Fishkeeping anyone ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter BigJamesGTI
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Well now that I work at a pet store, I thought it would be kinda cool to get some aquariums going (Its been somthing I've wanted to do scince i was little, just never got around to it.) So I have 3 i'm starting up! A 10gal a 20gal and a 33gal, I have the 10 all set up with 3 goldfish (1 red and white oranda and 2 brownish lionheads) and its got a stone statue kinda theme going on with special "aqua glow" lights, it gives it a dimmer redish purple kinda look to it.

Then I have My 20 gal, which is set up, but has no fish yet (the tank just finished cycling) But its got a deep sea theme going on (even though its gonna be fresh water) but its got black gravel (with specks of blue) and black and silver plants, a submarine wich prop moves via a air pump, and a sunken bell\cave. I also got a blue marine light for that deep sea effect. I plan to get about 4 mexican tetras (blind cave fish) cause they have no eyes!!

I have yet to st up my 33 yet, I just need to find a good stand. But its gonna have an egypt theme with pyramids and stuff, with a yellow light and sand colored rocks.
 
UPDATE:
Here is a new tank I just finished setting up, its only 25L (6.somthing US gallons)
very simple set up. Basic filter, no heater, fake plants etc. I'm not going to put many fish in it, so I've only put 3 guppies and a betta in.



 
Very nice, powripper. Must've cost a fortune! My favorite is the 20 gallon "blue" tank. I love the submarine, looks very cool. 👍
 
My friend has two large red belly piranhas. Amazingly he bought 20 in the past 10 months but they killed each other and now only has 2 left.
 
Slick Rick
My friend has two large red belly piranhas. Amazingly he bought 20 in the past 10 months but they killed each other and now only has 2 left.
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That could have been a tank size or food supply issue.

If teh tank is too small or he feeds them too little they will do that. I have seen large tanks with schooling piranha, but they got fed twice a day.
 
We have a 20 gallon aquarium and had small turtles in there for many years. Now we have 6-10 small fish in there from the local pet store. Each one is a different color, blue, orange, white, black, red, yellow, spotted....... When one dies we just replace it with another. They are relaxing to watch.
I would love to have tropical fish, just cant afford them.
 
CAMAROBOY69
We have a 20 gallon aquarium and had small turtles in there for many years. Now we have 6-10 small fish in there from the local pet store. Each one is a different color, blue, orange, white, black, red, yellow, spotted....... When one dies we just replace it with another. They are relaxing to watch.
I would love to have tropical fish, just cant afford them.
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Do you actually know the species of your fish? I mean, just mixing based on pretty colors can be bad. It is best to choose based on temperment and swimming patterns (bottom, top, middle). If they die often this could be your problem.


What do you mean by tropical? Saltwater? Unless you don't need a heater or just have goldfish type things then they probably are tropical. Most fish you get for aquariums are either bred in captivity or come from tropical river systems.
 
FoolKiller
Do you actually know the species of your fish? I mean, just mixing based on pretty colors can be bad. It is best to choose based on temperment and swimming patterns (bottom, top, middle). If they die often this could be your problem.


What do you mean by tropical? Saltwater? Unless you don't need a heater or just have goldfish type things then they probably are tropical. Most fish you get for aquariums are either bred in captivity or come from tropical river systems.
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I dont know much about my fish at all. I go to the pet store and they say "For your aquarium you can choose between any of the fish in this row". I have a heater in my aquarium set to around 75-80 degrees and 2 filters.
To answer your other question I meant salt water fish. They are a lot more expensive to maintain. My fish are only about $3-$5 each. Very cheap and easy to maintain.
 
I should probably update my pictures, as we broke down the 40, 46 and 29 gallon saltwater tanks. We turned the 40 breeder into a plant & fresh water tank. We've got 28 fish in there.

We purchased and have up and running an 80 gallon saltwater reef tank. Pics soon.
 
I currently have two tanks...a 50 gallon for tropical fish ( about 30 fish in total )and a 25 gallon for cold water fish ( koi / goldfish....) about 10 in there..

Love them , but they're such a pain in the ass, my german shepherd takes up alot of my time, but I don't mind it at all, she never leaves my side ...but the fish, I am thinking of getting rid of them...just got to convince the wife!
 
