Couple More Beginner Questions...

[pir]

Hi Everyone!
 
Many thanks to fluttermoth, Akasha72 and TallTree01 with the help with my fish rescue attempt.
 
The three survivors continue to do better and better.  The Red-Tailed Black Shark ended up losing the eye that went cloudy.  At first I thought it was going to get better, but one day I looked more closely, and noticed that the eye was actually gone

  He seems none the worse for wear though.  He's quite feisty and frolicks about a lot.  He loves the cucumber I'm feeding him along with flake and pellets.  I've had to do some (successful!) redecorating to get him to be less aggressive with the Serpae Tetra at feeding time.  The S. Tetra still seems a little harried, though he's recently started aggressively feeding too, so I'm pretty sure he's going to be fine.
 
My first question is about vacationing.  I've been somewhat abruptly (but now quite happily) thrust into fish care, and I've a planned 4-day vacation and am wondering if the auto-feeders I'm reading about are reliable enough to keep my fish fed for 4 days?  I'm thinking I'll be fine for just a short time.  I already have a ligt on a timer.
 
Question #2: stocking:  My tank is a 2 foot 29 gallon tank (with rounded front) I'm thinking that both little fish (serpae tetra and danio) might fare better with the shark in there if they are in a same-species school.  Would adding two more serpae tetras be enough, or should I go like 5?  I'm thinking that the RTBS + 6 sepae tetras + 6 zebra danios might be too much fish for 29 gallons.  Am I right?  What would be the best thing for the little fish?  I know that the shark (he's only 2" long right now) would be better off long-term, in a larger tank, but that's just not in the cards right now, maybe later though

 
Thanks in advance for any help!
 
-Pir

 

[wet44]

The plans of 6 of each small fish would do well in a 29 gallon I believe, although Serpae Tetras definitely prefer to be in schools upwards of 8 and more. Not sure if that would be too much for your 29 gal. The shark will definitely need to be put in a much larger tank as it gets older. If I'm not wrong, I think they prefer to school as well? (Some one check me on that ha) 
 
Not too sure how reliable auto-feeders are. I haven't tried them. 
 
I'm glad that the rescued fish are doing better! 

 

[dopieopie]

I can't personally say an auto feeder would work out, but I don't honestly feel it would hurt. 4 days isn't terribly long, as long as your fish are currently well fed, and your water is good, it should be fine.

I ended up with a horrific stomach virus once, and didn't really make it downstairs to feed my fish at all for three days, and didn't suffer any losses, while not at all ideal, it turned out fine.

 

[pir]

Thanks wet and opie!  The shark and the zebra are definitely very well fed, and my water quality is excellent (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and still reading just a trace of nitrate) though I still haven't seen the S. Tetra eat a whole lot, but he must at least be grazing the bottom at night, because he'd be dead by now if he wasn't eating at all, and any food left at night is always gone by the next morning.  It's interesting, he won't go near the bottom when it's light out, but he likes it down there in the dark.
 
I'll pick up an auto feeder.  I guess it can't hurt to try one, and if I ever go away for longer than a few days it'll be handy to have.

 

[dopieopie]

No problem!

All kinds of crazy things happen at night.

That's when all my plants get up rooted ha. No idea who's doing it.

 

[wet44]

Good luck with your auto-feeder! Maybe you can start a journal for your tank on here once you fill up the numbers and decorate your tank if it isn't.

 

[pir]

A journal (or at least a photojournal) is a really good idea... I've currently got some plastic plants, and some shells (though none that the fish can go inside!  I learned my lesson...) and rocks, but I'd eventually like plants.  I don't have anthing tall in there though now, so the top 2/3 of the tank is empty, except for the zebra, who stays up there all the time.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I can safely say that 4 days without food for your tank stocking is perfectly ok. Won't do them any harm at all.
 
For you information, fish can go a 1 to 2 weeks without food without too much trouble. Just ensure you do a big water change and make sure they are fed for 3 consecutive days before leaving your home.
 
Personally I have left my tank and stocking alone for 10 days when I went on holiday without any problems at all.

 

[Byron]

I suggest you forget auto feeders.  As others have noted, fish can go days without food if they are healthy (fry are different of course, but here we have mature fish).  These auto feeders have been known to dump food, which could in four days create a real disaster and kill the fish.  Plus, without you there to deal with any emergencies, it is wisest not to be adding to the tank's bioload (by feeding).  Water quality can deteriorate very fast.
 
