Keeping Tropical/Freshwater fish.

[debbiem]

I was just interested to know just how many amongst us keep tropical/marine or coldwater fish in tanks.

I used to have so many fish tanks at one time that it was suggested that I just seal up the doors and windows of my house and fill it up with water. ;D
We just have one empty 2ft tank in the shed in which my son is hoping to keep a few Neon Tetra and Guppies with a Corydoras or two to keep the bottom clean. I can feel it in my bones that it won't take long before our household is back to full-blown fanaticism about the hobby - anybody else similarly afflicted? :

[Sleepy]

debbiem said:

I was just interested to know just how many amongst us keep tropical/marine or coldwater fish in tanks.

I used to have so many fish tanks at one time that it was suggested that I just seal up the doors and windows of my house and fill it up with water. ;D
We just have one empty 2ft tank in the shed in which my son is hoping to keep a few Neon Tetra and Guppies with a Corydoras or two to keep the bottom clean. I can feel it in my bones that it won't take long before our household is back to full-blown fanaticism about the hobby - anybody else similarly afflicted? :

I have kept tropical fish in the past. And terapins. And a goldfish which I had for 14 years. But I don't have any now. Just my two cats.

[4pygmies]

I have kept goldfish in the past but only under protest when my girls ignored my ban! We don't seem to be able to keep them successfully so, in the end, I just refused to try any more. Cruelty to fish.... I love the tropical fish tanks though. I would love to have one and just fill it with the beautiful plants and corals though! There is a really good aquaruim place near us which we go to regularly just to admire all the little beauties in the tanks.
It would be nice to see photos of peoples tanks (although no dodgy military pics please ;D).

[debbiem]

Being an old hand at it now I know that to be as kind as possible I have to keep down the numbers depending on how much space they have, and obviously make sure the water quality/ ph/tankmates are all suitable, everything.
We've had a couple of Plecostomus bottom feeders who ended up getting so enormous we had to find another home for them which was a shame but only fair to them. In the wild they are regarded as a food fish but the thought of eating them - er....no.

No dodgy military pics- aw, I was hoping to work mine into the conversation. :

[4pygmies]

debbiem said:

.

No dodgy military pics- aw, I was hoping to work mine into the conversation. :

;D You are so funny Debbie!

[madonplants]

I used to have 4 tanks of tropicals, but now only one with a large catfish in it. It's ready for it's next tank, but waiting for the finances to upgrade.

I had a lovely Sailfin Plec once that I grew from a 2 inch baby to about 14 inches, but it got accidently sold by a saturday boy working at the garden centre. We were moving house (surprise, surprise!) and our friends the owners, toll us they would look after our fish for us, as we were going into our caravan for a few months, with our stuff in storage, until we found somewhere to live. The 'Plec was so big, it needed to go into their display tank, which housed another of the same but slightly bigger and a large cichlid. The 'plec in their was due to go to another tank in a hospital. The people (from the hospital) came a few days earlier and all that was in the shop was the Saturday boy, who basically said, take your pick!! Well the rest is history! Our friend was most upset, as he was sure our fish was still their, until I mentioned a slight scar that mine had on the dorsal fin, that wasn't on the fish in the tank!
He was most upset and even said he would go to the hospital and fetch ours back, but when I found out it was in a children's ward, I said leave it, the kids would probably be upset. I think I made the right decision, didn't I? Still miss Dennis, though! Our friends gave us compensation, but I would rather have had the fish.

Keith

[debbiem]

Ours was called Dave - in fact, all our Plecs were called Dave!

Was the tank in the hospital a nice big one? If so, I think you made the right decision. Was it a bigger tank than the one in the shop? Ours had to leave our tank as it was huge - do you remember catching yours Keith? Ours put a huge fight considering it was such a placid fish, water everywhere! I only hope that our Dave went to a nice home with a nice big tank.

Did they offer you the other one?

[debidoos]

I've got one 4ft community (ish) tank, one 2ft tank which is only 8 inch high which I had a Siamese fighter living on his own in, he past away 2 weeks ago, he was REALLY old tho for one of them his name was Lister (after Red Dwarf!!) I also have an 18inch tank with a fresh water lobster called Jaques (Finding Nemo). I've got an empty hospital tank too.

I deal with a lot of the fish in the pet shop where I work, I have to feed them test water for people and recommend correct treatments for sick fish. They call me the fish woman!!!

[madonplants]

debbiem said:

Ours was called Dave - in fact, all our Plecs were called Dave!

Was the tank in the hospital a nice big one? If so, I think you made the right decision. Was it a bigger tank than the one in the shop? Ours had to leave our tank as it was huge - do you remember catching yours Keith? Ours put a huge fight considering it was such a placid fish, water everywhere! I only hope that our Dave went to a nice home with a nice big tank.

Did they offer you the other one?

The tank in the hospital, I believe was smaller than the shops one, but large enough. 'Plecs are easy to catch, just DON'T use a net. Put your hand it and close the pectoral fins against the body and bring them out. With their fins closed, they don't struggle much. Just keep an eye on the dorsal fin, at the same time.

