What tropical fish most interesting/compatible + questions
Discussion
Mobsta said:
GF had some tropical fish for years, and we very recently upgraded to a bigger aquarium.
Ignore spelling for the duration of thread!
We have: Guppies, Mollies, loaches, a Pleck and minnows.
The above are all are stunning, selected from 3 different pet shops to buy the "most interesting looking" ones we could find.
The water is fine so we are adding more. Yes we are asking questions along the way, but some breeds change over time. Id not have bought a plec if I hadnt seen a mates, which grew huge and is hideous, and therefore ticks the interesting/exotic bill.
Today we bought
- 2 congo frogs, which remain small, dont attack other small fish once fully grown
- A shrimp, which hides as much as the other fish
- A pretty angel fish, the only fish in the tank which comes when you call it (follows your finger)
- 2 Neon Tetras, no tank is complete without them
The only other interesting additions I can think of, is a fighting fish - we saw a stunning blue one yesterday. Presumably its safe/true that they do not attack other fish, only their own kind?
I was thinking about buying a big half grown bottom eater, which gets rid of crap in the tank. Any suggestions?
I was thinking about a fresh water crab, but we haven't found one yet. And GF saw a rope worm snake thingy a while back, we are going to try and find one tomorrow. Any idea what its called or whether they eat other small fish?
The only fish we want to KEEP in the tank, are the ones we buy. We have male and female mollies, and are expecting the shrimp, angel fish and frogs to eat the miniature babies (we have a couple of babies in the tank, picked up by accident)... presumably these will make good fodder for the bigger fish?
Cant really think of much else to buy, save perhaps a dwarf puffer fish. I personally dont know much about fish, and todays frogs/shrimp were a brilliant addition, so any suggestions, tips and comments welcome!
Oh, last question... the female mollies we just bought have HUGE bellies. Is this normal, or are they up the duff?
Hi, firstly what size is the tank? You may not have much more room for anything. That can make a big difference on what sort of fish you keep. Some like a deep tank where they can rummage and hide, other schooling fish like a long tank where they can dart about in the middle. Also a tank with a large surface area is best (but you already have a tank).Ignore spelling for the duration of thread!
We have: Guppies, Mollies, loaches, a Pleck and minnows.
The above are all are stunning, selected from 3 different pet shops to buy the "most interesting looking" ones we could find.
The water is fine so we are adding more. Yes we are asking questions along the way, but some breeds change over time. Id not have bought a plec if I hadnt seen a mates, which grew huge and is hideous, and therefore ticks the interesting/exotic bill.
Today we bought
- 2 congo frogs, which remain small, dont attack other small fish once fully grown
- A shrimp, which hides as much as the other fish
- A pretty angel fish, the only fish in the tank which comes when you call it (follows your finger)
- 2 Neon Tetras, no tank is complete without them
The only other interesting additions I can think of, is a fighting fish - we saw a stunning blue one yesterday. Presumably its safe/true that they do not attack other fish, only their own kind?
I was thinking about buying a big half grown bottom eater, which gets rid of crap in the tank. Any suggestions?
I was thinking about a fresh water crab, but we haven't found one yet. And GF saw a rope worm snake thingy a while back, we are going to try and find one tomorrow. Any idea what its called or whether they eat other small fish?
The only fish we want to KEEP in the tank, are the ones we buy. We have male and female mollies, and are expecting the shrimp, angel fish and frogs to eat the miniature babies (we have a couple of babies in the tank, picked up by accident)... presumably these will make good fodder for the bigger fish?
Cant really think of much else to buy, save perhaps a dwarf puffer fish. I personally dont know much about fish, and todays frogs/shrimp were a brilliant addition, so any suggestions, tips and comments welcome!
Oh, last question... the female mollies we just bought have HUGE bellies. Is this normal, or are they up the duff?
Secondly I would say leave it a month before you add anymore fish, the worst thing you can have happen when establishing a new tank is throw all the water qualities out of whack. Just one fish too many can cause massive problems at such an early stage.
An ammonia spike could wipe out all of your fish in a day
Have you heard of heard of new tank syndrome?
Secondly I would suggest that when you do get some more fish add some neons as these are fish that naturally live in larger groups, I keep mine in groups of AT LEAST 12, as this is how they are happiest.
A nice fish to keep as a pair are rainbow fish. They are quite expensive, but I love them. They have a lovely character, but display so much affection towards each other.
