consider either a new tank or not keeping fish, sorry

 

[Klona]

I'll 'try' and get them back to the store when i can.
How about these guys?

 

[Tizer]

I would estimate your tank is about 45/50 litres, its as "ok" beginners tank but you have what we call Mbunas in there which are Malawi cichlids. They grow up to about 6-7 inches max but are very agressive little fish which need space to retreat while the more dominant ones establish a territory. If you really like these fish, you need to upgrade the tank to something at least 4 foot in size and learn how to decorate it for these fish to live happily. The other option is to get rid of the fish via a local fish shop, of which most will happily take them off your hands and resell them and find alternative fish to stock it with.

 

[Louiseness]

I'll 'try' and get them back tstore when i can.
How about these guys?

They would be much more suitable than the ones you already have! But your tank still doesn't look big enough (although I won't know for sure until we know the actual measurements of course).

How about something like this, or this or this or this ? There are plenty of colourful, pretty fish more suitable for your tank.

 

[Tizer]

I'll 'try' and get them back to the store when i can.
How about these guys?

Or even some of these

 

[fluttermoth]

Those red and green ones are Glofish; a genetically modified zebra danio. They are very fast swimmers and would need a longer tank than yours.

 

[the_lock_man]

I'll 'try' and get them back to the store when i can.
How about these guys?

I believe I'm right in saying that these are genetically engineered versions of the Zebra Danio. As such, they will not kill each other. However, they do need an awful lot of swimming room, probably more than you are able to offer with your current tank.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see FM's post.

 

[Klona]

OH MY... Betta splendens look awesome!
And what do you think about Golden Wonder Killifish?