I Just Can't Kill Them!

[TerraDreamer]

I did research the fish before I bought them, but I thought I could trust the people at the pet shop. I asked if the tank was big enough, after giving measurements and then after asking the 'fish expert' they said that it was fine.

Fact 1: a lfs is in the business to sell fish, as many fish as possible.
Fact 2: many lfs employees don't know any more about fish than you do, but they are outstanding at using a cash register.
Fact 3: Google is your friend for researching fish.

And there's nowhere that she can go; not many people having 40gallon tanks lying around. I knew how big she could grow but was assured she would be fine. My neighbour has a red finned shark in a 5 gal, so its not as though Kai is the most deprived fish in the world. And I do try to clean my tank out once a week, its only because I was ill it was delayed.

So, because your neighbor is wrong, that gives you license to be wrong as well?

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/redshark.htm
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile85.html
http/fish.mongabay.com/species/Epalzeorh...s_frenatus.html
http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/encyclopedia-132.html
http/www.fishlore.com/profiles_rainbow_shark.htm

I used Google and five minutes of my time. Your tank is nowhere near the minimum recommended capacity for these sharks, and your neighbor's certainly isn't, either. You should do your best to re-home that fish; the enviroment you've placed it in will soon turn cruel. After that, go educate your neighbor.

 

[WILDER]

I agree with terradreamer gotten some bad advice.

 

[puddle_inc]

i wouldn't kill him no matter whathe is. i would buy him a betta bowl and have him next to my bed =P

 

[Rhiannon]

I dont think everyone should be so harsh on the OP. He has made a mistake, has realised his mistake and feels very bad for putting a fish in there that size.

And I have done plenty of research on fish but gone to the LFS and been told I can fit 2 sharks, 3 clown loaches, some guppies and a gourami in a 5gl too, it was only that I came on here and found out the truth, so luckily I didnt buy the 5gl, got something larger and didnt add sharks or loaches, so the LFS can be pretty persuasive when it comes to fish buying and will sell you anything they can.

I am just sick of seeing people jump on people and make them feel really bad here and unwelcome. This is a community where people are supposed to be friendly, if you want to be mean, try and do it not so harshly.

 

[kribensis12]

I would sell the angel and shark back to the lfs. I would also crush the snails as the fish like to eat them!

 

[Amunet]

I am just sick of seeing people jump on people and make them feel really bad here and unwelcome. This is a community where people are supposed to be friendly, if you want to be mean, try and do it not so harshly.

Thank you for saying that. I'm pretty new to these forums and have seen just about the rudest people post here. I thought this place was to help people, not to jump down someone's throat and make them feel stupid b/c they made a mistake.
Some of you people need to learn how to give advice without being downright RUDE.

 

[stang1]

I am just sick of seeing people jump on people and make them feel really bad here and unwelcome. This is a community where people are supposed to be friendly, if you want to be mean, try and do it not so harshly.

Thank you for saying that. I'm pretty new to these forums and have seen just about the rudest people post here. I thought this place was to help people, not to jump down someone's throat and make them feel stupid b/c they made a mistake.
Some of you people need to learn how to give advice without being downright RUDE.

Don't worry Amunet, you learn as you go along.
When we first kept fish we took advice from the lfs thinking that they would give us the correct information. As a newbie to fishkeeping you expect them to help you out, unfortunately this isn't always the case.
We were told so many different things so decided to do our own research and learnt that way.
I don't blame you in the slightest, you've been given crappy advice and you've done the right thing by asking on this forum.
We now have one person we deal with at our lfs as we know he'll always give us the help we need. I also read through the forum a lot and do google searches just to make sure.
People on here only want to help but sadly it doesn't always come across like that.

 

[kevinr]

As I said before, I'm sorry if i sounded harsh, but sometimes people really don't take in what your saying and do what they want regardless of good advice..which is why on problems such as this, I come across the way I do. It's nothing personal at all.

