Fish Keeping Forum: Stock advice on my tanks please?

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goldfishgeek
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Topic: Stock advice on my tanks please?
Posted: 07 February 2010 at 3:21pm

I am not exactly new to fish but I am new to this forum so I thought this was the best place to post,

I have kept fish for almost 20 years, but in the main it was goldfish who moved on to various ponds and only recently kept Tropicals.

I had an very stable stock until the last year or so when I fed all my tanks live food and lost many to some kind of wasting disease, - fish get skinny (still eat) took each one about a month to die, slowly and horribly. left me very miserable about the whold fish keeping thing to be honest. This hasn't happened since before Christmas however recently - I lost one Cherry barb but she was six years old and a rainbow fish who was harrassed to death (despite me rearranging the tank and separating - I was too late :(

Any how to the point

20G - 5 harlequin Rasboras, 3 lemon tetras, 3 ottos, 2 Angel fish

25G - 5 WCMMs, 2 cherry barbs, 1 rainbow fish (beat his friend to death) 1 molly(male)

35G - 3 GF (to be rehomed come spring (mar/april)to a pond) (and two weatherloaches.....sorry)

I do a 6gallon wc on each tank each week. I do fight algae in the 25G and 20G. Its winning. The 35G runs perfectly.

Is there a better way to arrange the fish? Who's schools should I build up if any?

Ideally I would like (once the GF are rehomed) to have the 35G as a livebearer tank but if that can't be then ok, who should live in there?

Thank you for any help

GFG

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sjbquattro
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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 4:10pm

Welcome to the forum GFG

Nice selection of fish there. Sorry to hear about the disease problems. Such is the danger of some live foods

I don't have any experience of the fish you keep but you'll get a few replies soon enough from the other members.

Edited by sjbquattro - 07 February 2010 at 4:10pm

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jennybugs
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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 5:50pm

Welcome to the forum!

I am a goldfish freak too Heart

I would concentrate on getting numbers up of the lemon teras - 6 minimum.

What species is the rainbowfish? I have had threadfins and boeseman and both had bullying males. I realised too late that my boeseman were in a much too small tank (125L) and they needed alot more space (manutius has these fish and they are beauties).

I take it your goldfish aren't fancies then, if you're moving them to a pond?

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goldfishgeek
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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:03pm

No they are single tails, they were a birthday present so I feel a bit guilty about giving them away but for them it will be great!

I would love to have fancies but I don't think the 35G is big enough. Was looking at some today thinking if only..........

Re the Lemon Tertras - I had built the school up to 6 before (twice now) but each time three have died, from bouts of the skinny making illness (that's a technical diagnosis btw!) and so I have been reluctant to buy more but I guess if I was going to move everyone round? would you put different sets of fish in different tanks?

And I have no idea what species the rainbow fish is *blushes* I saw some today but they looked different to my one, bigger, longer? Mine is blueish with red tinted fins?and a sort of round body.

thank you for your replies xx

Edited by goldfishgeek - 07 February 2010 at 7:04pm

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jennybugs
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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:12pm

Can you take a photo of the rainbows?

This is a good ID site http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/ Smile

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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:31pm

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cyprinids/barbs.htm

I couldn't find my guy on that link, but I did find them in a google search - amongst lots of childrens stories!

that site seems to suggest I need lots of them....?

thanks again

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jennybugs
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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 8:29pm

AH! Melanotaenia praecox! Dwarf neon rainbowfish.

I have those babies and they are recommended at more female to male ratios. The females have the paler yellow finnage and the males are darker redder fins. In the LFS they should be easy to determine but many commercial foods with colour enhancers will turn the female finnage a darker colour in time. The males have a longer first dorsal fin compared to the females. You need at least 2 girls to one male.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile118.html

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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 8:41pm

right so I think my guy is is a guy, I need two females, plus three lemon tetras

who should I put in what tank?

Can add the "new" fish to the current set ups? I am nearly always overstocked (taking advice from LSFs) and am aiming to not be anymore.

thank you xx

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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 9:05pm

You want to aim for 1cm of slim bodied adult fish length per litre of water.
ie 60L tank, 60 cms of adult fish length allowed.

So...working in uk gallons

1. 20Gal is 90 litres/cm of adult fish length
2. 25Gal is 113 litres "
3. 35Gal is 159 litres "

Tank 1
Harlequins 5cm each = 25cm
Lemon tetras 5cm each = 15cm
Otos 4cm each = 12cm
Angelfish - dependant on type.

52cm plus angelfish. 67cm+ with 3 extra tetra.

Tank 2
Minnows 5cm = 25cm
Cherry barbs 4cm = 8cm
Dwarf neon rainbows 6cms = 6cm
Molly 5-10cm depending on species.

39cm total. 12cm extra for two rainbows 51cm total. Plus the molly max 61cm.

Tank 3
Weather loaches get to 9-10 inches I understand!

I would say until you can add your extra fish. In tank 2 you have lots of room so could add more dwarf neon rainbows.

