Help me & my fishes

[SayonROY]

Title may seems funny, but I can't think of anything[emoji28]
Hello friends i am Sayon Roy from India. & in my locality local stores only thinks about selling their fishes. & in my town i didn't see or hear about anyone with good planted fish tank. [emoji29]
So basically i love my fishes very much thats why want some suggestions.
My tank 30 inches in length, 15 inches in height & same in width.
What i have except fishes 1 power filter,
1 air pump with 2 filter bed under gravel. Yes i have gravel as my base of fish tank.
Live plants only 8-10 cabomba. (After searching every fish shops i found only one shop with only cabomba as live plants, after that i searched many lakes & ponds though I failed)
Fishes 5 small tetra,
1 rainbow shark(3.5inch), 1 bala shark(3inch),
1 Black ghost knife (3.5inch) my favorite.
###########
I m thinking about adding some fish, like, as bala likes group, i m think adding one more or two only, as I don't have much space.
& i know my tank is not big for my bgk, but i have to wait for a year before moving to bigger tank [emoji21]
So can i add more as every fishes in my tank is just babies, & i think i have time before they grow.
So what fishes can i add? As i said about bala, how many i can add? Any other options? I may be wrong in many cases please correct me.
####
For live plants, i talked to a nearby fish shopkeeper, to buy me some easy growing plants, i need to tell him after 12 hours about what plants i want. As he will go to other town for restocking.
So what kind of plants is suitable for my said fishes.
Give me suggestions. I love my fishes & please also consider my situations before scolding me [emoji29] .
Thanks for reading.
Edit i am planning to move to bigger tank within 6 months. I need at least 5-6 months before moving to bigger tank.



Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

 

[Baker]

If you can't upgrade to a larger tank sooner than a year I would highly suggest you not add any more fish until then, you will be surprised how fast these fish grow and it's more important to satisfy your fishes basic needs such as proper water and space levels before more advanced social needs. Your set up is currently not ideal for your stock and you should focus on keeping their environment as pristine as possible before adding even more fish.
Focus first on getting your tank nice and dense with plants as the growth process for plants will take a fair amount of time and they will help keep your water quality pristine.

 

[SayonROY]

If you can't upgrade to a larger tank sooner than a year I would highly suggest you not add any more fish until then, you will be surprised how fast these fish grow and it's more important to satisfy your fishes basic needs such as proper water and space levels before more advanced social needs. Your set up is currently not ideal for your stock and you should focus on keeping their environment as pristine as possible before adding even more fish.
Focus first on getting your tank nice and dense with plants as the growth process for plants will take a fair amount of time and they will help keep your water quality pristine.

Ok thanks for reply. What plants should i look for? As i said i have cabomba only. & i need to tell that shopkeeper after 10-12 hours, otherwise it will take another week to get any plants.
& yes you are right, 1 year too much. i will try to make it within 6 months. But for now as they are now, what fishes can i add?

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

 

[Baker]

Again I do not think adding more fish is a good idea, if you choose to do so that is your prerogative.
As for plants it's really going to come down to what you like and what is available to you, seeing as how you are using gravel and probably nothing more than liquid ferts I will provide a small list of plants that would do will in your conditions.

Rhizome plants such as java fern and Anubis, stem plants such as bacopa, Anacharis, certain varieties of ludwigia, hortwort, etc. most floaters such as water sprite and water wisteria (which can also be planted in the substrate) mosses like java moss, all these plants are heavy water column feeders that do well in low light conditions and ideally liquid fertilizers.
Then there are some stem plants like crypts, swords and vallisneria which would do best with root tabs for nutrients.

 

[Byron]

Welcome to TFF. Now, I am going to point out the problems I see,not scolding, but to provide you with the knowledge to make the right decisions for the health of your fish.

I agree with Baker, please do not add more fish. You already have problems, it is not fair to the fish you have to make things worse.

