Fish to buy?

[qvx91977]

My tank has been running nearly a week now and I will be venturing out to buy a few hard fish for it, any suggestions?

I saw, what looked like very small sharks, tiny infact, quitel iked the look of them but i have no idea on the name they are given??

 

[@ombomb]

When you say it's running, do you mean it's cycled or has just had water in it for a week?

What are your water stats?

What are the tank dimensions?

If you have only filled the tank with water, read the stickied thread on fishless cycling.

Did the fish you saw look like this?

Is so they are Bala sharks, need to be kept in groups, are a bit too sensitive for a "brand new" aquarium and most importantly grow to about 12" and need a 75G minimum.

 

[qvx91977]

sorry for the lack of info

The tank I have got is a Rio 125Litres.

I have not cycled the tank but have bought a tester kit for when im ready to buy them, Im hoping that by buying a few hard fish it will start the cycling process off??

The picture is very similar except the ones I saw had red fins??

 

[Bloo]

Might I suggest then that you have a look at fishless cycling before adding any fish.

The problems associated with adding fish to uncycled tanks are numerous and just not nice at all

If you choose to cycle with fish, be prepared for potential fatalaties and some hard work trying to keep the water non-toxic.

 

[qvx91977]

Thanks, yes I read about cycling but buying some hard fish, should do the cycling for me except it will take around 6 weeks?? So I can then buy a small pleco or too.

What hard fish are good to buy?

 

[@ombomb]

Patience is extremely import in the hobby, there's no reason NOT to do a fishless cycle other than impatience and it really isn't fair on the fish. There are fish that can survive a cycling tank, but why not wait and but the fish you WANT rather than fish that will have to suffer for six weeks and you're probably not that keen on anyway.

 

[@ombomb]

Is this the fish you saw?

If so it's a rainvow shark. A very aggressive fish that isn't ideal for a community of small fish and definitely can't be kept with any other of it's species or any species that look similar.

 

[qvx91977]

Very similar, except it had a white body and red fins.

 

[@ombomb]

In that case it's just the albino version of the fish, same warnings apply.

 

[Clairel]

If you are adament to cycle with fish, i would go with Zebra Dainos, a shoal of 6...

I set up my first tank, had it running for 2 weeks, and the LFS advised me to put these in, to get things cycling...i DID check the water every day, and had to do alot of frequent water changes, so be prepared for this !!

I am pleased to say, i still have the same 6 zebra dainos, and they are doing just fine

Claire x

 

[@ombomb]

It's worth pointing out that a fishless cycle will let you fully stock the tank once it's ready, where as a fished cycle requires a gradual build up of stock. Personally I just don't really Danios and I think it's unfair on the fish. I can understand that you are keen to get moving, but doing it slowy and patiently now will lead to long term benefits.

Claire:

Is that the stock you have in you cycling tank or another tank?

 

[Bloo]

Is that the stock you have in you cycling tank or another tank?

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I believe she has nothing in her new (cycling) tank apart from plants.
but the other stock is currently in a 90litre (if memory serves right?) hence the reason for the new tank MTS sets in very early !

But I agree 100% with you about doing a fishless cycle.
Not everyone wants 6 danios in their tank

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just adding a bit on cycling the danios. It is really unfair on them if you:

1) Have got a tank smaller than 20 gallons long; in fact, more swimming space is better. These are fish that need to move around.

2) Intend to return them to the shop once the cycling is over, so you can then get other fish. The danios will then be sold to cycle somebody else's tank and so on, until they collapse with the combined effects of several tank worths of toxin.

Fishless cycling is humane, easy and a lot quicker. And you get to read some really good pinned topics!

 

[Clairel]

If you are adament to cycle with fish, i would go with Zebra Dainos, a shoal of 6...

I set up my first tank, had it running for 2 weeks, and the LFS advised me to put these in, to get things cycling...i DID check the water every day, and had to do alot of frequent water changes, so be prepared for this !!

I am pleased to say, i still have the same 6 zebra dainos, and they are doing just fine

Claire x

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No, i have nothing in my new tank...currently cycling !! Lol Just 8 plants, a huge piece of bogwood, and some slate, oh and of course water

The fish i have are currently in my 90 litre tank, some of the fish will be re-housed to my new tank, once cycled

C x

 

[DaveW]

I cycled my tank on flake and it only took three weeks.
Mind you, it felt like 6.