I currently have male and female 'bossies' (bosami) and also a rather large and rare red male, with his silver female companion. I don't yet know their actual breed as they are so rare. There are so many species of rainbow fish it's hard to tell!
Leopard or zebra danios are cool fish. Quite zany and loopy, byt on the whole a good strong fish. I have had mine for 5 years and they are still healthy and BIG! Apparently they have the ability to regenerate their hearts! So may e this is an attributor to their life span?
Anyway, I will stop waffling on...
I've found that the fighting fish went for anything with a pretty tail, so the Guppies die suddenly.
I've also found out that the red eye tetras will attack guppies. I also had angel fish in the past and they're fine while they're small but once they get bigger they ate evrything that would fit into their mouths. Same goes for silver sharks.
Have you seen congo tetras, or blue rams? I have both and they seem happy enough.
My plec is now around 15 years old and is over a foot long. He mainly eats the plants and craps everywhere.
Glass catfish look cool too.
I've also found out that the red eye tetras will attack guppies. I also had angel fish in the past and they're fine while they're small but once they get bigger they ate evrything that would fit into their mouths. Same goes for silver sharks.
Have you seen congo tetras, or blue rams? I have both and they seem happy enough.
My plec is now around 15 years old and is over a foot long. He mainly eats the plants and craps everywhere.
Glass catfish look cool too.
Speed addicted said:
I've found that the fighting fish went for anything with a pretty tail, so the Guppies die suddenly.
I've also found out that the red eye tetras will attack guppies.
Have you seen congo tetras, or blue rams? I have both and they seem happy enough.
My plec is now around 15 years old and is over a foot long. He mainly eats the plants and craps everywhere.
Glass catfish look cool too.
Yes, the fighter will attack, with the intention to kill anything that it thinks is prettier than itself. Guppies are possibly the worst fish to keep with a fighter. Well, male guppies anyway, as the females are not so pretty. But the delta tail males are a prime target.I've also found out that the red eye tetras will attack guppies.
Have you seen congo tetras, or blue rams? I have both and they seem happy enough.
My plec is now around 15 years old and is over a foot long. He mainly eats the plants and craps everywhere.
Glass catfish look cool too.
The Nur said:
I like tropical fish. One day...
You could get a small starter setup for less than you think, Id imagine! 
A blue lobster would be Brilliant! I suspect it would find/kill my shrimp though (shrimp about 5cm) wouldnt it? I do love my shrimp!
Do any bottom feeding fish eat the turds of other fish?
The question may be a daft one, but the older smaller tank was in a room I never went in, so I have not paid much attention until now!Any experience with rope fish? Or crabs, in a 100L tank which contains lots of other smaller fish? Is the act of a crab catching a small fish a rare one? I dont mind losing a small fish occassionally, but cant see the point in introducing a crab when many small fish eat off the bottom (we try to vary the food as much as possible, some sinks, as we dont only throw flakes in the top every day)?
Oh, and can anyone recommend a type of crab?
Last question for now... roughly how long before our angel fish is large enough to eat tetras? A the moment (just measured) he is no less than 5cm tip to tip (top to bottom) and isnt yet bullying anyone.
MonkeyMatt said:
I would suggest not increasing the number of species but increase the number of the shoaling fish such as the tetras, guppies and minnows.
Totally agree!Community fish are happier in general when kept in larger numbers rather than just a couple.
If you get more guppies, keep to a 2:1 female:male ratio as the men can get rather aggressive if there are not enough ladies to 'stick IT in'!
Men!
Just keep in mind that if you don't have many predator type fish in your tank, in two months the guppy population can increase quite dramatically.
I have kept guppies for years now, and in my community tank I have only ever had kne survive in the main tank. My barbs find the fry too tasty.
I am now currently running three tanks.
This is my main one.
http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae224/Hysteria1...
We have enough pretty fish for now, so in pursuit of something a little different, this is what I found out/bought today.
Really wanted crabs, but they need to surface, unless they are fully aquatic, and the only fully aquatic crabs are marine, so they were not an option unless we built an enormous rock structure leading to the surface.
I ruled the rock tower idea after finding out crabs would bite the frogs legs off.
Didnt go for a ropefish or silver shark, much as I loved the idea, as they both eat everything that can fit in their mouths once big enough.
