Looking for Suggestions - Paw Talk

**Christi** · #1 07-22-2003, 04:38 PM

My neighbor has a tank with two Angelfish in it and Ryland LOVES to sit there and watch them swim around so I was thinking about getting a small aquarium for our house. Nothing big and fancy, just some calming entertainment for my son! LOL

I have had fish before but was younger and knew a lot less. So, I figured some of you could make some suggestions of some low-maintenance fish and the best places to get them. I'm thinking a 5-10gal tank.

SharonM · #2 07-22-2003, 05:16 PM

A friend of mine kept Mollies and swordtails, along with a few angels. He did pretty well with them. Instead of just the regular algae eaters, he had the little albino catfish looking critters - very cool! I've always liked the little schools of neon tetras flashing around a tank too. Don't get them little frogs though, a friend of mine did and they grew super fast and ate half her fish.

Fish would be good for you too, watcing them lowers your blood pressure.

As far as where to get them ... I think just like any other critter, go by how clean and well kept the store's aquariums are kept. And ask around.

*fstybrat* · #3 07-22-2003, 05:35 PM

I have a 10 gallon tank Christi... I used to have all guppies (now only males though cause they breed rather quickly) Now I only have 2 guppies left but also have a "chinese algae eater" to aid in algae on glass, 2 catfish (not sure what kind they are they kinda look like little sharks) to clean the bottom of the tank since they are bottom feeders, & now 2 angel fish. I do not have a heater in my tank & they all seem to thrive just fine.

There is plenty of space for them although I was told that the angels may outgrow the tank?? It seems as though I have the perfect combination of fish though cause I don't have to clean it out that often (every 2-3 weeks or so?). you want to make sure that wherever you put the tank though, try to keep it out of direct sunlight, this will also reduce the algae build-up.

I have also in the past had good luck with mollies & sword tails... I just prefer the guppies cause they are a little more colorful & I like the big showy tail they have.

I almost alway buy my fish from Petco... but have gotten some very good fish from Walmart also.

**Christi** · #4 07-22-2003, 05:46 PM

Thanks! I mentioned it to DH and he said it was a good idea, but I now need to figure out where to put it!

*fstybrat* · #5 07-23-2003, 06:26 PM

my 10 gallon tank fits nicely on top of a standard 3 shelf book case

**Christi** · #6 07-24-2003, 06:32 AM

Thanks for the great advice Sharon and Fsty!

I have cleaned out this thread so I can continue to get suggestions! lol

tutebugs · #7 08-05-2003, 05:14 PM

I had a ten gallon tank with an Oscar and a Red Bellied Pacu. NOT a good idea. They get huge! LOL, didn't know that at first. I am thinking about getting a tank with some different kind of tetras, maybe some silver dollar fish.

***Dena*** · #8 08-06-2003, 09:55 AM

I would definitely get a 10 gallon instead of a 5 gallon. After working in a petstore I found that it was harder to find stuff for the 5 gallons and because 10 gallons are the basic standards everything is cheaper because they produce so many. Lets see, there are Fancy Tail guppies, Mollies, Tetras, guaramies (depending on the type I've been told they can be aggressive towards other fish), there are just tons of fish. I would definitely start off with very cheap fish in case you lose some in the beginning and then add in. I wouldn't do regular goldfish unless you really really really like them they are a lot more work sometimes. They tend to excrete more waste than other fish and need more cleaning. Plus they grow really fast when taken care of and with your care of animals Christi you would need something the size of a pool in no time. Good luck and let us know what you get!

PokeyPokey · #9 08-06-2003, 10:01 AM

Definetly fancy tailed guppies!!! I had them and they were great!!! Easy to take care of too! I was only 9 or so and took care of them with little help from my mom! THough if you get a preggy female...and you want the babies to live....I'd put the mommy in a seperate tank with no rocks/gravel....bad experiences...

**Christi** · #10 08-06-2003, 12:44 PM

Thanks Dena! I knew about the goldfish, my sister used to be obsessed with the bug-eyed ones! LOL

And thanks for the compliment! I'm leaning towards Bettas cause I hate seeing them in those little jars!! And they're bigger and more colorful so I think Ryland would like them better! Now to go window shopping and see how much $ I need to get this up and running.

*fstybrat* · #11 08-06-2003, 01:49 PM

I thought about using my 5 gallon tank & put an acrylic center in it to make it into 2 tanks persay... that way I can put 2 bettas in there. Isn't it true you should never put 2 betas together because of aggressivness? I have only had 2 betas & haven't had much luck with them

I want a little tank to put in my office!

PokeyPokey · #12 08-06-2003, 02:39 PM

I thought bettas were extremely aggressive too. Not only towards each other but towards other fish too.

*fstybrat* · #13 08-06-2003, 02:50 PM

I have heard that you can put a single betta in with community fish but not with other bettas. Also it isn't advisable to put a betta with fish that have long or flowy fins as the beta may eat or nip at the fins of the otehr fish??

capnsweets · #14 08-06-2003, 05:37 PM

I heard and actually had a female betta live in a community tank before but heard the males have the tough guy image!

Laurie · #15 08-06-2003, 09:44 PM

I have a betta in a vase witha peace lilly plant and I had one in our big tank. The one in the big tank would chase one particular fancy male guppy and bite at his fins. The fins would grow back. That was the only fish he bothered and that betta died.

My daughter got another male betta and he nevered bothered anyone!