Edited by jennybugs - 07 February 2010 at 9:06pm

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Posted: 07 February 2010 at 9:33pm

Oh Wow thank so much fo answering all my questions ! That is amazing

so in tank three the loaches will take up 50cm, could I even keep them in there at that size?

and if I could I could have livebearers in there too?

and please don't feel you have to answer now, you have been fab!

thanks again

GFG

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jennybugs
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Posted: 08 February 2010 at 9:57am

Originally posted by goldfishgeek

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cyprinids/barbs.htm

I couldn't find my guy on that link, but I did find them in a google search - amongst lots of childrens stories!

that site seems to suggest I need lots of them....?

thanks again

The link I gave you has them in there btw...

http://members.optushome.com.au/rainbowfishes/Praecox.htm

stunning photo of these beauties too!

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jennybugs
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Posted: 08 February 2010 at 9:59am

Originally posted by goldfishgeek

Oh Wow thank so much fo answering all my questions ! That is amazing

so in tank three the loaches will take up 50cm, could I even keep them in there at that size?

and if I could I could have livebearers in there too?

and please don't feel you have to answer now, you have been fab!

thanks again

GFG

We're here to help, so ask away

I don't know much about loaches admittedly. I am sure someone will be able to advise on best tank conditions/sizes for them. However, I have found this very good link for you

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/weather-loach-misgurnis-anguillicaudatus

Hope that's helpful

If you go for livebearers, a really good tip is to stick to just males. Females pop live babies out all the time and can store the necessary male 'deposits' for a long time in the absence of males and then use it when they feel like popping out a brood

It is all too easy to become overrun that way, so best to stick to males.

If you need advice about how to sex platy fish I have some photos somewhere for what to look for so you don't rely on the word of the LFS

Edited by jennybugs - 08 February 2010 at 10:01am

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jimthefish
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Posted: 08 February 2010 at 8:43pm

I'll just say welcome to the forum geek as Jenny has given a very comprehensive answer to your questions. Like her though I'd recommend caution on the live bearers, unles you have something unusual and saleable in mind. At one time I ended up running 8 tanks just trying to line breed a guppy colour strain!

Jim B

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Posted: 09 February 2010 at 4:05pm

That's dedication Jim! I just run 8 tanks because I want lots of different fish

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Posted: 09 February 2010 at 7:58pm

I've learned since then Jenny and haven't kept mixed or female livebearers since!!!!!!!

Jim B

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goldfishgeek Just Browsing AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 February 2010 Last Active: 15 February 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 0	Topic: Stock advice on my tanks please? Posted: 07 February 2010 at 3:21pm
	I am not exactly new to fish but I am new to this forum so I thought this was the best place to post, I have kept fish for almost 20 years, but in the main it was goldfish who moved on to various ponds and only recently kept Tropicals. I had an very stable stock until the last year or so when I fed all my tanks live food and lost many to some kind of wasting disease, - fish get skinny (still eat) took each one about a month to die, slowly and horribly. left me very miserable about the whold fish keeping thing to be honest. This hasn't happened since before Christmas however recently - I lost one Cherry barb but she was six years old and a rainbow fish who was harrassed to death (despite me rearranging the tank and separating - I was too late :( Any how to the point 20G - 5 harlequin Rasboras, 3 lemon tetras, 3 ottos, 2 Angel fish 25G - 5 WCMMs, 2 cherry barbs, 1 rainbow fish (beat his friend to death) 1 molly(male) 35G - 3 GF (to be rehomed come spring (mar/april)to a pond) (and two weatherloaches.....sorry) I do a 6gallon wc on each tank each week. I do fight algae in the 25G and 20G. Its winning. The 35G runs perfectly. Is there a better way to arrange the fish? Who's schools should I build up if any? Ideally I would like (once the GF are rehomed) to have the 35G as a livebearer tank but if that can't be then ok, who should live in there? Thank you for any help GFG xx

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sjbquattro Admin Group AquaTrax User: YES View My Setup Joined: 20 October 2006 Last Active: Today Posts: 4240 Articles: 6 Member Rating: 287	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 4:10pm
	Welcome to the forum GFG Nice selection of fish there. Sorry to hear about the disease problems. Such is the danger of some live foods I don't have any experience of the fish you keep but you'll get a few replies soon enough from the other members. Edited by sjbquattro - 07 February 2010 at 4:10pm