Keith

[debbiem]

Wow, Debbie, that's brilliant, what an accolade, the Fish Woman, I'd like that too.

The last occupants of our 4ft tank were Discus, the Plec and two Synodontis Nigriventris - not showing off here I just remember that name as I don't think I ever knew what the the more common name for those two catfish were. I think we may have had some Convicts in there too but that may have been at a different time.
But whatever we did with that tank with the Discus, Plecs and catfish it was always so mucky in there. It didn't seem to bother the fish but it just didn't stay clean for long - big fish and big poo, I suppose. I think that told me there was too many fish in there for too little space.

[debbiem]

madonplants said:

I used to have 4 tanks of tropicals, but now only one with a large catfish in it. It's ready for it's next tank, but waiting for the finances to upgrade.

I had a lovely Sailfin Plec once that I grew from a 2 inch baby to about 14 inches, but it got accidently sold by a saturday boy working at the garden centre. We were moving house (surprise, surprise!) and our friends the owners, toll us they would look after our fish for us, as we were going into our caravan for a few months, with our stuff in storage, until we found somewhere to live. The 'Plec was so big, it needed to go into their display tank, which housed another of the same but slightly bigger and a large cichlid. The 'plec in their was due to go to another tank in a hospital. The people (from the hospital) came a few days earlier and all that was in the shop was the Saturday boy, who basically said, take your pick!! Well the rest is history! Our friend was most upset, as he was sure our fish was still their, until I mentioned a slight scar that mine had on the dorsal fin, that wasn't on the fish in the tank!
He was most upset and even said he would go to the hospital and fetch ours back, but when I found out it was in a children's ward, I said leave it, the kids would probably be upset. I think I made the right decision, didn't I? Still miss Dennis, though! Our friends gave us compensation, but I would rather have had the fish.

Keith

What kind of catfish is he/she?

[debidoos]

debbiem said:

Wow, Debbie, that's brilliant, what an accolade, the Fish Woman, I'd like that too.

The last occupants of our 4ft tank were Discus, the Plec and two Synodontis Nigriventris - not showing off here I just remember that name as I don't think I ever knew what the the more common name for those two catfish were. I think we may have had some Convicts in there too but that may have been at a different time.
But whatever we did with that tank with the Discus, Plecs and catfish it was always so mucky in there. It didn't seem to bother the fish but it just didn't stay clean for long - big fish and big poo, I suppose. I think that told me there was too many fish in there for too little space.

synodontis nigriventris = upside down catfish!

[debidoos]

In my main 4ft tank i have 4 angelfish 3 are "silvers" and one is a "Gold Diamond", 6 Tiger Barbs, 1 Pearl Gourami, 2 Opaline Gourami's, 4 Albino Corydoras, 5 Bolivian Rams, 5 Neon tetras, 2 spotted Dora's which I rarely see, 1 6" Clown Loach who hangs out with the Tiger barbs and 1 Gibbicep (a type of Plec)

I used to breed Angelfish, Kribensis, Guppies and Swordtails It was all too much hassle tho, and when I went on holiday I'd have heavy losses so all my hard work was in vain!

[madonplants]

debbiem said:

madonplants said:

I used to have 4 tanks of tropicals, but now only one with a large catfish in it. It's ready for it's next tank, but waiting for the finances to upgrade.

I had a lovely Sailfin Plec once that I grew from a 2 inch baby to about 14 inches, but it got accidently sold by a saturday boy working at the garden centre. We were moving house (surprise, surprise!) and our friends the owners, toll us they would look after our fish for us, as we were going into our caravan for a few months, with our stuff in storage, until we found somewhere to live. The 'Plec was so big, it needed to go into their display tank, which housed another of the same but slightly bigger and a large cichlid. The 'plec in their was due to go to another tank in a hospital. The people (from the hospital) came a few days earlier and all that was in the shop was the Saturday boy, who basically said, take your pick!! Well the rest is history! Our friend was most upset, as he was sure our fish was still their, until I mentioned a slight scar that mine had on the dorsal fin, that wasn't on the fish in the tank!
He was most upset and even said he would go to the hospital and fetch ours back, but when I found out it was in a children's ward, I said leave it, the kids would probably be upset. I think I made the right decision, didn't I? Still miss Dennis, though! Our friends gave us compensation, but I would rather have had the fish.

Keith

What kind of catfish is he/she?

It's a Red Tail Catfish. When we first bought it, we were going to extend the living room into the garage, but we moved. Story of our life, though at the time, we felt secure. It's a pain when we go house hunting. First question is, does it have room for a large tank. Should be what's the garden like or how many bedrooms does it have, shouldn't it?

Keith

[debidoos]

How big is he now? They get up to 3ft don't they?

[debbiem]

debidoos said:

debbiem said:

Wow, Debbie, that's brilliant, what an accolade, the Fish Woman, I'd like that too.