Ended up buying a "hand caught"(?) Whiptail Loricaria from Peru. I was told they only came in once or twice a year and were hand caught as they dont breed in captivity. Any truth in this/anyone have one? Just grabbed a pic on the phone! Its hideously beautiful
Plus a plec, a Hara Hara cat and more tetras.
Was very tempted by a pair of dophin whales (which look like dolphins/whales) but they are incredibly difficult to feed, and very shy/fussy to passed them up.
Nur... if money or space is an issue, one way into tropical might be the plastic tanks they sell at garden centres. They look like they were designed by Apple, very ipod in design, full to the brim with water, a built in light and filter etc... and may be about 12 inches by 12 inches cubed. Dont have a pic, but they look stunning and are usually showcased on the cash desk/fish counter of many fish places... for the princely sum of £50 ish! I should have taken a photo, I looked at them in the past and almost purchased as they looked so good/were so conveniently compact and stylish, good for any office desk or small coffee table!
Really wanted crabs, but they need to surface, unless they are fully aquatic, and the only fully aquatic crabs are marine, so they were not an option unless we built an enormous rock structure leading to the surface.
I ruled the rock tower idea after finding out crabs would bite the frogs legs off.
Didnt go for a ropefish or silver shark, much as I loved the idea, as they both eat everything that can fit in their mouths once big enough.
Ended up buying a "hand caught"(?) Whiptail Loricaria from Peru. I was told they only came in once or twice a year and were hand caught as they dont breed in captivity. Any truth in this/anyone have one? Just grabbed a pic on the phone! Its hideously beautiful
Plus a plec, a Hara Hara cat and more tetras.
Was very tempted by a pair of dophin whales (which look like dolphins/whales) but they are incredibly difficult to feed, and very shy/fussy to passed them up.
Nur... if money or space is an issue, one way into tropical might be the plastic tanks they sell at garden centres. They look like they were designed by Apple, very ipod in design, full to the brim with water, a built in light and filter etc... and may be about 12 inches by 12 inches cubed. Dont have a pic, but they look stunning and are usually showcased on the cash desk/fish counter of many fish places... for the princely sum of £50 ish! I should have taken a photo, I looked at them in the past and almost purchased as they looked so good/were so conveniently compact and stylish, good for any office desk or small coffee table!
Edited by Mobsta on Sunday 7th August 16:10
Ahhh Loricariidae now you are talking!
I have kept over 20 sp. of pleco, sold the lot when I left the UK.
As already mentioned, in general they s
t for britain you can never overfilter with these guys.
I have just set up the below tank, have just found someone that can import them for me here, sub-adult Watermelon pleco (L330) is leaving Malaysia in a couple of weeks for me. Got another external filter to go on before that, will be at about 20 x an hour then.
Check out dension barbs if you have room, lovely fish, mine are below as well.
ps I'd change the gravel to something more natural but that's just me..
pps tank pictured above is a nice scape.
tank by thisisrobbo, on Flickr
Denison Barbs by thisisrobbo, on Flickr
I have kept over 20 sp. of pleco, sold the lot when I left the UK.
As already mentioned, in general they s
t for britain you can never overfilter with these guys.I have just set up the below tank, have just found someone that can import them for me here, sub-adult Watermelon pleco (L330) is leaving Malaysia in a couple of weeks for me. Got another external filter to go on before that, will be at about 20 x an hour then.
Check out dension barbs if you have room, lovely fish, mine are below as well.
ps I'd change the gravel to something more natural but that's just me..
pps tank pictured above is a nice scape.
tank by thisisrobbo, on Flickr
Denison Barbs by thisisrobbo, on Flickr
Hysteria1983 said:
Dxbtiger - those barbs look cool.
I currently have some cherry barbs and some golden barbs. They are great fish, and stop my guppies over populating the tank!
Beautiful fish I agree. I currently have some cherry barbs and some golden barbs. They are great fish, and stop my guppies over populating the tank!
Don't fit in with the largely South American theme of the tank (they are from India although I suspect these are tank bred) but I love them.
I stand to be corrected, as things may have changed over the last few years, but my understanding was that all Dennissoni barbs were wild caught.
I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
Toyowner said:
I stand to be corrected, as things may have changed over the last few years, but my understanding was that all Dennissoni barbs were wild caught.
I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
Yes They do seem expensive, and hard to get hold of. An aquatic centre the other half visits had some babies in a few months back. £4.00 each!I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
Toyowner said:
I stand to be corrected, as things may have changed over the last few years, but my understanding was that all Dennissoni barbs were wild caught.