On the larger tank...you do realize that a Black Ghost Knifefish requires a tank at least 6 feet in length by 2 feet in width, minimum? This fish will grow to almost 2 feet, and having an inflexible spine cannot turn around in a tank that is not at least 2 feet in width, and it needs the six foot length. It also has quite specific requirements for tankmates, and you have a couple risks there too.

The bala shark is the species Belantiocheilos melanopterus. Peaceful for its size, but not a normal community fish. Other fish must be large enough not to be eaten, and able to tolerate this fish's very active swimming (this will stress a BGK). This is a shoaling species with a pronounced social structure within the group, and must be maintained in groups of at least five fish. Fewer will result in aggression to the point of death of subordinate fish, and/or aggression toward other species in the tank. Capable of attaining 14 inches in the aquarium; some sources suggest closer to 16 inches. A 6-foot tank is suggested by some sources but given the size of this fish and its shoaling nature an 8-foot tank is preferable. But not with a BGK.

The Rainbow Shark is hit and mioss. Sometimes relatively peaceful, there are individuals that can suddenly become nasty. Aside from that, it needs a 4-foot tank minimum because it reaches 6 inches. It might be fine in with a group of the Balas, but not likely good with BGK.

I don't know what the tetra species is, but these are shoaling fish and should jhave at least six but more is always better for the fish. Presumably they are small fish, and eventually likely to be eaten by the others.

Lastly, I know it is sometimes difficult to understand the above issues, and we think our fish are doing fine, so how can there be a problem? But there is. Fish do not always behave normally in stressful conditions, like here, but eventually they likely will, and sometimes being stressed can make them even worse. As aquarists we must always think long-term, not just today. Never acquire a fish species for which you cannot now provide what it needs to be "normal" and thus healthy, whether that is sufficient numbers of the species, or tank size, or environment (aquascape, some fish need special things). This is the only way to have healthy fish. The fish may be under stress now, unseen by us, but it is weakening them and worse, believe me.

Byron.

 

[SayonROY]

Welcome to TFF. Now, I am going to point out the problems I see,not scolding, but to provide you with the knowledge to make the right decisions for the health of your fish.

I agree with Baker, please do not add more fish. You already have problems, it is not fair to the fish you have to make things worse.

On the larger tank...you do realize that a Black Ghost Knifefish requires a tank at least 6 feet in length by 2 feet in width, minimum? This fish will grow to almost 2 feet, and having an inflexible spine cannot turn around in a tank that is not at least 2 feet in width, and it needs the six foot length. It also has quite specific requirements for tankmates, and you have a couple risks there too.

The bala shark is the species Belantiocheilos melanopterus. Peaceful for its size, but not a normal community fish. Other fish must be large enough not to be eaten, and able to tolerate this fish's very active swimming (this will stress a BGK). This is a shoaling species with a pronounced social structure within the group, and must be maintained in groups of at least five fish. Fewer will result in aggression to the point of death of subordinate fish, and/or aggression toward other species in the tank. Capable of attaining 14 inches in the aquarium; some sources suggest closer to 16 inches. A 6-foot tank is suggested by some sources but given the size of this fish and its shoaling nature an 8-foot tank is preferable. But not with a BGK.

The Rainbow Shark is hit and mioss. Sometimes relatively peaceful, there are individuals that can suddenly become nasty. Aside from that, it needs a 4-foot tank minimum because it reaches 6 inches. It might be fine in with a group of the Balas, but not likely good with BGK.

I don't know what the tetra species is, but these are shoaling fish and should jhave at least six but more is always better for the fish. Presumably they are small fish, and eventually likely to be eaten by the others.

Lastly, I know it is sometimes difficult to understand the above issues, and we think our fish are doing fine, so how can there be a problem? But there is. Fish do not always behave normally in stressful conditions, like here, but eventually they likely will, and sometimes being stressed can make them even worse. As aquarists we must always think long-term, not just today. Never acquire a fish species for which you cannot now provide what it needs to be "normal" and thus healthy, whether that is sufficient numbers of the species, or tank size, or environment (aquascape, some fish need special things). This is the only way to have healthy fish. The fish may be under stress now, unseen by us, but it is weakening them and worse, believe me.

