I got fish!

[alessia55]

I got 1 redtail shark, 2 iridescent rosy barbs, and 3 zebra fish. So far they all seem real happy. My local fish store checked the water etc and said I was good to go. It is nearly impossible to get a photo of them though.

I've ordered a background to cover the tank; it should arrive soon.

Here is a photo of the redtail shark; no name yet.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/208392_4411189433483_822305982_n.jpg

[Jay]

Awesome choice, I have a few in my planted tank.http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m517/jay0133/84CAB5FD-4263-405B-BF9D-483D504168E6-579-000000A10A9005D6.jpg

[alessia55]

Oh, I forgot to add. My fish store made me aware that my shark and the barbs will grow too large to share the 10gallon, so eventually they will need a bigger tank. Thankfully, I have a 55-gallon tank sitting in my garage at my parents' house for when the time comes. Just didn't want anyone to think I'm cramming these guys in there without a clue as to the size they'll achieve. ;)

[alessia55]

I tried to get a photo of the other fish. This is the best I could do for now:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/317024_4411407598937_380976675_n.jpg

[Hurrok]

Awesome! I miss having a fish tank. I swear I could watch them for hours and hours while being amazed. It will be very rewarding to have some fish and when you set up that 55 gallon, you are in for a treat :D

Taking photo's of them are such a pain too, they always want to move! :P

[Aaron_S]

Keep an eye on the shark. They can be aggressive to your other fish. Namely the barbs as the danios are pretty quick.

[alessia55]

Keep an eye on the shark. They can be aggressive to your other fish. Namely the barbs as the danios are pretty quick.
That's exactly what the woman at the fish store told me. I watched during feeding time and it was all pretty calm. Hopefully it stays that way.

[Squirtle]

They're so pretty! I think a video would be easier than taking pictures, so make a video when everything is set up and perfect!;)

[Pareeeee]

Typically they are not recommended for community tanks with smaller fish, because they can be quite hostile, even by themselves.

At least be sure you don't get more than one Red-Tail Shark. They become very territorial.

Anyway, nice that you're getting into fish - watch out though -fishkeeping is an addicting hobby!! I've been keeping fish for over 10 years now. Love all my scaly friends :D

Note of advice - stock up on meds. You will need them. Unless you want to buy lots of replacement fish, LOL. (I can give you more info if you're interested)

[Corey209]

Note of advice - stock up on meds. You will need them. Unless you want to buy lots of replacement fish, LOL. (I can give you more info if you're interested)

I've never seen anyone use meds before and we kept fish for over 10 years with the majority dying of old age and we had at least 60 fish. What kind of sicknesses do they get and how do you tell?

[Pareeeee]

I've never seen anyone use meds before and we kept fish for over 10 years with the majority dying of old age and we had at least 60 fish. What kind of sicknesses do they get and how do you tell?

You've had a very unusual experience with fish then. I've been member on fish chats and forums for years, and even veteran fishkeepers and breeders have disease outbreaks from time to time. Back in the day, I was often the one people would ask for disease advice, and it helped me learn a lot about treatments, causes, etc.
Larger tanks usually see fewer problems, smaller tanks are more difficult to maintain. Other variables apply, age of fish, fish species (fish like rainbowfish are very hardy, others, like discus, are prone to health issues if not properly maintained), number of fish, type of filtration, tap-water quality, pH, and so on. It's smart to always have meds on hand. After buying new fish is when sickness most commonly occurs. If at all possible, a person should have a quarantine tank for new and sick fish. I've treated worms, ich (easy to eradicate), bacterial infections, etc. The most common maladies are ich and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, unfortunately, is almost impossible to cure, and very contagious (even transmissible to humans), therefore the fish in question should be destroyed.

I try to have these on hand: aquarium salt (multiple uses), parasite medication, Maracyn-Two (for bacterial infections), malachite green solution (for ich or velvet), Melafix and Pimafix. Read the instructions carefully, some meds kill catfish and crustaceans.

If your tank is well-cycled, you should not have many problems, except when introducing new fish. I've also found that live plants help a lot, for several reasons.

How big was your tank? If it was large, that could have been one of the reasons your fish were disease-free. For a person like me, with a relatively small tank (33 gallon) it takes a bit more effort, especially with tap-water which is not ideal... I also overstock a little, so it would be irresponsible for me to overstock and not have meds on hand.