The last occupants of our 4ft tank were Discus, the Plec and two Synodontis Nigriventris - not showing off here I just remember that name as I don't think I ever knew what the the more common name for those two catfish were. I think we may have had some Convicts in there too but that may have been at a different time.
But whatever we did with that tank with the Discus, Plecs and catfish it was always so mucky in there. It didn't seem to bother the fish but it just didn't stay clean for long - big fish and big poo, I suppose. I think that told me there was too many fish in there for too little space.

synodontis nigriventris = upside down catfish!

Thanks Debbie - but they weren't those, that's me getting overexcited remembering the long names ;D. They were Synodontis Nigrita - it's all coming back......slowly......
I adore the upside-down catfish but these had much more barbels, ended up at least eight inches long, were slightly freckly, had fat stomachs and only came out at night. If they had to be moved they made a croaking sound in coming out of the tank. I adored them. I can't remember if I found out what they were from a book or whether on buying the second one somebody at last told me what they were. Do you know these ones? One was a grey colour and the other was more browney.

[madonplants]

debidoos said:

In my main 4ft tank i have 4 angelfish 3 are "silvers" and one is a "Gold Diamond", 6 Tiger Barbs, 1 Pearl Gourami, 2 Opaline Gourami's, 4 Albino Corydoras, 5 Bolivian Rams, 5 Neon tetras, 2 spotted Dora's which I rarely see, 1 6" Clown Loach who hangs out with the Tiger barbs and 1 Gibbicep (a type of Plec)

I used to breed Angelfish, Kribensis, Guppies and Swordtails It was all too much hassle tho, and when I went on holiday I'd have heavy losses so all my hard work was in vain!

That's what Dennis was, a Pterygoplichthys Gibbiceps, how big is it now? They are lovely aren't they?

Keith

[debidoos]

They must be a type of Talking catfish if they croak! there are quite a few different ones in the Synodontis genus.

[madonplants]

debidoos said:

How big is he now? They get up to 3ft don't they?

I think it's a she, tail not as red as the males. It's 17 inches atm, but will grow to about 30 inches in captivity, but larger in the wild. Mine was a captive bred one.

Keith

P.s. That's why I only have one tank now!!

[debidoos]

My Gibbicep is about 8" long, he's the giant of the tank! he's a mid brown colour with yellow spots all over. I think he was an "L" number L110? maybe... I'll have to have another look on planet catfish!

[debbiem]

The said:

debbiem said:

I was just interested to know just how many amongst us keep tropical/marine or coldwater fish in tanks.

I used to have so many fish tanks at one time that it was suggested that I just seal up the doors and windows of my house and fill it up with water. ;D
We just have one empty 2ft tank in the shed in which my son is hoping to keep a few Neon Tetra and Guppies with a Corydoras or two to keep the bottom clean. I can feel it in my bones that it won't take long before our household is back to full-blown fanaticism about the hobby - anybody else similarly afflicted? :

I used to have a 150 litre Jewel corner aquarium of community fish - but moving house every 2 - 3 years, rehoming fish and setting up the tank each time became a pain in the butt. I sold the tank, lock, stock and barrel ( ;D )

But I've got just the spot in the kitchen for another tank, which is tempting - but no I must concentrate my efforts and cash towards getting another pond. ;D

Just reserve that spot for a tank for when finances allow.

[debbiem]

debidoos said:

They must be a type of Talking catfish if they croak! there are quite a few different ones in the Synodontis genus.

I loved these catfish - I like all of them in fact, especially when they start getting to a substantial size. The only problem with the Nigrita ones were that you had to get up in the night to watch them. :
I've just noticed that behind our TV is a nice alcove doing nothing at the moment, and a nice space under the stairs........here we go.. ;D

[debbiem]

debidoos said:

In my main 4ft tank i have 4 angelfish 3 are "silvers" and one is a "Gold Diamond", 6 Tiger Barbs, 1 Pearl Gourami, 2 Opaline Gourami's, 4 Albino Corydoras, 5 Bolivian Rams, 5 Neon tetras, 2 spotted Dora's which I rarely see, 1 6" Clown Loach who hangs out with the Tiger barbs and 1 Gibbicep (a type of Plec)

I used to breed Angelfish, Kribensis, Guppies and Swordtails It was all too much hassle tho, and when I went on holiday I'd have heavy losses so all my hard work was in vain!

What a nice collection - no problem with the Angel fish with the Neons, then?

[debidoos]

I had the Angels from quite small, and the neons were there first although I did have 8 neons to begin with... I think that was down to my Spotted Dora's tho! They croak, and they only come out at night soI have to wait til night to see them. I have a blue light which i put on at night so I can see them come out.

[madonplants]

debidoos said:

My Gibbicep is about 8" long, he's the giant of the tank! he's a mid brown colour with yellow spots all over. I think he was an "L" number L110? maybe... I'll have to have another look on planet catfish!

Is this it? That's what I had and still was growing. It fed well on homegrown spinach, scalded lettuce and various tablet food. It was in a five foot tank with two big outside canister filters. I have three in T.C.'s tank alongwith a UV filter.
What heater(s) have you got, as 'plecs can easily get burnt on normal heaters? I had mine built in with the canister. Just being nosey, mind!!

Keith