Child’s first fish(es)
Discussion
Caddyshack said:
68 is the absolute lowest a platty should be at but they need a constant 72 to 82 really (20 to 28), if your lights are heating up the water in the day then cooling at night I would expect the fish to suffer big stress and die. You must have a heater for them.
Ok, so bit of emergency shopping and we’re in business.Have set the stat to 25c to begin with, leaving it to warm up over night.
When I mentioned to the girl in a well known pet chain, she was ambivalent, commenting that Platties can cope in cold or warm.
Guess we know different now
SeeFive said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Ok, so bit of emergency shopping and we’re in business.
Have set the stat to 25c to begin with, leaving it to warm up over night.
When I mentioned to the girl in a well known pet chain, she was ambivalent, commenting that Platties can cope in cold or warm.
Guess we know different now
Seriously, don’t do this. This is too big a change over too short a time. Have set the stat to 25c to begin with, leaving it to warm up over night.
When I mentioned to the girl in a well known pet chain, she was ambivalent, commenting that Platties can cope in cold or warm.
Guess we know different now
These particular fish have already done the SAS selection of fish keeping don’t forget.
This morning, they’re back to what I’d consider normal. Will keep an eye on the temp.
So here we are 24Hrs in to having a heated aquarium and there’s been a quantum leap.
All three are active and exploring all corners of the tank and, crucially, CFKJnr is both amazed and has new-found interest. Sat with her for around half an hour just watching them.
It’s like TV but without the adverts ;-)
Thanks for all the advice and patience.
I was hours away from chucking in the towel. Three lucky fish.
All three are active and exploring all corners of the tank and, crucially, CFKJnr is both amazed and has new-found interest. Sat with her for around half an hour just watching them.
It’s like TV but without the adverts ;-)
Thanks for all the advice and patience.
I was hours away from chucking in the towel. Three lucky fish.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 31st October 19:38
Felt I had to give a further update....
Fish going from strength to strength.
Knocked the thermostat down a bit and am increasing it gradually as advised. Currently sitting at 22c with the water starting to feel not exactly warm but definitely no longer cold.
Much more active, and their colouring looks much more vivid since warming up.
Shame we lost a distinct blue one early on. Wondering if it’s worth replacing or is four/five too many in a ten gallon tank?
Fish going from strength to strength.
Knocked the thermostat down a bit and am increasing it gradually as advised. Currently sitting at 22c with the water starting to feel not exactly warm but definitely no longer cold.
Much more active, and their colouring looks much more vivid since warming up.
Shame we lost a distinct blue one early on. Wondering if it’s worth replacing or is four/five too many in a ten gallon tank?
Am in reading that right?
You’ve got sixteen fish in the 45litre version of our tank?
Seems we’ve got a fair bit of spare capacity in that case.
Regards assistance with cleaning, there are three (out of an original five) cherry shrimps skulking around like sanitation ninjas. We did have a couple of snails too but they succumbed to the cold.
You’ve got sixteen fish in the 45litre version of our tank?
Seems we’ve got a fair bit of spare capacity in that case.
Regards assistance with cleaning, there are three (out of an original five) cherry shrimps skulking around like sanitation ninjas. We did have a couple of snails too but they succumbed to the cold.
Here we are another month on and all is well.
Everything is much more stable, the live greenery is thriving to the point it needs pruning, the algal growth has subsided a bit and, the fish are happy as Larry.
There are occasional episodes of reclusiveness but a quick 25% water change and within an hour Marshmallow, Mushroom and Amber are out and about again.
What next though? Am thinking of adding a little more stock to keep it interesting.
Couple more platys or something else?
Everything is much more stable, the live greenery is thriving to the point it needs pruning, the algal growth has subsided a bit and, the fish are happy as Larry.
There are occasional episodes of reclusiveness but a quick 25% water change and within an hour Marshmallow, Mushroom and Amber are out and about again.
What next though? Am thinking of adding a little more stock to keep it interesting.
Couple more platys or something else?
budgie smuggler said:
Good work but if the fish are becoming reclusive and a water change solves it, your filtration is inadequate or your water change routine is not regular enough.