Edit: I've learned over the years that adding a small amount of salt to the aquarium after each water-change helps a great deal in preventing disease. When fish are stressed they lose their slime-coat, which makes them vulnerable to disease. Salt aids in the production of this slime coat. (I put one teaspoon in my 33 gallon after each water change)

[Loucifer]

Niiice! I love me some fiss! Haven't had fresh water for a long time, but loved Clown Loaches & Angels! Nice Red-Tailed Jaws! "I think you're gonna need a bigger boat"...XD

[Aaron_S]

You've had a very unusual experience with fish then. I've been member on fish chats and forums for years, and even veteran fishkeepers and breeders have disease outbreaks from time to time. Back in the day, I was often the one people would ask for disease advice, and it helped me learn a lot about treatments, causes, etc.
Larger tanks usually see fewer problems, smaller tanks are more difficult to maintain. Other variables apply, age of fish, fish species (fish like rainbowfish are very hardy, others, like discus, are prone to health issues if not properly maintained), number of fish, type of filtration, tap-water quality, pH, and so on. It's smart to always have meds on hand. After buying new fish is when sickness most commonly occurs. If at all possible, a person should have a quarantine tank for new and sick fish. I've treated worms, ich (easy to eradicate), bacterial infections, etc. The most common maladies are ich and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, unfortunately, is almost impossible to cure, and very contagious (even transmissible to humans), therefore the fish in question should be destroyed.

I try to have these on hand: aquarium salt (multiple uses), parasite medication, Maracyn-Two (for bacterial infections), malachite green solution (for ich or velvet), Melafix and Pimafix. Read the instructions carefully, some meds kill catfish and crustaceans.

If your tank is well-cycled, you should not have many problems, except when introducing new fish. I've also found that live plants help a lot, for several reasons.

Edit: I've learned over the years that adding a small amount of salt to the aquarium after each water-change helps a great deal in preventing disease. When fish are stressed they lose their slime-coat, which makes them vulnerable to disease. Salt aids in the production of this slime coat. (I put one teaspoon in my 33 gallon after each water change)

Not bad information but I've never needed meds on hand for my fish tanks and I've run a few over the last couple of years. My biggest was the cichlid tank and it did quite well even adding in new fish.

I think those vets and breeders may just have gotten complacent in what they are doing and had the idea that "it won't happen to me, I KNOW better" and then it does.

I believe the key is to be up on your tank and what's happening. Proper maintenance, doing water tests and the like will help with avoiding any issues. Also, doing homework on your species is IDEAL.

For example, mollies get ick a lot and that's because they are usually kept without enough salt in the water as they do well in a brackish tank. Easily fixable as you mentioned though but it's why I stay away from ever buying a molly.

[Pareeeee]

Not bad information but I've never needed meds on hand for my fish tanks and I've run a few over the last couple of years. My biggest was the cichlid tank and it did quite well even adding in new fish.

I think those vets and breeders may just have gotten complacent in what they are doing and had the idea that "it won't happen to me, I KNOW better" and then it does.

I believe the key is to be up on your tank and what's happening. Proper maintenance, doing water tests and the like will help with avoiding any issues. Also, doing homework on your species is IDEAL.

For example, mollies get ick a lot and that's because they are usually kept without enough salt in the water as they do well in a brackish tank. Easily fixable as you mentioned though but it's why I stay away from ever buying a molly.

I think water quality is a huge factor. As I mentioned, my water is not very good (well water with rust content - we do not drink it, it even stains our shower/toilet/sinks orange). I don't think my fish would do as well as they do if I didn't have so many live plants filtering the toxins. That's the one thing I've really noticed - and I give the plants the credit for it - my aquarium never has rust stains. Ever. The plants love the iron, but so does the algae. Ever since I've moved here, algae and I have fought tooth and nail.

I've also learned what fish work and which ones don't in my set-up - Rainbows are my favourite, expensive, but they live forever. Fish like platies...not so much.

lol Mollies. They are strange little fish. My friend had the magic touch for them - she kept them in freshwater too - and they would breed like crazy. They just kept multiplying like mad.

Livebearers in general are not my thing. I'm more into Rainbows, Characins and Cyprinids. I'd love to have an Oddball tank someday...when i have room ;)

[Aaron_S]

I wish I knew latin names for fish as I'm not really on the up and up of them yet.

I now have only a 20 gallon tank with guppies in it. My 5 year old really likes the fact they are colourful and that they have babies all the time.

We've tried a few different other species recommended to us but these do well for her. I'd like to actually just do species specific tanks for the most part going forward. I would like to have a large school of tiger barbs.

[alessia55]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252638_4414423034321_1194975176_n.jpg

You can also see my one golden mystery/apple snail in the corner.

A nice background will be coming in over the next few days, until then I just have white paper in the back.

I built a fish tank stand/cabinet, but have to wait until I get a few manly friends over to carry it there for me.

[DragonsEye]

If you're feeling creative, you could paint a scene on the exterior of the sides and back.

Oh, I forgot to add. My fish store made me aware that my shark and the barbs will grow too large to share the 10gallon, so eventually they will need a bigger tank. . ;)

You mean they won't stop growing to remain the proper size for the tank? http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-rolleyes007.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php) (That oft spouted nonsense always annoys me.)

[Deva]

I have kept many fish over the years. No rosy barbs, but cherry barbs and tiger barbs. Danios, all these are good hardy fish. The shark as well. And yes, only one shark per tank.

Strangely enough, I have never been able to keep the long finned guppies alive more than about two months. Their tails seem to fray and they they just die suddenly. I love them, they are beautiful, but I cannot keep them. The regular ones, yes, they are fine.