As to the fish stocking, if you like the Serpae Tetra as a fish, I would get at least 8 (in total), up to 10 here.  You have the space, a 29g is minimum size for this species to provide sufficient space for this many and without which you could have trouble.  This is a mildly aggressive species that has been proven to increase its aggressive behaviour with less than eight.
 
The zebra danio should fare OK with the Serpae as it too is an active swimmer.  I would up the numbers to six minimum (total), or seven.
 
The Red Tailed Black Shark is OK at present, but as someone mentioned, this fish may cause issues at some point.  Attaining five inches, it should be in a 4-foot tank.  However, there seems not to be much you can do about this now, so let's hope for the best.  To answer the shoaling/schooling issue someone raised--this species is believed to have lived in isolation in its natural habitat except when breeding.  It does not get along with its own, and frequently takes real exception to similar fish (loaches for instance), and sometimes upper fish with stripes.  It is best on its own.  It was thought to be extinct in the wild, and aquarium fish are commercially raised and have been for many years, but a wild population was actually discovered not too long ago, but has not yet been studied.
 
Byron.

 

[pir]

Thanks for the additional info Ch4rlie and Byron.  I may forget about the auto feeder then, and just make sure they've all got full bellies before I go

 
I'm going to wait until I'm sure my tank is really cycling before adding any more fish... but I think I do like the idea of a school of serpae tetra and a school of zebrafish, along with the shark.  I'm not even sure where I'd even *put* a 4-foot tank.  I could try to find a local breeder I guess once he starts to get bigger, if he needs a new home.
 
I've attached a photo of my tank!
 
 

 

[wet44]

Your tank looks nice! I would recommend getting taller, bushier silk or live plants so the fish can have more cover. There doesn't appear to be much place for them to hide. As an alternative, you could get some taller decorations or driftwood to provide more hiding spots.
 
Also Byron, thanks for the heads up about the sharks preferring to be solo fish. 

 

[pir]

Yep, real plants are on the horizon.  In the meantime I do want some taller fake plants or driftwood in the meantime...  I'm assiming that by "driftwood" you mean something plastic, or can real driftwood from a beach be used safely?  I'll actually be on the beach next week for a couple days

 

[Byron]

Yep, real plants are on the horizon.  In the meantime I do want some taller fake plants or driftwood in the meantime...  I'm assiming that by "driftwood" you mean something plastic, or can real driftwood from a beach be used safely?  I'll actually be on the beach next week for a couple days

 
Wood (real wood) is beneficial in most any aquarium, but especially so when dealing with soft water fish that have evolved in water with lots of wood, as all these mentioned have.  The Malaysian Driftwood which is very dark brown is one of the best aquarium woods.  It comes in various shapes (being natural no two are alike) and you can often find very long and narrow pieces that when placed vertically can add space to a tallish tank.  Branches would also work; barbs love swimming among branches and plants, grazing them for tidbits of food.
 
Collecting wood is an option, but one must be very careful.  I would not use wood from an ocean beach as it may contain salt.  There are fake wood decor items, but many of these really don't look realistic.  Up to you of course.
 
Byron.

 

[pir]

Thanks Byron, that's very helpful.  I love the idea of natural wood.  I'm not really happy with plastic plants, though I just now added a large plastic plant to give some nice hiding spots, high up in the tank, and it looks OK, but now I'll look for a large peice of Malasyan driftwood.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I concur with Byron's advice given so far.
 
I would simply go with any wood that your LFS sells if you're unsure if the wood you collect would be safe to use in your tank. They tend not to be too expensive proving you dont go for the more expensive branchy types of wood, like redmoor for example.
 
Bogwood or driftwood from LFS should be perfectly fine, though bogwood tends to leach tannins which discolour the water a tinge of yellowy brown and tiny bits of wood into your tank water, for some folks this is unsightly but perfectly harmless and can even be beneficial for stocking as tannins can contain natural antibodies.
 
I would suggest at the very least is to give your bogwood, if you get one, a good scrub to get rid of any loose bits of wood and rinsing very well under tap, and pour boiling water over the wood a couple of times to get rid of dust and any potential bugs.
 
Some folks do actually soak the wood in a container for several weeks / months to get rid of any tannins before putting into your tank.
 
Personally I do not mind the discolouration, in fact I like it in certain set ups, so usually i just soak the wood for a week or two at most and then rinse with boiling water.
 
As for plastic plants, they do provide hiding spots and helps the tank stockings, though if have to use plastic plants, I would use silk plants, more expensive but much better aesthetically imho.