Huge problem!

[Shane l]

Got an over stocked 8 gallon tank and everyone has told me to return fish and get a test kit I went to the pet store yesterday and asked if I can return my fish they said I don't need to u can fit20 fish in that tank not just 12 then I asked for a test kit witch they said I don't need and my mom believed them so now what ??????

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Got an over stocked 8 gallon tank and everyone has told me to return fish and get a test kit I went to the pet store yesterday and asked if I can return my fish they said I don't need to u can fit20 fish in that tank not just 12 then I asked for a test kit witch they said I don't need and my mom believed them so now what ??????

Show her the posts on here! We will tell her. Shane's mom - 99% of pet/fish store people don't know what they are talking about. You need a test kit. It is an important part of any maintenance routine. You need it to keep an eye on the toxin levels in an aquarium. Without one you risk poisoning your fish with their own waste products. It really will save you money in the long run. It is cheeper to buy a test kit than keep replacing fish. An 8 gallon tank is not very big. I have one with 4 fish (a betta and 3 panda cories) and I consider it stocked. It's not about whether they fit in the tank it is about swimming space, the individual temperament of each kind of fish and if you biological filter can keep up with the bioload (waste output of the fish).

 

[absolutangel04]

You can try looking up some websites for your mom to read about cycling and stocking. You can find profiles on the fish species you orginally purchased (or get a book from the library) and show her how the individual species need more space.
Good luck!

 

[Shane l]

My mom says if they don't know how to care for them how do their fish live in their tanks

 

[Shane l]

Done al this but what il do as she said I can't get a bigger tank I have a 3 gallon il move a Cory and maybe 2 guppys in there when it's ready

 

[jetajockey]

Pet store tanks are set up as holding/sale tanks, they are not set up for long term fish keeping.

Most stores tanks are on some sort of central filtration system anyway so they are nothing like a basic home setup.

 

[Shane l]

Done al this but what il do as she said I can't get a bigger tank I have a 3 gallon il move a Cory and maybe 2 guppys in there when it's ready

If not I'm going to get another betta for it I have to use it

 

[absolutangel04]

I agree with jeta. Also, another thing to remember is that the fish sold in petstores are usually really young, so keeping them alive for the extent of their lifespan is a different matter.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

It's good your doing the best you can in the situation. I know it's hard when your parents are the ones paying for things but one day you'll be old enough to get a job and pay for it all yourself good luck with convincing her.

 

[absolutangel04]

Oh, sorry for missing your question. I don't think keeping a single cory in a 3g tank is a good idea. I have kept them singly in quarantine before and they just sit and seem listless by themselves, especially if they have no room to move.
I think your best option is to keep nagging her and get her to see the light.

 

[Shane l]

I pay for the thing and I have a job but she funnily says I can order off amazon.com just not another tank

 

[Shane l]

I just found an API master pro fw for 18.43 so excited

 

[absolutangel04]

Congrats. Thats a good price.

 

[Shane l]

I know at the pet store yesterday the sold just the ammonia tests as that

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I just found an API master pro fw for 18.43 so excited

That's good! Gotta love online!

 

[Shane l]

This site is so helpful we need to get way more first time buyers to get this site before they buy

 

[CatmanDru]

I just found an API master pro fw for 18.43 so excited

good job!

I paid 32 US dollars for mine at a Petsmart store. I'm a real tightwad/miser but even I think it was worth the money.

And the API test kit will last a long time.