New to tropical fish. We had a 75 gal many years ago but the wife took care of it.
Anyhow =, we jumped back in and have started with a 36 gal. bow front.
In order to get it established we settled on tiger barbs and was told of the different fish we could add later. Among those fish were Mollies, Guppy's, some strains of tetras and cat fish and a variety of others.
Once we had the tank tested and determined that we could add more fish we did some research and asked questions. Most answers were straight forward and we felt we had the best info we could get.
So after joining AgAdvisor and intending to build our stock around the barbs. I plugged in the Tiger Barbs and with the angel fish my wife wanted and was told at the pet store that we could do it as long as we had more than one angel.
AgAdvisor suggested I add 2 barbs for a total of 10 and to add 1 more angel for a total of 3! This was agreeable with the fish store and so we ought 2 more barbs and 3 angels. We ended up selling the barbs and they were gone with in 20 minutes of posting an ad.
So with our 3 angels we added 5 Pristella Tetras, 2 platys, 2 dwarf gouramis, 1male and 1 female Mollie. We also added 2 albino cats. These fish are all 1"to 1-1/2" and the tank was harmonious until a yesterday. We noticed that one of the angels had a lot red near its gills. It died with in an hour but we noticed that the Mollies were harassing the devil out of them and nipping at them. We had the water tested and were advised to remove 5 gal of water and replace it with treated water. We did that and the Mollies were still being ornery to the angels and picked one in particular. We took the Mollies out for the night and put in a smaller environment and the angels recovered from the stress. I put the Mollies back in today and all was well for 10 minutes and the mollies began nipping the angels again so I was able to catch the female mollie and put it in a smalleer tank. The male chases the one angel but the angel is able to give him t the slip!
I know that I am at my limit for the tank and maybe just 10 inches over but these fish are small and I will be getting a larger tank! But there is room for them at this time until they grow some.
What I have learned in a month is this. If your are buying fish, choose carefully and heed the notes that if a fish may get nippy or CAN be territorial, or that it might be ok with this or that fish in numbers, ask questions or make another choice! Don't put it in with a a peaceful fish. We want the Mollies and we want to raise as my wife used to do, but they will have a designated tank until I make a decision on good tank mates for them.
I will be experimenting with fish in larger tanks in smaller numbers!
Anyhow =, we jumped back in and have started with a 36 gal. bow front.
In order to get it established we settled on tiger barbs and was told of the different fish we could add later. Among those fish were Mollies, Guppy's, some strains of tetras and cat fish and a variety of others.
Once we had the tank tested and determined that we could add more fish we did some research and asked questions. Most answers were straight forward and we felt we had the best info we could get.
So after joining AgAdvisor and intending to build our stock around the barbs. I plugged in the Tiger Barbs and with the angel fish my wife wanted and was told at the pet store that we could do it as long as we had more than one angel.
AgAdvisor suggested I add 2 barbs for a total of 10 and to add 1 more angel for a total of 3! This was agreeable with the fish store and so we ought 2 more barbs and 3 angels. We ended up selling the barbs and they were gone with in 20 minutes of posting an ad.
So with our 3 angels we added 5 Pristella Tetras, 2 platys, 2 dwarf gouramis, 1male and 1 female Mollie. We also added 2 albino cats. These fish are all 1"to 1-1/2" and the tank was harmonious until a yesterday. We noticed that one of the angels had a lot red near its gills. It died with in an hour but we noticed that the Mollies were harassing the devil out of them and nipping at them. We had the water tested and were advised to remove 5 gal of water and replace it with treated water. We did that and the Mollies were still being ornery to the angels and picked one in particular. We took the Mollies out for the night and put in a smaller environment and the angels recovered from the stress. I put the Mollies back in today and all was well for 10 minutes and the mollies began nipping the angels again so I was able to catch the female mollie and put it in a smalleer tank. The male chases the one angel but the angel is able to give him t the slip!
I know that I am at my limit for the tank and maybe just 10 inches over but these fish are small and I will be getting a larger tank! But there is room for them at this time until they grow some.
What I have learned in a month is this. If your are buying fish, choose carefully and heed the notes that if a fish may get nippy or CAN be territorial, or that it might be ok with this or that fish in numbers, ask questions or make another choice! Don't put it in with a a peaceful fish. We want the Mollies and we want to raise as my wife used to do, but they will have a designated tank until I make a decision on good tank mates for them.
I will be experimenting with fish in larger tanks in smaller numbers!