New Fish

[andyg81]

Right then with my 5 golden barbs gone what can I replace them with? Getting a pleco in a few days but need something to fill the gap .... The other fish Ive got are on my signature

Any suggestions for 2/4 fish ?

 

[Jakey02578]

Tank size?

 

[Cazgar]

Size is in his signature 180 litres

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

If you sorted out you "pink 'n' mix" stocking affair and gave each schooling fish minimum numbers of six, you are overstocked before buying a pleco...

1 x neon tetra... Needs 5 more
2 x lemon tetra... Needs 4 more
2 x harlequin tetra... Needs 4 more
2 x corydoras... Needs 4 more of the same species
2 x cherry barbs... Needs 4 more
5 x black widow tetra... Needs 1 more
1 x siamese fighting fish
5 x guppys

Seriously, do not buy the pleco, it will add even more pressure on your bacterial colony... Unless you decide to rehome some of your odds and sods, rather than giving them the groups they deserve.

 

[andyg81]

Deleted that it sounded like I was having a right go lol

So ignore if anyone read it

 

[andyg81]

once again im really confused, at each stage when we have brought fish we have told the LFS what we have, what would be good to add in etc etc and 2 places have said the same thing, both places have a good reputation so im confused by the comment above. had we known at the time i'd have brought bigger numbers but we stayed small on numbers to allow for some bigger fish instead of all small ones if that makes sense.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Although I am a newbie to this, wouldn't planting the tank affectively accommodate the required number without overstocking issues. I agree that the plec would still be a no no though. Please correct me if I am wrong, I am still learning.

 

[soybean]

Andy I'm sure it's been brought up a couple of times that you've got, as notg put it, pick n mix stocking.

In your position I would decide on one or two of the types of shoalers you have eg harlequins and lemons, return the rest in exchange to bring these up to six or more of each, or even better just one big group of something, and then worry about adding something new.

I would no longer shop at ANY shop that told me tetras are fine in groups of one or two, that's just ridiculous.

 

[andyg81]

been looking at my LFS stock, honey gouramis and electric blue rams in, very nice colourfull fish ! we want colourfull fish that stand out and once we have it all settled I wont mess with it again. would really like a plec or 2 though as I think they look good and strange in the same way with there sucker mouth on the glass lol.

cant really afford much more at this stage though been wiped out of spare cash with all the messing about and the amount of fluids im using with daily water changes, plus the plants we brought and ive got a bit of bogwood with plants on it coming to hide our filter.

 

[soybean]

Yep, everything costs money in this hobby.

The biggest way to save money is just not buying fish. If you intend to have the tank a long time there really is no rush.

You ideally need to sort your current stocking out before you start thinking about what else you want to add.

Wy not see if your shop will give you a little bit of credit for all the oddment? Every bit helps.

 

[andyg81]

well because ive got a lot of stuff that ive ordered from the shop - bogwood, filter fluid medium (not everyone agrees with this i accept but i find it helps) and possible the plecs, if I spend over £40 (which is a possibility due to the cost of fluids and bogwood/plants) hes going to give me an electric blue ram for free

thoughts on this ?

i can always move my lemon / harliquins out the tank and into the 31 litre I gave away as they were in that before and seemed happy enough.

 

[soybean]

Electric blue rams like very warm, very soft acidic water with a mature filter - they're one of the fish I suggested as being alright in a discus tank.

My thoughts? No way, but it's your tank.

And if you move the lemons and harlequins, what then about the neon, two cherries and two corys? These all need to be in groups of 6+ and if you've no intention of housing them in such way it's fairer to rehome them.

Otherwise I suggest putting a disclaimer about the numbers in your sig else you are going to get this a LOT!

 

[andyg81]

ph of 7 at the minute, temperature is 25 - 26, i dont think i'll go for it anyway to be honest, even if it is free ! wouldnt be fair on the fish - at this point not ready, what I may say to the guy is if i spend £40, take some of my oddments back for credit against 2 plecs, for example, the neon, lemon and harlequins. give the 2 cherry barbs to my friend with the 31 litre leaving me with

2 x corys, 5 guppys 5 black widow tetra and my fighter.

 

[soybean]

Seriously Andy, like I said yesterday, ONE plec! Not withstanding the amount of crap they make, it's only a three foot tank and even bristlenoses like their space.

Cory numbers need upping too, of the SAME species, not mix n match like you might get told.

There are plenty of colourful fish, rams are just one kind, and your setup is just not ideal for one, so no, it wouldn't be fair.

 

[andyg81]

ok then 1 plec lol. i am taking peoples comments on board if you could see the amount of printed research ive got at the minute you'd probably laugh, each forum thread ive commented on has been printed for future reference and I have page upon page on cycling and new tank set ups its unreal. - the poor dog wonders whats going off as im spending more time on the fish than walking it lol

1 plec in a 3 foot tank can understand that but you got into a LFS and they have maybe 4 in a tank half the size

my wifes going to go mad at me as im already spending too "too much time" on this lol