I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
I think they are being bred in Asia now.I seriously considered them when I was seting up, but theye were still strongish money then.
Beautiful fish though,nicer than silver sharks imo.
I left the UK 4 years ago now and a guy I knew that worked in an LFS that used to source me fish occasionally said he could tank bred then, I think they have had success in Asia. nb wiki doesn't back this up but I have no reason to not believe him.
They are still not cheap, those cost me the equivalent of £5 a fish and the penguin tetra i bought at the same time were 50p each for reference.
Bals sharks are unsuitable for sale imo, I have a photo of one that I cannot find now in front of a 15 gallon breeder and it is nearly as long as it and a seriously stocky fish. Soooo skittish as well.
SimonV8ster said:
okgo said:
Tropical fish - boring.
Marine fish with living coral etc - awesome.
Go inbetween - Malawi Cichlids - very bright colours, like hard water, cheaper than marine fish, less expensive equipment.Marine fish with living coral etc - awesome.
I had a couple of nice large Clown Loach and they were fantastic much better than what you would think of the smaller young ones.
Mobsta said:
We have enough pretty fish for now, so in pursuit of something a little different, this is what I found out/bought today.
Really wanted crabs, but they need to surface, unless they are fully aquatic, and the only fully aquatic crabs are marine, so they were not an option unless we built an enormous rock structure leading to the surface.
I ruled the rock tower idea after finding out crabs would bite the frogs legs off.
Didnt go for a ropefish or silver shark, much as I loved the idea, as they both eat everything that can fit in their mouths once big enough.
Ended up buying a "hand caught"(?) Whiptail Loricaria from Peru. I was told they only came in once or twice a year and were hand caught as they dont breed in captivity. Any truth in this/anyone have one? Just grabbed a pic on the phone! Its hideously beautiful
Plus a plec, a Hara Hara cat and more tetras.
Was very tempted by a pair of dophin whales (which look like dolphins/whales) but they are incredibly difficult to feed, and very shy/fussy to passed them up.
Nur... if money or space is an issue, one way into tropical might be the plastic tanks they sell at garden centres. They look like they were designed by Apple, very ipod in design, full to the brim with water, a built in light and filter etc... and may be about 12 inches by 12 inches cubed. Dont have a pic, but they look stunning and are usually showcased on the cash desk/fish counter of many fish places... for the princely sum of £50 ish! I should have taken a photo, I looked at them in the past and almost purchased as they looked so good/were so conveniently compact and stylish, good for any office desk or small coffee table!
Yeah he will be hand caught from Peru, looks good. Might want to do research as he might grow to a big size and could become aggressive. To be honest i have around 20 plecos and they get along fine, lots of cucumber and there is piece.Really wanted crabs, but they need to surface, unless they are fully aquatic, and the only fully aquatic crabs are marine, so they were not an option unless we built an enormous rock structure leading to the surface.
I ruled the rock tower idea after finding out crabs would bite the frogs legs off.
Didnt go for a ropefish or silver shark, much as I loved the idea, as they both eat everything that can fit in their mouths once big enough.
Ended up buying a "hand caught"(?) Whiptail Loricaria from Peru. I was told they only came in once or twice a year and were hand caught as they dont breed in captivity. Any truth in this/anyone have one? Just grabbed a pic on the phone! Its hideously beautiful
Plus a plec, a Hara Hara cat and more tetras.
Was very tempted by a pair of dophin whales (which look like dolphins/whales) but they are incredibly difficult to feed, and very shy/fussy to passed them up.
Nur... if money or space is an issue, one way into tropical might be the plastic tanks they sell at garden centres. They look like they were designed by Apple, very ipod in design, full to the brim with water, a built in light and filter etc... and may be about 12 inches by 12 inches cubed. Dont have a pic, but they look stunning and are usually showcased on the cash desk/fish counter of many fish places... for the princely sum of £50 ish! I should have taken a photo, I looked at them in the past and almost purchased as they looked so good/were so conveniently compact and stylish, good for any office desk or small coffee table!
Edited by Mobsta on Sunday 7th August 16:10
Mobsta said:
The Nur said:
I like tropical fish. One day...
Stuff and things!Anything that can only walk sideways and had claws for hands is O.K in my book.
Can you keep crabs on their own? What sort of environment do they need?
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