Mum's Brought Her Bag O' Fish - Compatability?

[tunagirll]

Tank is setup, loaded up and planted, and currently fishless cycling

Decided to hold off putting the fish in as I'm not convinced the media are populated enough to support the fish. So they stay in the esky for a while longer. They're filtered and heated and the water has a change every day or so, so they will be okay in there for a little longer.
 
Just need to add another heater as the 200W in the tank isn't quite enough to handle our winter. Temp is sitting at 22 C when it should be at 26 C.
 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Looks good, hope it cycles quickly.

 

[fluttermoth]

I just wanted to pass on my sympathies at having a mum like that! I know the feeling, as my mum is exactly the same

She's got three or four clown loaches, a silver shark, two common plecs and some other fish (a right rag tag mixture; one aurulius barb, three or four zebra danios, some female bettas, three or four emperor tetras...) all in a 3.5 foot tank. I've tried to talk to her about it, but she just says, " they seem happy" 

  Gravel substrate as well; poor clowns.
 
Doesn't help that many of her friends, who are good on dogs, but know nothing about fish, come over and compliment her on it, saying how lovely it looks! Well, it doesn't look lovely, it's a blimmin' abomination!
 
Best of luck with your mum; hope you get on better than I have!

 

[tunagirll]

Fingers crossed
 
I've excited her a little bit about the prospect of planting the tank a bit more 'once the silver dollars and silver sharks go' so that should be a start - but I'll believe it when I see it In the meantime at least they will have a larger tank than the 100 litre and room to move, which is better than nothing.

 

[tunagirll]

The tank is cycling nicely with the nitrates starting to show up for the party

Mum is talking about trading in the clown loaches. She wants to get the same again but smaller. I'd like to show her some options that might be similar but more suited to the 4 footer. Suggestions?

 

[daizeUK]

That tank looks beautiful, I hope you do a journal! 

Good luck with your stocking!

 

[Ninjouzata]

Not exactly similar in coloration or pattern but a smaller loach would be dwarf chain loaches. They're super cute! Khuli loaches are another but they look more..wormy

 Just keep in mind their small size with the other fish.

 

[tunagirll]

What about yoyo, zebra or polkadot loaches? Anyone have experience? I spoke to the fish store and they also said a group of young clowns would be fine, since they take about 3-5 years to get to the size that a 4 foot tank would become an issue.

 

[tunagirll]

Fish are in their new tank Will take some pics later to upload. In the meantime mum is now happy to give up the balas and the silver dollars in exchange for a few discus and a pair of blue rams
 Which also means I'll be able to put more plants in the tank

 

[Ruskull]

I am going to scream.
 
Went to the fish shop to pick up filter parts (yes, the new tank is nearly ready to go!). Next minute, mum is off into the fish section looking to see what extra fish she can add, including suggesting a SECOND ghost knifefish! Facepalm! Then red eye tetras...???

When I told her the knifefish will fight and they'll eat the tetras, apparently I'm being unreasonable judging by the look on her face. She has some idea in her head that even though her current stock is too big for the new tank, adding yet more fish would be a super idea. Reading the riot act to her on the way home and she is not a happy camper.
 
Next thing it's nitpicking over water damage to the tank (bargain $150 with a super filter) and suggesting we sell it and buy something else. I just spent $400 on rocks, driftwood, parts and plants.
 
I swear if she goes and buys more fish while I'm at work I am seriously going to lose my poop.
 
Okay vent over. Pics of fish for ID once filter taps are replaced.

 
 
"Lose my poop"  LOL never heard that one before.............
 
Older folks can be set in their ways and you're doing the right thing.  Good luck with it.  A 4 foot tank is a huge step up from their previous home and hopefully you can get them re homed and replace them with more suitable fish.

What about yoyo, zebra or polkadot loaches? Anyone have experience? I spoke to the fish store and they also said a group of young clowns would be fine, since they take about 3-5 years to get to the size that a 4 foot tank would become an issue.

 
 
Get her some Kuhli Loaches!!!

Worked out the mystery fish is not a catfish but some kind of gourami, one spot on tail that I can see. Should be in the new tank in  few more days, if all goes well!

 
Sounds like a Three Spot Gourami, probably blue/silver in color?

 

[tunagirll]

 

I am going to scream.
 
Went to the fish shop to pick up filter parts (yes, the new tank is nearly ready to go!). Next minute, mum is off into the fish section looking to see what extra fish she can add, including suggesting a SECOND ghost knifefish! Facepalm! Then red eye tetras...???

When I told her the knifefish will fight and they'll eat the tetras, apparently I'm being unreasonable judging by the look on her face. She has some idea in her head that even though her current stock is too big for the new tank, adding yet more fish would be a super idea. Reading the riot act to her on the way home and she is not a happy camper.
 
Next thing it's nitpicking over water damage to the tank (bargain $150 with a super filter) and suggesting we sell it and buy something else. I just spent $400 on rocks, driftwood, parts and plants.
 
I swear if she goes and buys more fish while I'm at work I am seriously going to lose my poop.
 
Okay vent over. Pics of fish for ID once filter taps are replaced.

 
 
"Lose my poop"  LOL never heard that one before.............
 
Older folks can be set in their ways and you're doing the right thing.  Good luck with it.  A 4 foot tank is a huge step up from their previous home and hopefully you can get them re homed and replace them with more suitable fish.

What about yoyo, zebra or polkadot loaches? Anyone have experience? I spoke to the fish store and they also said a group of young clowns would be fine, since they take about 3-5 years to get to the size that a 4 foot tank would become an issue.

 
 
Get her some Kuhli Loaches!!!

Worked out the mystery fish is not a catfish but some kind of gourami, one spot on tail that I can see. Should be in the new tank in  few more days, if all goes well!

 
Sounds like a Three Spot Gourami, probably blue/silver in color?
 

 
I have kuhlis and think I might add them to her tank along with some more friends Depends on what she wants!
 
The gourami has coloured up in the 4 foot and definitely looks like a pearl gourami. I have to take some pics as the tank has cleared up nicely.

 

[Ruskull]

Pearls are my favorite!  Please post pics when you get a chance.

 

[tunagirll]

Had to empty the tank and reseal one of the joints as it was leaking a bit at the top and looked like it was ready to let go

 
Took mum to the lfs to see their selection of discus and to view the blue rams and other fish Came home with a dozen neon tetras, half a dozen more male guppies and we exchanged the two large clown loaches for five small ones Mum also picked out four lovely young discus - we're very lucky to have an excellent lfs that stocks top notch livestock so she was able to pick some fantastic types. The discus are held for us at the shop while we sort out the tank. The bala sharks are going, just need mum to jump that last hurdle and let the dollars go at the same time.
 
I wasn't expecting her to go nuts and add tetras and more guppies, but I have a spare canister filter I can put on for extra filtration so that's okay
 
So basically waiting 24 hours for the silicone to cure, then refill the tank, check for leaks, pop the fish back in, put them to 28 C and once I've seen the tank is stable temp wise for a few days, I'll ask mum when she wants me to take the balas (and dollars!) to the store and pick up her discus and the pair of blue rams
 
I also picked up a 3x2x2 tank for Archimedes which is sitting next to me as I type, so if I can get cracking might even be able to bring Archimedes home at the same time