First Fish

[Mafro]

Well my tank has cycled nicely, and today I became the proud owner of 6 swordtails that are incredibly happy in their new home.
I'm a mixture of really happy and very excited

 

[Madam Macaw]

Well my tank has cycled nicely, and today I became the proud owner of 6 swordtails that are incredibly happy in their new home.
I'm a mixture of really happy and very excited

I have some cute swords myself (mickey mouse and the red/black - not sure the name) ones. What kind do you have?

 

[Mafro]

Not sure exactly what ones they are, but they are a lovely deep orange, and black. Some of them have black spots, much like dalmation mollys. I also have a lovely silver boy, who shimmers an amazing blue colour when he turns in the water.
Im also pretty sure that one of the females is pregnant as I can see the gravid spot

 

[Madam Macaw]

Not sure exactly what ones they are, but they are a lovely deep orange, and black. Some of them have black spots, much like dalmation mollys. I also have a lovely silver boy, who shimmers an amazing blue colour when he turns in the water.
Im also pretty sure that one of the females is pregnant as I can see the gravid spot

Mine was pregnant when we got her also. I was blessed with about 30 little fry after a few days and they are all doing good. Here are what mine look like:

Here is my male. Unfortunately, he got popeye not too long after this was taken - I believe he was ill at the store - poor thing:

I now have mickeys also

 

[monica]

What size tank? Nice job cycling! Many new people skip that part and end up with dead fish.

 

[littlest]

no offence, but are you sure you are fully cycled? I only ask because I thought you only got your tank a week ago. Are ammonia and nitrite remaining zero since you added the fish?

 

[kribensis12]

Congrats. And littlest: that's exactly what i was thinking!

 

[chicklette]

I love swordtails. If given the opportunity one day that is on my first list.

 

[SarahB]

i got my first fish yesterday !!

i got a pair of mickey mouse platties ( sliver ones) and 4 female guppys and 2 male guppies . even though i have completed the fishless cycle the fish shop refused to sell me anymore which is highly commendable .

all the females are pregnant , as they all have dark gravid spots , so even more of a bonus .

i do keep getting a bit paranoid , but they seem to be very happy

 

[monica]

What size is your tank sarahb?

 

[Mafro]

no offence, but are you sure you are fully cycled? I only ask because I thought you only got your tank a week ago. Are ammonia and nitrite remaining zero since you added the fish?

No offence taken
I have just checked the water levels, and the fish have been in the tank for 24hours now. Everything is fine according to my test kit, and the fish are looking happy and well.
The tank is a 190l Trigon

 

[kribensis12]

Well, it takes more than a week to cycle. It usually take 4 weeks for your filter to be well colonized. What did you cycle it with?

 

[dnn3]

my swordtail gave birth to at least 14 babies today. i say at least because i still haven't caught them all. she just gave birth to 5 a month ago. sadly i lost 1.

 

[Mafro]

The tank was cycled with a Sera product that add's the bacteria to the filter. People have said that I seem to have been very lucky with this product, as often its dead in the bottle.
Before the fish were added I tested the water everyday, and it was removing the ammonia from the water over night.

The fish have been in the tank now for nearly 5 days, and the water conditions have been fine everytime I have tested it.
I performed a 25% water change yesterday, and everything is looking good.

Cheers for all your help, and I think if I ever have to set a tank up again I will cycle the water as suggested on here rather than rely on a bottle, as I seem to have been very lucky.

 

[OldMan47]

When you set up the next one, not if, you can use materials from your existing tank to seed the new one and it should cycle in a week or less. The really tough one is usually the first one because you don't have anything to use to get it going.