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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 5:50pm
	Welcome to the forum! I am a goldfish freak too I would concentrate on getting numbers up of the lemon teras - 6 minimum. What species is the rainbowfish? I have had threadfins and boeseman and both had bullying males. I realised too late that my boeseman were in a much too small tank (125L) and they needed alot more space (manutius has these fish and they are beauties). I take it your goldfish aren't fancies then, if you're moving them to a pond?
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goldfishgeek Just Browsing AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 February 2010 Last Active: 15 February 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 0	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:03pm
	No they are single tails, they were a birthday present so I feel a bit guilty about giving them away but for them it will be great! I would love to have fancies but I don't think the 35G is big enough. Was looking at some today thinking if only.......... Re the Lemon Tertras - I had built the school up to 6 before (twice now) but each time three have died, from bouts of the skinny making illness (that's a technical diagnosis btw!) and so I have been reluctant to buy more but I guess if I was going to move everyone round? would you put different sets of fish in different tanks? And I have no idea what species the rainbow fish is blushes I saw some today but they looked different to my one, bigger, longer? Mine is blueish with red tinted fins?and a sort of round body. thank you for your replies xx Edited by goldfishgeek - 07 February 2010 at 7:04pm
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:12pm
	Can you take a photo of the rainbows? This is a good ID site http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/
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goldfishgeek Just Browsing AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 February 2010 Last Active: 15 February 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 0	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:31pm
	http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cyprinids/barbs.htm I couldn't find my guy on that link, but I did find them in a google search - amongst lots of childrens stories! that site seems to suggest I need lots of them....? thanks again
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 8:29pm
	AH! Melanotaenia praecox! Dwarf neon rainbowfish. I have those babies and they are recommended at more female to male ratios. The females have the paler yellow finnage and the males are darker redder fins. In the LFS they should be easy to determine but many commercial foods with colour enhancers will turn the female finnage a darker colour in time. The males have a longer first dorsal fin compared to the females. You need at least 2 girls to one male. http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile118.html
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goldfishgeek Just Browsing AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 February 2010 Last Active: 15 February 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 0	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 8:41pm
	right so I think my guy is is a guy, I need two females, plus three lemon tetras who should I put in what tank? Can add the "new" fish to the current set ups? I am nearly always overstocked (taking advice from LSFs) and am aiming to not be anymore. thank you xx
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 9:05pm
	You want to aim for 1cm of slim bodied adult fish length per litre of water. ie 60L tank, 60 cms of adult fish length allowed. So...working in uk gallons 1. 20Gal is 90 litres/cm of adult fish length 2. 25Gal is 113 litres " 3. 35Gal is 159 litres " Tank 1 Harlequins 5cm each = 25cm Lemon tetras 5cm each = 15cm Otos 4cm each = 12cm Angelfish - dependant on type. 52cm plus angelfish. 67cm+ with 3 extra tetra. Tank 2 Minnows 5cm = 25cm Cherry barbs 4cm = 8cm Dwarf neon rainbows 6cms = 6cm Molly 5-10cm depending on species. 39cm total. 12cm extra for two rainbows 51cm total. Plus the molly max 61cm. Tank 3 Weather loaches get to 9-10 inches I understand! I would say until you can add your extra fish. In tank 2 you have lots of room so could add more dwarf neon rainbows. Edited by jennybugs - 07 February 2010 at 9:06pm
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goldfishgeek Just Browsing AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 February 2010 Last Active: 15 February 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 0	Posted: 07 February 2010 at 9:33pm
	Oh Wow thank so much fo answering all my questions ! That is amazing so in tank three the loaches will take up 50cm, could I even keep them in there at that size? and if I could I could have livebearers in there too? and please don't feel you have to answer now, you have been fab! thanks again GFG
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 08 February 2010 at 9:57am
	*Originally posted by goldfishgeek* http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cyprinids/barbs.htm I couldn't find my guy on that link, but I did find them in a google search - amongst lots of childrens stories! that site seems to suggest I need lots of them....? thanks again The link I gave you has them in there btw... http://members.optushome.com.au/rainbowfishes/Praecox.htm stunning photo of these beauties too!
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 08 February 2010 at 9:59am
	*Originally posted by goldfishgeek* Oh Wow thank so much fo answering all my questions ! That is amazing so in tank three the loaches will take up 50cm, could I even keep them in there at that size? and if I could I could have livebearers in there too? and please don't feel you have to answer now, you have been fab! thanks again GFG We're here to help, so ask away I don't know much about loaches admittedly. I am sure someone will be able to advise on best tank conditions/sizes for them. However, I have found this very good link for you http://www.loaches.com/species-index/weather-loach-misgurnis-anguillicaudatus Hope that's helpful If you go for livebearers, a really good tip is to stick to just males. Females pop live babies out all the time and can store the necessary male 'deposits' for a long time in the absence of males and then use it when they feel like popping out a brood It is all too easy to become overrun that way, so best to stick to males. If you need advice about how to sex platy fish I have some photos somewhere for what to look for so you don't rely on the word of the LFS Edited by jennybugs - 08 February 2010 at 10:01am
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jimthefish Moderators Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Yesterday Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6250 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965	Posted: 08 February 2010 at 8:43pm
	I'll just say welcome to the forum geek as Jenny has given a very comprehensive answer to your questions. Like her though I'd recommend caution on the live bearers, unles you have something unusual and saleable in mind. At one time I ended up running 8 tanks just trying to line breed a guppy colour strain!
	Jim B
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jennybugs Moderators AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Today Posts: 4098 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392	Posted: 09 February 2010 at 4:05pm
	That's dedication Jim! I just run 8 tanks because I want lots of different fish
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jimthefish Moderators Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Yesterday Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6250 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965	Posted: 09 February 2010 at 7:58pm
	I've learned since then Jenny and haven't kept mixed or female livebearers since!!!!!!!
	Jim B
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