CAMAROBOY69
I dont know much about my fish at all. I go to the pet store and they say "For your aquarium you can choose between any of the fish in this row". I have a heater in my aquarium set to around 75-80 degrees and 2 filters.
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Sounds like a good setup with proper filtration. To learn more about the fish and what would work best for longevity I recommend Dr. Axelrods Mini Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium fishes. There is also a full sized version but it runs about $60. It has full color photographs and details about ideal tank conditions and tank mates.

To answer your other question I meant salt water fish. They are a lot more expensive to maintain. My fish are only about $3-$5 each. Very cheap and easy to maintain.
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I completely understand. I am in the middle of setting up a saltwater tank myself, but the expense is slowing things down. I hope to at least have it running with water by end of year. I just need to buy the undergarvel filter and crushed coral to be ready to go. I'll probably start it out with a few small fish to get the cycle going and then eventually add my porcupine puffer. With all the hurricanes in the Gulf I have found a lot of problems finding the fish I want at decent prices. The prices have inflated, doubled in some cases, and many of the choices don't look healthy.

If you decide to do saltwater then I recommend trying a fish only tank first. A reef tank can be intimidating and a hassle unless you have the time and patience needed to get the tank running and stable.

TwinTurboJay
...but the fish, I am thinking of getting rid of them...just got to convince the wife!
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Tell her if she wants to deal with it then she can keep it, but you don't have time anymore. Make it sound like a necessity, not a demand.
 
a6m5
Very nice, powripper. Must've cost a fortune! My favorite is the 20 gallon "blue" tank. I love the submarine, looks very cool. 👍
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Thats where the perks of working at a pet store come into play. We sell starter kits that come with pretty much everything you need, and if one is missing peices or is damaged in some way, I get to take it home for free! So the total cost of setting up all those tanks (4) has only set me back about 250$ which is not alot considering some of the stuff I have. (like a 150$ filter for the 33).
 
FoolKiller
That could have been a tank size or food supply issue.

If teh tank is too small or he feeds them too little they will do that. I have seen large tanks with schooling piranha, but they got fed twice a day.
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Its the tank size. We recently went to the aquarium and the guy there said eventually the two left will also fight and could kill each other so my friend is considering selling one before they grow too large.
 
Just added some fish to my 20 Gal, 2 sailfin mollies, 3 penguin tetras, 3 neon tetras, a ropefish (will be added to the 33 when all set up) and 2 dwarf dwarf gouramis. Once I get the 33 set up, I will buy 3 convict cichlids :D


My ropefish!


here is my dwarf Gourami, a very beautiful fish!
 
I was 9 yrs old when I raised fish. Nowadays I'm raising a pair of sun conures and a fighting rooster.
 
Oh man, that ropefish is the freakiest thing I have ever seen. Add to that a beautiful skull for it to slither disgustingly through all day long, and you've got a real spooker!
 
Anderton Prime
Oh man, that ropefish is the freakiest thing I have ever seen. Add to that a beautiful skull for it to slither disgustingly through all day long, and you've got a real spooker!
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Yeah, I tried explaining to my wife that it is a fish, not an eel or a snake and her response was, "I don't care. It still looks like a snake." Guess I won't have one in my tank.
 
FoolKiller
Yeah, I tried explaining to my wife that it is a fish, not an eel or a snake and her response was, "I don't care. It still looks like a snake." Guess I won't have one in my tank.
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That sucks, Because its easily the coolest fish I own, he will even eat right out of my hand.

 
I admit it is beautiful, but I know I'd be having nightmares about it getting out of the tank and slipping into my bed at night...
 
Anderton Prime
I admit it is beautiful, but I know I'd be having nightmares about it getting out of the tank and slipping into my bed at night...
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HAHA, yeah they are actually known for being escape artists and being able to survive 8 hours out of water.:scared: Mine has, he was only out for about 2 hours though.
 
powripper
HAHA, yeah they are actually known for being escape artists and being able to survive 8 hours out of water.:scared: Mine has, he was only out for about 2 hours though.
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Eels, snakes, and any other long skinny fish are great at this. Their body length allows them the ability to go against currents or push open lids while sliding through tubing.

