Child’s first fish(es)
Discussion
So something crossed my mind today...
We now have eleven fish in the main body of the tank - three adults (approx 4cm long), one juvenile (approx 20mm long) and seven littl’uns all around a centimetre long.
Obviously this means there is now more waste being produced.
Coincidentally the live plant we have has gone mental, growing so fast it’s approaching being out of control.
Are the two connected? More waste = more plant growth.
Thing is, if I chop back some of the plant, will it upset the whole balance of the tank, bearing in mind the plant has appeared to prosper in response to sharing the tank with more fish?
We now have eleven fish in the main body of the tank - three adults (approx 4cm long), one juvenile (approx 20mm long) and seven littl’uns all around a centimetre long.
Obviously this means there is now more waste being produced.
Coincidentally the live plant we have has gone mental, growing so fast it’s approaching being out of control.
Are the two connected? More waste = more plant growth.
Thing is, if I chop back some of the plant, will it upset the whole balance of the tank, bearing in mind the plant has appeared to prosper in response to sharing the tank with more fish?
Sway said:
Exactly that.
Fish eat food, 'produce' ammonia. Super toxic to fish.
Certain bacteria eat ammonia, produce nitrite. Really toxic to fish.
Other bacteria eat nitrite, produce nitrate. Moderately toxic to fish.
Plants eat nitrate.
Yep, was aware it was all linked. Just wanted to be sure the increased growth was a result of increased stock which I assumed it was.Fish eat food, 'produce' ammonia. Super toxic to fish.
Certain bacteria eat ammonia, produce nitrite. Really toxic to fish.
Other bacteria eat nitrite, produce nitrate. Moderately toxic to fish.
Plants eat nitrate.
Looks like around fifteen fry have survived past the point of being eaten so I guess we’ve got some thinning out to do.
Maybe the plant life has just improved anyway and taken a little while to catch up?
Agreed on not going down the Big White Porcelain Aquarium route.
Next question.....how big do the offspring need to be before I can realistically offer them for re-homing?
They’re all around the 1cm mark at the moment, with some a little fatter than others.
Agreed on not going down the Big White Porcelain Aquarium route.
Next question.....how big do the offspring need to be before I can realistically offer them for re-homing?
They’re all around the 1cm mark at the moment, with some a little fatter than others.
So here we are, coming up for six months in and all is now well. Too well.
In addition to the three adult fish that started this whole thing, we now have one juvenile (around 2cm long now) plus an astonishing 13 baby fish (all around 1-2cm) and they are all thriving.
Can’t find homes for the latest recruits so one day next week we’ll be having a cull, which truth be told makes me a bit sad, after all the issues we had getting the tank up and running.
No one wants them. LFS isn’t interested (as expected) due to possible infection.
Swim! Swim! Swim little fishes, while you still can!
In addition to the three adult fish that started this whole thing, we now have one juvenile (around 2cm long now) plus an astonishing 13 baby fish (all around 1-2cm) and they are all thriving.
Can’t find homes for the latest recruits so one day next week we’ll be having a cull, which truth be told makes me a bit sad, after all the issues we had getting the tank up and running.
No one wants them. LFS isn’t interested (as expected) due to possible infection.
Swim! Swim! Swim little fishes, while you still can!
Lazermilk said:
Did the place you got them from not inform you they would likely breed? Surely they should have and if not they should take the babies back? (The fact they didn't mention about a heater makes me think probably not...)
Perhaps you could swap all of them including the adults for some that wont breed, as this will be an ongoing issue obviously, which will only get worse as the babies grow and reproduce themselves.
Nope. They never mentioned breeding Perhaps you could swap all of them including the adults for some that wont breed, as this will be an ongoing issue obviously, which will only get worse as the babies grow and reproduce themselves.
at least not as prolifically as this, and have stated they don't take in stock of any species under any circumstances.Grrrrrreat
otolith said:
Maybe worth getting something that will eat any more fry.
That’s all well and good and the adults should do this, but the design of the tank has a sneaky little holding area ahead of the filter which is guarded by a simple grate. It’s just big enough for the fry to get through and find shelter from being eaten.Sway said:
Unfortunately, live bearers are the "tribbles" of the aquarium world. Really, the only solution is to net them out. At fry age, they'll last 10s in air.
So what are we talking when we say “fry age”?The current batch that need thinning out are probably about a month old and getting on for 15-20mm long.
Sway said:
That size, and I'd euthanise in clove oil.
Ok, thanks.ETA: what concentration are we talking? I’ve heard 400ml per litre of aquarium water which seems a lot, especially given its price.
Sway said:
Ideally, I'd whisk out as many as possible as soon as possible after birth.
Yep, that’s the plan from now on.Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 24th January 15:44
otolith said:
Clove oil or buy MS-222 or 2-phenoxyethanol from Sigma. Or blunt force trauma.
https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/fishkeeping...
Laboratory fish I used to use MS-222 or 2-phenoxyethanol overdose. To be honest, in the field, with fish up to a couple of cm long, we just used to drop them straight into 90% ethanol. They were dead within seconds.
Stop it. Just stop it. CFKJnr is gonna be gutted when some are “missing” https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/fishkeeping...
Laboratory fish I used to use MS-222 or 2-phenoxyethanol overdose. To be honest, in the field, with fish up to a couple of cm long, we just used to drop them straight into 90% ethanol. They were dead within seconds.
Reading a bit more of the guide linked to above, it seems chilled water is humane for small <5cm fish.
I’m thinking...run off some existing aquarium water, capture all the unlucky ones then just leave it outside to cool overnight?
Looking at the way the original fish declined without a heater (ie just became less and less active) it would make sense.
I’m thinking...run off some existing aquarium water, capture all the unlucky ones then just leave it outside to cool overnight?
Looking at the way the original fish declined without a heater (ie just became less and less active) it would make sense.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 24th January 19:09
No real news this month.
Things seem to have stabilised nicely now the heating issue is sorted.
The cull went as well as can be expected.
Four managed to evade capture so there’s now a total of eight fish, three adults, one almost-adult and four tiddlers.
Plant life gone mad, and disturbing the gravel brings out an absolute cloud of tiny shrimp who appear to be keeping busy cleaning the gravel.
Things seem to have stabilised nicely now the heating issue is sorted.
The cull went as well as can be expected.
Four managed to evade capture so there’s now a total of eight fish, three adults, one almost-adult and four tiddlers.
Plant life gone mad, and disturbing the gravel brings out an absolute cloud of tiny shrimp who appear to be keeping busy cleaning the gravel.
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