Hi from Ireland

[Barbs]

Hi All,

Let me just start by saying I don't know much about fish, . My sister brought my son shopping for a birthday present for his 4th birthday, a year and a half ago. They arrived home with a kids coldwater 17L tank, equipment and two Black Moor goldfish! Needless to say we were surprised because we expected another Spiderman toy, not live fish. So a year and a half on we have two huge Black Moors (Iggy & Ziggy), although the guy in the pet shop said they wouldn't grow big and have had to update the tank to a Juwel Rio 180L. We have grown to love them and they are part of the family along with Ben our 3 1/2 yr old Black Labrador. The reason I joined here was to get the best advice possible to keep our cuties happy. We moved them to the big tank 2 1/2 weeks ago and they're doing fine. A week ago I we bought an Algae eater (called him Star) and he seems ok, hides quite a bit but is still alive. Today I bought two Danios or Tetras, I'm really not sure as I find the assistants in the pet shops don't have much of a clue. I was told they were Tetras but the pics of Danios look more like them. So here I am! I have lots of questions so hopefully I can get some help.

Thanks all,
Barbs.

 

[krap101]

It looks like your out to a pretty good start. If you got a chinese algae eater, when he gets bigger he'll be useless for algae and starts to suck on bigger slower fish, sort of like a parasite.

Here's a pic

As the goldfish get bigger, the danios might become food, so watch out for that. If your not sure, pictures are always helpful.

 

[Barbs]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. To be honest the guy in the shop said he was an algae eater and wouldn't get much bigger, I just go by what they say but maybe he's something else?? At the moment he's about 6cm long. Do you think he'll grow bigger? (Sorry I can't see your pic to confirm).

The goldfish are about 5 inches so they're quite large compared to when we got them, at the moment they're ignoring the two new little ones so I hope it lasts, I wouldn't like them to have them for dinner.

Thanks for the advice,
Barbs

 

[krap101]

If he's a pleco, odds are hes a common, and he can get up to 12". Otos stay under about 2"

Look up pleco, chinese algae eater, and otocinclus and see which one is yours.

 

[Barbs]

After looking at the pics I think he's a Pleco. He came out from his hiding place for a few minutes and I managed to get a (bad) pic of him. Will he grow big? I hope not!

 

[krap101]

Actually you have a hillstream loach. It should stay small. I think they're a coldwater fish and they like current.

 

[Barbs]

Oh brilliant! Thanks for that. I'm so happy he won't grow big. Obviously I got more bad advice from the pet shop, they really don't know much in any of them here. Cheers!

 

[melosu58]

Welcome to AA

 

[Barbs]

Thank you . I'm really enjoying it so far, getting loads of help, so glad it found this site .

 

[taylorodw]

Hey Barbs, I'm new too but I wanted to say hello - I'm an Irish-Spanish-American, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

 

[Barbs]

Hey Barbs, I'm new too but I wanted to say hello - I'm an Irish-Spanish-American, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

Hi taylorodw,
Nice to make your acquaintance too, I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here. I've posted a few questions already and really appreciate the replies, I'm learning more about my fish each day. Everyone seems so friendly so I can tell were in the right hands, lol! So you've Irish roots, ever visited here?
Best regards,
Barbs.