This is the sole reason why I never considered an eel for my fish tank. A guy at the pet store let me feed the moray eels they had and I almost bought one on the spot. I mentioned the escape artist thing and he told me about one woman who had one that disappeared from the tank and they couldn't find it for weeks. Then while cleaning she found a shrivelled up and dried carcass under the sofa. I don't know how true it is (seems like it would smell) but it stopped me. I don't want something that can get out like that. I would rather not have to treat my aquarium like a safe.
 
that is where my wife's Snowflake Eel went. He launched himself right through and small opening in the cover, and rolled under the couch. We found him about two days later.

Big news on my tanks. We broke down the 46 gallon reef, and 40 gallon reef. Combined them into one 80 gallon, and set up a 40 gallon fresh water plant tank.

In a few months, we're looking at a 180 acrylic in addition to the other two tanks.
 
I have a 10 gallon tank. So far I have one Calico Fantail and one Gold Fantail. Eventually I'll get around to adding 2 more (one for each member of the family). :p
 
Der Alta
and set up a 40 gallon fresh water plant tank.
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Watch out for those tiny annoying snails that sometimes come on the plants. Those suckers will clog up your filters in no time.

If you have something with a beak-like mouth like a puffer or trigger do they will love the fresh food.
 
Question: My Gold Fantail floats upside down. Is that bad? :dopey:

Before you answer, I'll give you my theory. He doesn't do it all the time, and after watching him for a while, it seems like it is only after he eats. My thought is that the food makes him buoyant because he has to fight to stay down. After an hour of fighting, he is obviously tired, gives in and floats to the surface, upside down. His gills still move, as do his eyes. Every once in a while, he'll start up again, get tired and go belly up. I know it's not the water, as I have checked the levels and the other fish is doing fine.

Any thoughts? Do I need to change the food? I've been giving them this twice a day.
 
TB
Question: My Gold Fantail floats upside down. Is that bad? :dopey:

Before you answer, I'll give you my theory. He doesn't do it all the time, and after watching him for a while, it seems like it is only after he eats. My thought is that the food makes him buoyant because he has to fight to stay down. After an hour of fighting, he is obviously tired, gives in and floats to the surface, upside down. His gills still move, as do his eyes. Every once in a while, he'll start up again, get tired and go belly up. I know it's not the water, as I have checked the levels and the other fish is doing fine.

Any thoughts? Do I need to change the food? I've been giving them this twice a day.
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That's a first I've heard of that.

I recommend emailing teh marine bilogoists at http://www.thatfishplace.com They give email help for free.
 
I used too have a small aquarium set up... the fish died and it's sitting in my closet.
I don't like fish as much as I used to anyway, but I have a bird.
 
TB
Question: My Gold Fantail floats upside down. Is that bad? :dopey:

Before you answer, I'll give you my theory. He doesn't do it all the time, and after watching him for a while, it seems like it is only after he eats. My thought is that the food makes him buoyant because he has to fight to stay down. After an hour of fighting, he is obviously tired, gives in and floats to the surface, upside down. His gills still move, as do his eyes. Every once in a while, he'll start up again, get tired and go belly up. I know it's not the water, as I have checked the levels and the other fish is doing fine.

Any thoughts? Do I need to change the food? I've been giving them this twice a day.
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That Is a problem with its swim bladder, Sometimes fish (goldfish expecially) swallow air when they eat to fast (thats why I recomend not feeding goldfish flake food, try sinking pellets....goldfish can be excelent at cleaning up food off the bottom anyways) sometimes this problem can be permanent, but isnt deadly. try feeding it boiled skinless peas, It has worked for me in the past.👍
 
Wow. So I was actually right??? Cool.

When the flakes I have are gone, I'll have to get some pellets. Thanks powripper! And my fish thanks you, too. :p
 
I have a modest set up of a 18"x12"x12" glass tank (don't know the gallonage) with one very plain goldfish. The only thing of any note is the fact that George (the goldfish) will be celabrating his 19th birthday this year!!!

I know that a goldfish is expected to live for 20 years, but i've never heard of one last for more than a couple of years before. He (maybe she) is incredibly tough - he's survived for 2 months without any food, my sister was to blame for this - he's survived many, many shattered tanks and since we got the two dogs his tank gets cleaned irregularly at best - but he just keeps going, he's older than many people on this site!
 
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