I would resolve that first, otherwise you will be back to doing water changes every day.
I’m talking a big change maybe once a week/every ten days.I would resolve that first, otherwise you will be back to doing water changes every day.
Sway said:
somewhere around 19C, then rise by 1C a day (ending at perhaps 23-24C).
Have settled on 26c for the last couple of weeks. Appreciate it’s not an exact figure using the fairly coarse scale on the heater dial.Seems to be just right though and the fish are the most active they’ve been.
It gets better.....
Clean and water change today. Thought it was probably about time to drag the filter out and give it a rinse too.
Lifted the lid and had a look down the back of the tank (behind the false back where the filter and pump live) and could see something flitting around.
“Crikey,” thinks I. “That shrimp has got big. Wondered where he’d got to”.
Ah, hang on, that’s not a big shrimp, that’s a small fish.
We have a baby.
Clean and water change today. Thought it was probably about time to drag the filter out and give it a rinse too.
Lifted the lid and had a look down the back of the tank (behind the false back where the filter and pump live) and could see something flitting around.
“Crikey,” thinks I. “That shrimp has got big. Wondered where he’d got to”.
Ah, hang on, that’s not a big shrimp, that’s a small fish.
We have a baby.
Pretty sure it’s just one.
There are lots of tiny “things” darting about at the bottom of the filter header but I suspect they’re baby shrimp (which also seems to have thrived since adding the heater).
I reckon Jnr avoided being dined upon by getting though to the filter area which has protected it from the grown ups while growing a bit. It’s now of a size where I doubt the adults would take it. Too big.
Netted it and transferred to the main area of the tank. Seems ok. Has fed a little but is now hiding in a corner. Probably thinking “Whoa! This place is MASSIVE!”
There are lots of tiny “things” darting about at the bottom of the filter header but I suspect they’re baby shrimp (which also seems to have thrived since adding the heater).
I reckon Jnr avoided being dined upon by getting though to the filter area which has protected it from the grown ups while growing a bit. It’s now of a size where I doubt the adults would take it. Too big.
Netted it and transferred to the main area of the tank. Seems ok. Has fed a little but is now hiding in a corner. Probably thinking “Whoa! This place is MASSIVE!”
otolith said:
I still think it's pretty appalling that you were sold that tank without a heater - and that it wasn't an oversight, it appears to be policy.
True. Interestingly enough, local pet store has now re-categorised its fish stock and has cold, tropical and a newly-introduced temperate section where the platy reside.
Wonder if they read PH?
paintman said:
http://www.tropicalfishsite.com/how-much-does-it-c...
Note that as far as the heater is concerned he says he is working on worst case scenario with the heater on constantly.
To have a more accurate figure you would need to monitor your own tank & see how often the heater comes on & for how long over a given period.
That’s all very interesting but the tank they describe is literally ten times bigger on every front.Note that as far as the heater is concerned he says he is working on worst case scenario with the heater on constantly.
To have a more accurate figure you would need to monitor your own tank & see how often the heater comes on & for how long over a given period.
Lazermilk said:
and so it begins...
Are you sure you have just one?
Sat for a bit just watching the Three Amigos and their new protégée wafting about a bit when something flitting about in the corner of the tank caught my eye.
Another littl’un, only this time absolutely tiny, still small enough that it was mostly getting carried by the current from the pump outlet. Ah well, another one made it, although it’s still small enough to get eaten - the flip side of that is it’s still able to get through the grate to the filter reservoir (where the big fish can’t reach it).
Flitted around for a bit then vanished. Must’ve gone and hidden in the back of the tank again.
Just lifted the lid and had a look.
Yup, he’s hiding in there alright.
Along with about twenty little buddies.
Thanks. Must admit I’m secretly pleased 
Two things:
How big until the new arrivals can share with the grown ups without being on the menu and;
What to do with the surplus? Can’t keep them all!
Or is it a case of safety in numbers as only one or two out of a couple of dozen will actually survive?
Two things:
How big until the new arrivals can share with the grown ups without being on the menu and;
What to do with the surplus? Can’t keep them all!
Or is it a case of safety in numbers as only one or two out of a couple of dozen will actually survive?
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