The first lesson you should have learnt from that is Never trust your LFS 100%, they are out to make money, more then half of them have low moral fibre when it comes to livestock, and if telling you a fish will suit a particular tank size will make them a sale, either with a tank or fish..most will tell you it's OK, even if you think that a tank will 'do for now' generally it wont, as fish grow alot faster then you think when they are babies.

Second, google and forums are your friends, you will find years of experience in the topics of forums, and as much technical info as you can handle via google.

For your snail problem..good luck, they are a nightmare to get rid of as they multiply at a vast rate, the eggs get everywhere, even in your filters. Try placing cucumber or lettuce leaves in your tank overnight (yo u will need to secure them so they stay on the bottom) The snails will race to it, then you can remove them inn one go, but you will have to do this several times to make sure you get the young ones.

Sell the fish on, or buy a larger tank. Ebay is a good place to work from, and believe me 40 gallons is not an unusual size for a tank, you'd be surprised how many people will have them

 

[Rhiannon]

Thank you for saying that. I'm pretty new to these forums and have seen just about the rudest people post here. I thought this place was to help people, not to jump down someone's throat and make them feel stupid b/c they made a mistake.
Some of you people need to learn how to give advice without being downright RUDE.

Thats ok. I am just sick of seeing it everyday on here. Its uncalled for. Everyone makes mistakes in life, noone is perfect, we all have to start somewhere.

Goodluck with your fish keeping journey and just disregard any rude judgemental posts.

Please remember, there are nice helpful people on here too, so dont leave, you will find the advice you are looking for eventually.

Rhiannon

 

[fenwoman]

I did research the fish before I bought them, but I thought I could trust the people at the pet shop. I asked if the tank was big enough, after giving measurements and then after asking the 'fish expert' they said that it was fine.

always take with a pinch of salt, the advice of someone who wants your money!

My neighbour has a red finned shark in a 5 gal, so its not as though Kai is the most deprived fish in the world.

oh that's ok then. I will go and get myself 3 oscars for my 26 gallon tank . It'll be ok because they won't be the most neglected fish crammed in a small tank.Just because someone else is abusing their animals doesn't make it all right for you to do that same on the basis that you are less cruel compared to them I'm afraid.

You asked for advice, but don't seem to want to take the valid advice offered because it would inconvenience you.

 

[diet]

I dont think everyone should be so harsh on the OP. He has made a mistake, has realised his mistake and feels very bad for putting a fish in there that size.

And I have done plenty of research on fish but gone to the LFS and been told I can fit 2 sharks, 3 clown loaches, some guppies and a gourami in a 5gl too, it was only that I came on here and found out the truth, so luckily I didnt buy the 5gl, got something larger and didnt add sharks or loaches, so the LFS can be pretty persuasive when it comes to fish buying and will sell you anything they can.

I am just sick of seeing people jump on people and make them feel really bad here and unwelcome. This is a community where people are supposed to be friendly, if you want to be mean, try and do it not so harshly.

Totally agree

 

[Gilby77]

Thank you for saying that. I'm pretty new to these forums and have seen just about the rudest people post here. I thought this place was to help people, not to jump down someone's throat and make them feel stupid b/c they made a mistake.
Some of you people need to learn how to give advice without being downright RUDE.

Thats ok. I am just sick of seeing it everyday on here. Its uncalled for. Everyone makes mistakes in life, noone is perfect, we all have to start somewhere.

Goodluck with your fish keeping journey and just disregard any rude judgemental posts.

Please remember, there are nice helpful people on here too, so dont leave, you will find the advice you are looking for eventually.

Rhiannon

Yes, I agree sometimes people are a little harsh, but at the same time the same queries occur on a regular basis, which understandably some members obviously find frustrating. Equally some posters ask for assistance, yet aren't prepared to take the action prescribed.

The problem is many LFS's are quick to line their pockets and make a lot of money out of a customers's lack of knowledge. I honestly think people do not realise just how much work is involved in keeping fish - I know because I was one of them. I quickly had to upgrade my tank from 20 gallons to 76 gallons because I hadn't fully appreciated what is involved. My main concern was the welfare of my fish and fortunately had the money to invest in a new tank. However not everyone is in a position to do this.

Of course, there is no excuse really as the information for new fishkeepers is out there, but if perhaps you aren't so knowledgeable when it comes to running a search on google or perhaps don't have the time to read through lots of info, then this becomes an issue. I don't often post on this forum, but visit every day to read posts relevant to my experiences and it is amazing what you can learn just by doing that.

Maybe it has already been done, but perhaps this proves there is a need for a member (or several!) to compose a short but useful information sheet specifically for new fishkeepers that covers all the basics without overloading the reader with information. It could cover such things like tank sizes, tank sizes required by popular fish, basic information about cycling a tank as well as including links to other sites/threads which the reader can use should they need/want additional info. Something along the lines of "10 things you should know before setting up your first tank..." would, I think, be really useful!

 

[sforzauk]

I knew the new title would get a lot more responses XD. Hmm, where to start...
Terradreamer: it was almost a year ago when I thought that I could trust the shop, but I've learnt my lesson now. It didn't help that they kept saying that my tank was really big " I did the proper research, but it was mostly about feeding and looking after, and I decided that the fish store would know best about what fish could go in which tank. And I wasn't saying that I could do whatever I wanted just because someone else has, it's just that I do care about the fish, a lot more than most, and I'm not deliberately trying to hurt them. I have tried to tell the neighbours, but like me there's nowhere for the fish to go. If I give it back to the fish store there's no guaruntee that it will go to a better home, especially with the assistants selling any fish to anyone.
Puddle inc: I would, but as they each snail has male and female part, they can breed by themselves...weird XD
Rhiannon: Aww thanks, you understand me XDDD (btw, I'm a girl XPP)
And, uhm, everyone else...basically, I do not want to rehome the fish, especially as the shark is the least aggressive one, and I've decided to take the snails to the fish store; the customer service person said that they'd take them in...they will most likely just kill them, but they might not, besides, I can't exactly do anything else with them except release them into a pond XD which I'm sure they would just die a lot slower...The gourami has calmed down a lot now anyway. Also, I have learnt my lesson about keeping animals happy, which is why my snake has a vivarium twice the minmum size and my rabbit has a whole room. The thing is, the fish tank I have atm is filling up the whole space on top of the drawers, and there's no more space in my room for a larger tank as I 've got the big snake viv. Also, I could never put anything like a fish tank in the rabbit's room as he cannot be trusted...and he can get to anywhere in the room. And my mum and dad won't let me put a bigger fish tank anywhere else in the house...even if I buy it "
Anyway, thanks for all the replies. Oh, also, I know that my tank is overstocked, but would an apple snail be like another fish and overstock even more, or would it just help to clean and the tank and not affect the fish. And anyone who wants to move this thread to a more appropiate forum feel free to...or tell me how to XDD Thanks

 

[kevinr]

And people wonder why I come across as harsh

Well, since your so set on keeping the poor thing, yet state quite clearly that you cannot get a bigger tank; you quite clearly contradict yourself when you say "I do care about the fish, a lot more than most, and I'm not deliberately trying to hurt them". Well, I'm sorry, but you are doing more damage to the fish then you leading yourself to believe.

Your having a snail problem, yet you want to add another snail to an already overstocked tank.

My advice is not to get the snail, but it's only advice, do what you will, but if (when) things go horribly wrong, you were given sound advice by everyone here, so you'll only have yourself to blame.

 

[Amunet]

Oh I wasn't the one that started this thread... just so people know lol. I was just getting sick of the snotty attitudes that was accompanying the advice people were giving.
I can understand getting frustrated when that advice isn't being taken or even really considered, but that's where you think before you type and choose your words carefully and STILL not be rude or snotty or have some kind of "Holier-than-thou I've never made a mistake before in my life" attitude.


As for the OP... I'd really consider taking some of the advice given to you. Just b/c your shark is ok for now doesn't mean it's going to be down the road and you really need to consider that. There are more people than you realize that have very large tanks.
If you're still in school (which is sounds like since you mentioned parents not letting you have a larger tank)... ask around if anyone has a large enough tank or knows anyone that does and would be willing to take the shark off of your hands.