Tropical Newbie, Fish Choices

[clutterydrawer]

Is your tank cycled? (just checking!) what kind of shark is it?

tiger barbs tend to be a bit nippy if they're not kept in a shoal of at least six, so I wouldn't recommend them as they'd probably hurt your guppies.

 

[Opcn]

Acctually the fewer the T-barbs the bigger the problem.In the wild they live in big schools and the prefer to pick on each other but prettymuch anything will get picked onhiw deep (fron to back) is your tank? ATM I'd say it is a 20 gallon tall they lend themselves very well to planted tanks and you should look into that option.

 

[j@mie]

Is your tank cycled? (just checking!) what kind of shark is it?

tiger barbs tend to be a bit nippy if they're not kept in a shoal of at least six, so I wouldn't recommend them as they'd probably hurt your guppies.

hi its a red tail shark. im totally new to tanks, so cycling is probably a no

 

[j@mie]

Acctually the fewer the T-barbs the bigger the problem.In the wild they live in big schools and the prefer to pick on each other but prettymuch anything will get picked onhiw deep (fron to back) is your tank? ATM I'd say it is a 20 gallon tall they lend themselves very well to planted tanks and you should look into that option.

its about 2 foot all round minus a few inches. My tank is well planted with oxygen plants

the thing is, all the nice fish are all nasty how can i get round this ? 2 tanks ?

 

[clutterydrawer]

hi its a red tail shark. im totally new to tanks, so cycling is probably a no

I don't want to scare you, or put you off keeping fish, but if your tank isn't cycled and you put all those fish in at once I think you might be in for some problems soon. I'm not going to explain it all myself because there's a very good article here:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10099

that will explain it better. Please read it, you might find it useful!

 

[j@mie]

hi its a red tail shark. im totally new to tanks, so cycling is probably a no

I don't want to scare you, or put you off keeping fish, but if your tank isn't cycled and you put all those fish in at once I think you might be in for some problems soon. I'm not going to explain it all myself because there's a very good article here:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10099

that will explain it better. Please read it, you might find it useful!

ill stick to the "old fashioned method". My brother knows everything about fish, so im sure he would of said if he thought this was important.

tnx anyway.

 

[j@mie]

hi its a red tail shark. im totally new to tanks, so cycling is probably a no

I don't want to scare you, or put you off keeping fish, but if your tank isn't cycled and you put all those fish in at once I think you might be in for some problems soon. I'm not going to explain it all myself because there's a very good article here:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10099

that will explain it better. Please read it, you might find it useful!

ill stick to the "old fashioned method". My brother knows everything about fish, so im sure he would of said if he thought this was important.

tnx anyway.

cluttery, the guppies i have are all pregnant, what should i look out for ? just so i know when to move them to my breeding tank.

thanks

 

[clutterydrawer]

I have no idea, I have never kept female guppies or indeed bred any type of fish. Why not ask your brother, seeing as he knows "everything"?

 

[nero]

Ummm, dude,
if you havent cycled your tank, and you added all those fish at once, they are going to start dying real soon... Someone did warn you earlier in the topic. Check the info on cycling, and get yourself some test kits. Ammonia at least, but nitrite and nitrate if you can.
Also, does anyone know how big those sharks get?
Anyway: not trying to offend anyone, but I came into this thinking I knew everything as well, and ended up with a tank full of little corpses. Trying to stop it happening to anyone else.
Your guppies will be pretty big if they are pregnant. Probably best to post a question on the breeding forum. But if you dont want the extra fish at the moment (and if your tank isnt cycled you definatly wont) then just leave the guppies in there. Unless there is LOTS of hiding spots, the babies will all be eaten in about 5 minutes.

 

[tear-scar]

If you want a sole larger fish that won't hurt the others, and is colorful, there are a couple good choices.

You might pick out a Gourami. Dwarf size grows to 3-4 in, so it'll be bigger than most tetras or guppies or rasboras etc.

May pick out one of the gentle dwarf rams (not really boisturous)

Angel might be too small; I have no experience with them so ask around

some mollies/platy/sword-tail will grow pretty big

 

[Opcn]

Sysleing is just about the most important aspect of keeping fish in a tank. More important than feeding IMO. Well temp then oxygen then cycle then pH then food then clean water. Red tailed sharks will get to be about six inches long and like vegies now and then. You can tell if the guppys are preggo by looking at the gravid spot just above the anal fin If you see eyes they are about to give birth. You are about to experience what is called new tank syndrome Because you have not cycled. you will probably lose half your fish. You can minimize the loss by frequently changeing up to half the water (with dechlor water of coarse) and adding so called "cycle Aids" such as bio spyra

 

[j@mie]

I have no idea, I have never kept female guppies or indeed bred any type of fish. Why not ask your brother, seeing as he knows "everything"?

Dont make any replies to my threads if u cant help but be sarcastic. I think my brother will know a little more than you seen as he has dealt with tropical fish for 23 years.

And as for asking him the questions instead, Id rather use my initative and ask other peoples opinions first, rather than constantly rely on my brother.

I asked him about cycling, he says i dont need it. Time will tell!!

So lets get off the touchy subject of "cycling" and get back on track with the topic.

P.S thx to everyone who sent me an important reply.

 

[nightlife20]

most livebearers will have a gravid spot, its a little black dot at the back end of the fish that grows and grows as the pregnancy developes


i dont think i need to be another 'pointer outer' but there is one thing i will say...


no matter how long you have been in this hobby, not one person knows everything.. also their are different ways of cycling ur tank.. one way is like what ur doin just add fish, let a few die off then when its done add the fish u want... the other is by not puttin any fish in danger, by useing pure ammonia.

as stated try reading the article... u never know you might be able to teach your (older?) brother a few things he didnt know

 

[tstenback]

Do you have test kits to check your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? If you are going to cycle your tank with fish in it then you will need these and be prepared to do lots of water changes. You have been given good advice here on both fish and cycling. I have seen many people start out in this hobby over my 35 years and most who start with as many fish as you have without cycling the tank first usually find the hobby too much to deal with or very expensive due to the fish dying. The folks here are just trying to warn you to be very careful as you proceed so that your fish will have a fighting chance. Hope everything works out for you and keep us posted

 

[amazingbioloboydp]

PLEASSSSSE cycle! i dont like dying fish...