Byron.

Thanks a lot Byron for your detailed answer.
Yes i really don't want to add any more fishes, the problem is when i bought 3 fishes bgk, rainbow & bela nearly 1 months ago. & Sadly i didn't have much cash that time when i went to buy 5-6 sharks, but in that shop I first saw bgk, & love it very much from that day. & the shopkeeper sell me 1bgk, 1 rainbow, 1 silver, i thought it's okay. But as i watch them play daily for hours. I thought silver shark is not happy as it left alone. & for that only i asked to add one or 2 more silver. But just think, if shopkeeper had said that this 3 don't belong in same tank then today i didn't have problems [emoji29] .
But as i love them I don't want to give them to others as they might not take good care, & they may die [emoji17]
You don't believe me here, in smaller tank then mine, some people had gold fish, shark, & many together! So crowded! I hate them.
& i don't want to hand over my fishes to them.
Please don't mind but i will just add one more silver (3inch).
& i know it may be bad for them thats why i want to add some plants to have a healthier atmosphere for them.
At least for 6 months.
If i give them to others it will be far worse for them.
I will change 50% water after every 2 weeks as i do. & my filters are doing fine.
So i think java fern, aubus will do the work? Or any other plant?

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

 

[SayonROY]

& i forgot to tell i feed bgk bloodworms twice a week, i do handfeeding & my bgk like to be feed like that [emoji1]
In other time freeze dried tubifex worms

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

 

[Munroco]

Bala sharks and Knife fish grow to well over a foot long and really aren't suitable for any tank less than 6 foot or more. Rainbow sharks are also on the large size for your aquarium. With a tank that size you should probably stick to smaller fish with maybe a couple of medium size fishes. The plants you can keep will depend on what lighting you have, but some that will do well in most lights are amazon swords, wisteria, cryptocorynes. For lower light tanks, anubias and java fern will grow well.

 

[SayonROY]

Bala sharks and Knife fish grow to well over a foot long and really aren't suitable for any tank less than 6 foot or more. Rainbow sharks are also on the large size for your aquarium. With a tank that size you should probably stick to smaller fish with maybe a couple of medium size fishes. The plants you can keep will depend on what lighting you have, but some that will do well in most lights are amazon swords, wisteria, cryptocorynes. For lower light tanks, anubias and java fern will grow well.

Ok.
I want to ask is it ok if i feed my bgk, & sharks freeze dried tubiflex worms? Or i should feed them flakes & tubiflex both alternately? & should i feed only one time in a day? Currently i feed 2 times.

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

 

[GobyMaster11276]

Okay, a few things. First, please make only one thread on each topic, as there are currently two of these ones. Second, if you really don't want to give them away, you might consider setting up multiple tanks to accommodate all of the fish. But that option will be costly, and require lots of space and time. Water changes should be done every week, so do maybe 40% weekly instead.

 

[Byron]

Ok.
I want to ask is it ok if i feed my bgk, & sharks freeze dried tubiflex worms? Or i should feed them flakes & tubiflex both alternately? & should i feed only one time in a day? Currently i feed 2 times.

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Tapatalk

Fish do not need as much food as the manufacturers will recommend you feed. Fry and very young fish are different, they need more energy. But mature fish past the fry stage can be fed less, and once a day, even missing one or two days a week, is fine. Never feed before you do a water change or other tank maintenance, as these will slightly stress fish and doing this after a meal is not healthy for fish any more than humans.

As to the food. Freeze dried is not as wholesome as frozen. And most dry flake and pellet foods (not "freeze dried" just basic) are more nutritious. What is in the food is important; many are full of bread-type binders and "meal," and fish don't need these. Foods that are primarily or completely fresh fish and vegetable matter are best. I use Omega One brand, and New Life Spectrum. I don't know what you can get in India, or if online is an option, so you may have more limited choices.

Water changes were mentioned, and you should do these at least once a week, no less. The more frequent the water change, the better. This is most important for the fish. Filters and such really have nothing to do with water changes; a water change provides benefits that nothing else can.

Byron.