Ich is the only disease problem I have had. It breaks out with adding new fish into an established tank sometimes. Some fish can survive and others cannot. Cardinal tetras are the most susceptible and they die almost immediately. I lost a whole group, about 12 in two days. It was tragic.

[Corey209]

You've had a very unusual experience with fish then. I've been member on fish chats and forums for years, and even veteran fishkeepers and breeders have disease outbreaks from time to time. Back in the day, I was often the one people would ask for disease advice, and it helped me learn a lot about treatments, causes, etc.
Larger tanks usually see fewer problems, smaller tanks are more difficult to maintain. Other variables apply, age of fish, fish species (fish like rainbowfish are very hardy, others, like discus, are prone to health issues if not properly maintained), number of fish, type of filtration, tap-water quality, pH, and so on. It's smart to always have meds on hand. After buying new fish is when sickness most commonly occurs. If at all possible, a person should have a quarantine tank for new and sick fish. I've treated worms, ich (easy to eradicate), bacterial infections, etc. The most common maladies are ich and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, unfortunately, is almost impossible to cure, and very contagious (even transmissible to humans), therefore the fish in question should be destroyed.

I try to have these on hand: aquarium salt (multiple uses), parasite medication, Maracyn-Two (for bacterial infections), malachite green solution (for ich or velvet), Melafix and Pimafix. Read the instructions carefully, some meds kill catfish and crustaceans.

If your tank is well-cycled, you should not have many problems, except when introducing new fish. I've also found that live plants help a lot, for several reasons.

How big was your tank? If it was large, that could have been one of the reasons your fish were disease-free. For a person like me, with a relatively small tank (33 gallon) it takes a bit more effort, especially with tap-water which is not ideal... I also overstock a little, so it would be irresponsible for me to overstock and not have meds on hand.

Edit: I've learned over the years that adding a small amount of salt to the aquarium after each water-change helps a great deal in preventing disease. When fish are stressed they lose their slime-coat, which makes them vulnerable to disease. Salt aids in the production of this slime coat. (I put one teaspoon in my 33 gallon after each water change)

The tanks had to have been around 50 but below 75 gallons, we had kept Convicts in one and Mollies in the other. We even introduced different species without anything ever getting sick like small crabs. But we also managed the pH level of our tanks and had an expensive filter running at all times.

it's why I stay away from ever buying a molly.

I don't think we ever put salt in our molly tanks and they thrived the entire time. We must have had at least 100 at one time when they were breeding but we'd give the majority to the local fish place.

[alessia55]

Well, I'm taking the rosy barbs back to the store tomorrow. They are 2 males and fighting on and off the whole time. I will be getting 2 more zebrafish to join the already existing 3, and that will be it.

I have since moved the tank onto a stand/cabinet that I got. I'll update photos again once I change the fish out and get the background.

[ericschuh00]

IME red tail sharks are more aggressive toward there own kind rather then other fish

[Aaron_S]

IME red tail sharks are more aggressive toward there own kind rather then other fish

Depends. They are a finicky animal. If they've established themselves in a tank and then you add another fish they tend to believe they are dominate.

If you add the shark last as the final fish in the tank, they generally get along with everyone.

[alessia55]

Updated photo of my tank :)

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/487661_4532667670363_1583841910_n.jpg

[puffinluffin]

I love fish!!
Very nice looking ones you have there. Love the shark.

[puffinluffin]

Updated photo of my tank :)

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/487661_4532667670363_1583841910_n.jpg

Wow it's gorgeous. :)

[Hurrok]

Looks very nice Alessia :) I could stare at a tank for hours and be entertained..... :)

[alessia55]

Looks very nice Alessia :) I could stare at a tank for hours and be entertained..... :)
You know... I find myself WAY more intrigued by the one snail in there than by the fish, lol :p

[Hurrok]

You know... I find myself WAY more intrigued by the one snail in there than by the fish, lol :p

I haven't had a snail before so I guess I'm missing out! :p

[alessia55]

They were curious about the camera ...

1Lml6VeyARM

[Sophia'sSophia]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252638_4414423034321_1194975176_n.jpg

You can also see my one golden mystery/apple snail in the corner.

A nice background will be coming in over the next few days, until then I just have white paper in the back.

I built a fish tank stand/cabinet, but have to wait until I get a few manly friends over to carry it there for me.

What a lovely snail! Such a nice colour, the ones I see around here are always green with algae!

I hope you don't mean you intend on transporting the tank while its full, do you? Thats going to be really difficult! Its at least 100 pounds of sloppiness. If you must though, good luck! (and don't forget to take out the critters! Don't want 'em getting all shook up. :) )

[snake_ghost]

i love every ones tanks i really would like to know what species of sharks that you can have in a fish tanks i REALLY love sharks but i hardly dout that you could have a great white in a fish tank MEGA LOL so any way if you could post pics of the sharks that you can have i would love to see them thanks for all the replies and help.