Child’s first fish(es)
Discussion
Crossflow Kid said:
Ok so.....since the water change, one of the three amigos has started pecking at the artificial foliage in the tank.
They’ve been fed tonight and the other two aren’t doing it.
Ideas?
Oh and I think they’re actually getting a bit bigger.
Yep, that's normal. They’ve been fed tonight and the other two aren’t doing it.
Ideas?
Oh and I think they’re actually getting a bit bigger.
A little algae/fuzz is never a bad thing. If it gets too bad, either reduce the amount any lights are on, or get a zebra nerite snail - cool little dudes.
Oh, and fish grow quick!
Crossflow Kid said:
Hmmm.......
So I’ve been sitting here observing them on and off all evening.
One of them has taken to relentlessly pursuing the other two round the tank.
I wouldn’t say it’s aggressive as such, but it just won’t stop “bothering” them.
They’ve been fine together up til now.
When mummy and daddy love each other very much...So I’ve been sitting here observing them on and off all evening.
One of them has taken to relentlessly pursuing the other two round the tank.
I wouldn’t say it’s aggressive as such, but it just won’t stop “bothering” them.
They’ve been fine together up til now.
https://en.aqua-fish.net/articles/guide-keeping-pl...
Looking at your pics I suspect the blue one is male.
Looking at your pics I suspect the blue one is male.
you'll find out in a little while why I suggested getting all males 
An update.....
Fish now lively and loving life.
Water staying clear after the recent 25% swap and introduction of Stability, so thanks for all the advice.
Daddy fish still bothering mummy fish. Think two of them may actually be in a relationship as it’s gone from chasing round the tank to swimming excitedly along side each other.
Fuzz over the gravel hasn’t reappeared.
CFK Jnr still interested too...says hello to them in the morning and goodnight of a night time. Fascinated when they feed.
Next step might be explaining all the little fish if and when they appear.
Fish now lively and loving life.
Water staying clear after the recent 25% swap and introduction of Stability, so thanks for all the advice.
Daddy fish still bothering mummy fish. Think two of them may actually be in a relationship as it’s gone from chasing round the tank to swimming excitedly along side each other.
Fuzz over the gravel hasn’t reappeared.
CFK Jnr still interested too...says hello to them in the morning and goodnight of a night time. Fascinated when they feed.
Next step might be explaining all the little fish if and when they appear.
Crossflow Kid said:
Also got a blue one.....
The first 24hrs have been interesting. At first they were quite active, but have become positively reclusive to the point I thought they’d actually jumped out.
Water has also gone from crystal clear to having a very feint milkiness about it but I’m assuming that’ll clear in due course and is just the result of introducing live fish.
Also got a couple of tiny snails to help with the housework.
Id be careful adding snails if you haven't already, we did it as we had a dwarf puffer who fed on them, but once it died the snail population grew pretty quick! Ended up having to get some different type of carnivore snails to eat the original ones, these new ones don't breed fast at all.The first 24hrs have been interesting. At first they were quite active, but have become positively reclusive to the point I thought they’d actually jumped out.
Water has also gone from crystal clear to having a very feint milkiness about it but I’m assuming that’ll clear in due course and is just the result of introducing live fish.
Also got a couple of tiny snails to help with the housework.
Maybe some ghost shrimp or similar would be better and also more interesting to look at
chuck a few cherry shrimp in if you want to diversify the tank a bit, you only need to start with 5 or 6, they multiply like water dwelling rabbits.
I kept platys, guppies and two drawf gourami for about 3 years. In the end the constant tank maintenance and weekly water changes did my head in (60l).
If i ever kept freshwater tropicals again It would be in a 100l tank minimum, anything smaller is such a pain with keeping the environment stable and having to do water changes all the time.
Stick some hiding places and live plants in if you want any of the impending Platy fry to survive, they need somewhere to hide to avoid becoming lunch for the adults.
I kept platys, guppies and two drawf gourami for about 3 years. In the end the constant tank maintenance and weekly water changes did my head in (60l).
If i ever kept freshwater tropicals again It would be in a 100l tank minimum, anything smaller is such a pain with keeping the environment stable and having to do water changes all the time.
