just a rant if anyone cares!

[Dragonscales]

I can't believe nobody mentioned qjim206's tank stocking.

You're keeping brackish fish with freshwater fish.

Do you do any research at all?

Edit to add:  Your tanks have some of the worst fish combos I've seen at TFF.
The 55g is the perfect example of what NOT  to do.

Actually, alot of brackish fish start out life in freshwater and later migrate to saltier water as they grow. The Monos are only small atm so will probably be fine in freshwater for a while before being gradually introduced to salt.

I agree with the species being mixed though, a few of them are a tad too agressive to be housed with their tankmates in 99% of cases and a couple prefer different water parameters (like ph and hardness) than each other.

In regards to the original topic though, I don't understand why anybody who knows more than next to nothing about fish they want would bother upgrading as the fish grows anyhow. Kind of like putting on your pants before your underwear I tend to think, pointless. I always save up and buy the largest tank the fish I want to house will need before bothering to even buy the fish. While saving for the larger tank first then buying the fish may be agonising as you have to wait, at least you know that no unexpected problems will arise which could affect your pet's health and wellbeing.

I can understand the plight of the newbie though as alot of them trust in their dubious lfs' advice due to not having anything else to go on before finding forums like this, etc. What I can't understand is why anyone of competent knowledge would take the risk of having the attitude "I'll upgrade later" when it is obvious that life is full of unforseeable and sometimes downright cruel changes, especially of a monetary kind. If you know the size the fish gets to and haven't the space to house it then don't buy the fish until you can house it at it's full size, it's as simple as that in my books.

 

[jflowers]

In theory I agree, in reality I would always advise anybody to get fish that will happily live in thier current tank when adult. Plans are all well and good, but plans, as any general knows, do not survive first contact. Life seems to get in the way, that 120g tank is suddenly not feasable due to space/money/partner/prison/kids....

Jon

 

[qjim206]

well first things first let me add a portion from my interduction post to help clarify my original tank set up.............(Im sure your all gonna say dont buy the fish if you dont know info on them?And that is very good advice but in my case my heart is a little bigger than my brain.you see most of these fish were going to be tossed over a fence if i did not take them off of the man that moved out of the house my friend moved in to. ) so in my behaf i received these fish in two coolers and in that same day dumped a little over $3500 on tanks and the like.so not ever having fish i did the best i could and all the fish have not only lived but thrived. I have three brackish water fish and yes the monos are born and raised in fresh water, as they mature they slowy make there way to saltyer water to feed and eventualy reside in braskish water inlets,so the monos are fine ( for now ) the goby has been moved to the 10 gallon tank by him self in brackish water. the monos are in the process of being aclimated but that takes time.the two africans are in the 20g tank & happy.etc.etc.etc.., now back to the original subject.......example,if someone got on this forum and said hey i just bought a 10g tank with a common pleco bout 2" would you respond " HEY U CANT HAVE THAT FISH IN THAT TANK HE NEEDS A 125G TANK TO BE HAPPY"?.........Well some would!!! I for one would not and think that approch is not so much caring for the fishes well being but ones missguided way to try to convince themselves and everyone else that they know something and therefore is just selfish. now this is JUST MY OPINION! so if you have some knowladge and would like to help someone out then please do but at least listen at that perticular situation before judging.

 

[mandi]

Personally, I couldn't disagree more. I don't think anyone should buy a pet that they can't provide adequate housing/care for immediately at the time of purchase ... I mean, would you buy a foal and keep it in a gardening shed, and make the excuse that "Oh, when it gets to be a full grown horse, I'll buy a barn." NO.

I think that there are some exceptions -- for instance, a sick fish you have to "rescue" or something and only have limited tank space. However, you should start saving up right away to get adequate housing if you're going to keep it, or start looking for someone else to give it to (trade in at a LFS or give/sell to a new owner). If it's truely a temporary housing situation and you have the financial means to upgrade in 1-2 months, then I guess that's ok... but even then, setting up and planning a new tank shouldn't be rushed. And for that matter, purchasing a fish (or ANY pet) should never be a rushed either, you should do lots of research to know if that pet is right for you, which includes providing adequate housing.

I also don't think it discourages "new blood" in the hobby at all. There are LOTS of beautiful fish out there in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and varying care requirements. I started out as a newbie not long ago at all... and I'm still learning. I think that criticism should be constructive, but certainly firm as well. There's been lots of fish that I've wanted to buy -- but I know I don't have the tank space for it yet. And ya know what? Thats OK with me -- gives me something to add to my "wishlist" for the future (*cough* MTS!). Because I care more about the quality of life for the fish than I do whether or not I own one right now.