Lets Help Newcomers!

[zophie]

So everyone, I was thinking- I've made so many mistakes in my fish keeping career, and I wish someone had helped me with them. So I think we should tell everyone what our major fish keeping mistakes have been: I'll start.

Zophie's fish-keeping mistakes (not in order)

-Wash gravel before putting it in a tank.
-Learn actually what a "fishless cycle" is- don't beleive what you think it is.
-Don't overstock, however tempting.
-Don't just throw in any fish- think about size, pH, aggresion, and much more!
-Tetra's chase each other- don't worry when they start the bodychecking!
-Bottom Feeders stay on the bottom- they arn't sick.
-DON'T PUT A BETTA IN UNHEATED WATER, BELOW 25 DEGREES!
- Don't ever mix up F. and C. You'll fry or freeze your fish.
-Fish are not ornaments- get that into your head.
-Don't put 5 female bettas ina 2 gallon tank.
- Don't use Neon gravle- you'll get a head-ache.
-The rule "1 inch per gallon" does NOT work.
- Oscars and Neon Tetras are a no-no.
-Don't just skip a water change. You'll pay for it.
-Its not about the tank size, its about the water quality.


AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE...

Help the Newbies! Wright down your mistakes too, and you'll help lots of people.

Zophie

 

[AstonN24vantage]

wash ornaments BEFORE putting in tank
wash filters before putting in tank
only get a few fish at a time
never heat the tank too much
don't overfeed
float fish before putting them in the tank
DON'T KEEP ANGELS WITH BLOOD PARROTS. NOW I KNOW WHY THEY'RE BLOOD PARROTS.

 

[zophie]

wash ornaments BEFORE putting in tank
wash filters before putting in tank
only get a few fish at a time
never heat the tank too much
don't overfeed
float fish before putting them in the tank
DON'T KEEP ANGELS WITH BLOOD PARROTS. NOW I KNOW WHY THEY'RE BLOOD PARROTS.

Great ones! Here's some more:

-Barbs are not peacful fish
-Don't freik if you see snails in your tank
-Plastic plants arn't good- don't get sucked up into that trap. Live is best
-Don't put hands in fish tanks
-Don't put your hand in a bettas tank at feeding time (CHOMP!)
-A crown-tail betta does not have a severe case of fin-rot
-If you see a unhealthy fish, act now! Don't wait.

Keep it coming people- we could have a big list!

Zophie

 

[Jordo]

Dont leave zucchini for your Pleco to eat in the tank over night.

 

[jameshunter63]

Dont leave zucchini for your Pleco to eat in the tank over night.

why i always do this??

- dont catch skitish fish with small nets or they end up jumping out the tank onto the floor
- take lfs advice with a pinch of salt
- always overfilter
- bacteria is 99.9% in the filter media so do not worry about huge water changes
- keep a fish bag just in case
- always feed your plants or they will rot and die!
- observe your fish carefully, behaviour is a great way to tell a fish is ill
- fish are greedy and associate you with food, do not feed whenever they ask you or you will pollutethe tank

james

 

[Carlovel1]

Dont drop an iPhone 4 into the aquarium!

 

[james_fish]

Don't buy Common Pleco's.

James.

 

[Harlequins]

Always read up on fish you want...

Dont put a goldfish in anything smaller than a 20 gal tank...

Dont add meds unless you know what you're treating...

 

[zophie]

Don't slak with anything
Don't leave the tank lid open over night
Don't leave veggies in a tank for over two days
Don't drop your Ancistrus Catfish in the sink

Keep it coming, guys!

Zophie

 

[aly_starh]

So everyone, I was thinking- I've made so many mistakes in my fish keeping career, and I wish someone had helped me with them. So I think we should tell everyone what our major fish keeping mistakes have been: I'll start.

Zophie's fish-keeping mistakes (not in order)
-DON'T PUT A BETTA IN UNHEATED WATER, BELOW 25 DEGREES!

A betta can 'survive/thrive' at 22 Degrees C.

Great ones! Here's some more:

-Barbs are not peacful fish
-Plastic plants arn't good- don't get sucked up into that trap. Live is best
-Don't put hands in fish tanks
-A crown-tail betta does not have a severe case of fin-rot

Cherry Barbs are peacful actually. I think you might be refering Tiger Barbs, which are peaceful to an extent when kept in a large group of 6 or more.

Depending on what fish you have, plastic plants are perfectly fine. Although live plants are an advantage to aid filtration.

How would you clean the tank, if you couldnt put your hand in the tank?

And, its a well known fact that a Crowntails fins can easily get problems.

Dont leave zucchini for your Pleco to eat in the tank over night.

- always feed your plants or they will rot and die!

I know some plants that dont need any added lighting or ferts... Java fern for example.




Need i go on, Im not aiming this directly at anyone. But an awful lot of this information is extremely misleading. And most of it isnt even backed up as to why.

Just my personal view on this thread, not directly aimed at anyone.

 

[TiffanyJayne]

Do not pour bags of blood worm into tank, the water contains salt and bad bacteria
Don't buy plecs just to clean your algae, feeding your plants well will rid the tank of this.
If your missing fish don't just assume they've been eaten check inside your filter!
Don't buy a tank and not bother with a testing kit.
Always use something under your tank like polostyrene and make sure the stand is level, tanks are glass and can be fragile.
Don't use cleaning products near tanks, and never use buckets, nets, sponges that have had washing up liquid on.
Always clean your nets especially when they've taken out dead fish.

And the most important for me personally, don't be afraid to ask!! no matter how silly you think the question is.

 

[fluttermoth]

Switch off your heater before you do 90% water changes...
Pour your old tank water through a sieve before you chuck it down the toilet if you have small fry or loaches.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

Don't buy Common Pleco's.

James.

don't buy any plecos
DO NOT sniff dead snail shells.
DO NOT sniff dead fish
DO NOT sniff dead blue crayfish
NEVER EVER BUY BLUE LOBSTERS UNLESS YOU WANT A TANK THAT IS FISHLESS AND PLANTLESS
cats get addicted to jumping on your tank.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

Dont leave zucchini for your Pleco to eat in the tank over night.

- take lfs advice with a pinch of salt

never take lfs advice

 

[schmee]

If your filter is not working, get a new one quick!
In general, don't wait. It probably won't be ok.
Have supplies on hand/buy re-fills BEFORE you realise they've run out and it's a Sunday and your LFS does not open on a Monday.
If in doubt, no, you probably won't get away with it.
Don't panic (as much), ask on TFF, saves panicking time.
Switch everything off before pwc.
Keep manuals.
If neccessary thaw and divide the frozen cubes of food and re-freeze. Don't just overfeed, and don't struggle trying to divide a frozen cube.
Make sure you have space for more tanks, it is inevitable.
Think your stocking allll the way through BEFORE setting up the tank, it saves changing substrate with fish in. Or having to remove them.
Changing substrate with shrimp and frogs hanging about is not easy.
Don't panic!! (Or do, but do it in company).
Ebay is your friend.
Do keep pygmy corys. They are adorable.

Don't listen to me, i'm only a newbie.