Stick some hiding places and live plants in if you want any of the impending Platy fry to survive, they need somewhere to hide to avoid becoming lunch for the adults.
designforlife said:
If i ever kept freshwater tropicals again It would be in a 100l tank minimum, anything smaller is such a pain with keeping the environment stable and having to do water changes all the time.
Without wishing to be too "four yorkshireman..." I used to have a 19 litre reef tank with coral. That was a serious pain to keep stable. Daily testing, daily dosing of chemicals, multiple water changes per week (including making up salt water of course). A serious time sink! Great fun though.Because you didn't cycle the filter the fish are living in their own waste - mostly in the form of ammonia.
It'll take about a month until there's enough bacteria on the filter to remove the fishes' nitrogenous waste, until then they'll be burned by the ammonia building up in the water. 'Cycling' is the term used to describe the process of building up the filtration bacteria.
Never switch off the filter, except briefly for maintenance. Never clean the filter material all at once. Only gently rinse the filter material in old tank water if there's a build up of debris blocking the flow.
Don't add more fish for at least 4-6 weeks. Do not over feed.
Buy a water test kit to monitor ammonia and nitirites, at least. If either of these are non-zero do a 25-50% water change.
It would have been kinder to your fish to cycle the tank artificially.
Livebearers are good fun, and are generally more hardy than other tropicals.
It'll take about a month until there's enough bacteria on the filter to remove the fishes' nitrogenous waste, until then they'll be burned by the ammonia building up in the water. 'Cycling' is the term used to describe the process of building up the filtration bacteria.
Never switch off the filter, except briefly for maintenance. Never clean the filter material all at once. Only gently rinse the filter material in old tank water if there's a build up of debris blocking the flow.
Don't add more fish for at least 4-6 weeks. Do not over feed.
Buy a water test kit to monitor ammonia and nitirites, at least. If either of these are non-zero do a 25-50% water change.
It would have been kinder to your fish to cycle the tank artificially.
Livebearers are good fun, and are generally more hardy than other tropicals.
Edited by Ed/L152 on Tuesday 23 July 13:45
Ed/L152 said:
Because you didn't bother to cycle the filter the fish are living in their own waste - mostly in the form of ammonia.
It'll take about a month until there's enough bacteria on the filter to remove the fishes' nitrogenous waste, until then they'll be burned by the ammonia building up in the water. 'Cycling' is the term used to describe the process of building up the filtration bacteria.
Never switch off the filter, except briefly for maintenance. Never clean the filter material all at once. Only gently rinse the filter material in old tank water if there's a build up of debris blocking the flow.
Don't add more fish for at least 4-6 weeks. Do not over feed.
Buy a water test kit to monitor ammonia and nitirites, at least. If either of these are non-zero do a 25-50% water change.
It would have been kinder to your fish to cycle the tank artificially.
He's done this now by adding Stability. Nothing artificial about it - it's magic. I know people who've put wild discus/altum angels straight into a three day old tank using Stability, with zero ammonia or nitrites present. I'm currently day two of a Stability lead cycle, and if it weren't for the fish I'm buying (a few fancy goldfish for a change) being in quarantine until the weekend they'd already be in the tank... It'll take about a month until there's enough bacteria on the filter to remove the fishes' nitrogenous waste, until then they'll be burned by the ammonia building up in the water. 'Cycling' is the term used to describe the process of building up the filtration bacteria.
Never switch off the filter, except briefly for maintenance. Never clean the filter material all at once. Only gently rinse the filter material in old tank water if there's a build up of debris blocking the flow.
Don't add more fish for at least 4-6 weeks. Do not over feed.
Buy a water test kit to monitor ammonia and nitirites, at least. If either of these are non-zero do a 25-50% water change.
It would have been kinder to your fish to cycle the tank artificially.
My tap water is at 35ppm nitrates out the tap!
Sway said:
He's done this now by adding Stability. Nothing artificial about it - it's magic. I know people who've put wild discus/altum angels straight into a three day old tank using Stability, with zero ammonia or nitrites present. I'm currently day two of a Stability lead cycle, and if it weren't for the fish I'm buying (a few fancy goldfish for a change) being in quarantine until the weekend they'd already be in the tank...
My tap water is at 35ppm nitrates out the tap!
Sounds good! I'd still recommend monitoring the ammonia and nitrites though. I've always lived in regions with high nitrates too.My tap water is at 35ppm nitrates out the tap!
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff