What Fish Are The Best To Put Into A Cycled Tank First

[simon10]

I have been looking around and i have seen that there isnt really anywhere that says which fish are best to be put into a cycled tank first. I have just seen that neon tetra's are not good to be put in first, so i was just wondering what would be good to put in first.

Cheers

 

[Amunet]

What fish do you want?
Just do some research on whatever fish you had wanted, and pick the hardier ones that don't need a matured tank.
Also, if you're planning on putting any kind of aggressive fish in the tank along with less aggressive fish... I'd put the less aggressive in first.

 

[alchemist]

It would be easier if you list the different fish that you want to put in the tank altogether and people can help with which are more hardy to start out with.

 

[simon10]

well i was thinking:

Angel Fish
Barbs (Dont Know Which Ones)
Corydora
Tetra
Rainbowfish
Swordtails

 

[Bobtastic]

I think barbs have a tendency to be a bit "nippy" and with the Angelfish having large/long fins it may cause a problem (depending on the number of barbs and which type).

The other possible complication would be the type of Tetra that you put in with the Angels, Neon Tetra's are their natural food (Fry and young'uns so I'm told). It has been suggested that if you want both Neons and Angels if you introduce the Neons first and let them grow to full size and then introduce the young Angels they won't see them as food as they have always been there and they are too big for them to eat. Apparently there can be complications if you decide to add new Neons at a later date as they may be seen as "live food", which could lead the Angels to eat all of the Neons (if they are small enough).

 

[rewlyn]

not sure on the others but i wouldnt put tetras and barbs together the barbs will have a field day

 

[Bobtastic]

Also what is the size (dimensions) of your tank? I've been told that Angel shouldn't be kept in tanks less than 18" deep.

 

[simon10]

I think barbs have a tendency to be a bit "nippy" and with the Angelfish having large/long fins it may cause a problem (depending on the number of barbs and which type).

The other possible complication would be the type of Tetra that you put in with the Angels, Neon Tetra's are their natural food (Fry and young'uns so I'm told). It has been suggested that if you want both Neons and Angels if you introduce the Neons first and let them grow to full size and then introduce the young Angels they won't see them as food as they have always been there and they are too big for them to eat. Apparently there can be complications if you decide to add new Neons at a later date as they may be seen as "live food", which could lead the Angels to eat all of the Neons (if they are small enough).

some people on here are saying that you shouldnt put neons into a tank that has just been cycled as they will die, aparantly they need a mature tank?

 

[Bobtastic]

some people on here are saying that you shouldnt put neons into a tank that has just been cycled as they will die, aparantly they need a mature tank?

Yep that seems to be the general concensus on here. But you didn't specify which Tetra you were wanting to put in. So thought it was best to highlight the possibly Neon Tetra vs Angelfish problem. You obviously wouldn't have the same sort of problem with one of the larger Tetra species.

 

[simon10]

what are the larger tetra's:

penguin
congo
xray?

 

[arobinson1984]

A couple that havent been mentioned and that are good for newly established tanks are:

Platies
Danios - These are fin nippers though so may cause probs with angels or other fish.

Its down to personal preference whether you want these fish in your tank or not.

Yes you are correct about not putting neons in until the tank is around 6 months old becuase neons are very sensitive to fluctuating water conditions which you will quite often get in newly established tanks.

Andy

 

[Bobtastic]

what are the larger tetra's:

penguin
congo
xray?

According to the Species section of our lovely forum - Characins - here are some Tetra sizes : -

Penguin - 1.5"
Congo - 3"
Bleeding Heart - 3"
Neon - 1.75"
Cardinal - 2"

 

[simon10]

what about black mollies?

 

[arobinson1984]

Some people see mollies as a fairly hardy fish, not the hardiest by a long shot but not the most delicate either.

The one thing about black mollies is they tend to be prone to getting whitespot.

Andy

 

[Bobtastic]

what about black mollies?

Again I deffer to the species section. Apparently Black Mollies prefer Brackish water, they can live in Fresh water but can suffer illness as a result. I don't know very much about them I'm afraid.

I have been doing an fish-in cycle with my platies and I think they are really pretty fish, they would definitly be fine as a fisrt fish into a freshly cycled tank. Tho they are livebearer and are know to go at it like bunnies, we have haven't had any fry as yet.