Over/Mis-stocked FW Tank - 1/25/07
Hi,  we bought a tank (10 lt) and a few fish (2 Neons, 2 guppies, 1 bumble-bee goby and 1 Dalmatian molly) 2 weeks ago.
<Yowza! Approximately 2.6 US gallons -- you're overstocked by about 5 fish, not to mention the brackish nature of the bumblebee goby!>
I've noticed that the Molly has become really fat and in the last 24 hours has become very aggressive toward the other fish in the tank, and she seems to be eating a lot.  Does this mean she's due to have the "unwanted" babies some time soon?  
<Is a good chance, livebearers do seem to be perpetually.. erm... bearing live.>
Our tank is not even close to being big enough for baby mollies!  
<Honestly, your tank is not even close to big enough for the fishes you have, my friend. This doesn't even begin to factor in the poor mix of fish here; the Neons come from very different waters than any of the others, the goby is a brackish species, and the mollies do better in a brackish setting as well.>
Also, I found a web site that said that you should do a daily 20% water change, is this correct?  
<Normally, I would recommend 20% weekly, but in a tank as small (and overstocked!) as yours, 20% daily is likely a necessity here... almost as much a necessity as either a larger aquarium, or removal of several fish...>
Should the water be heated prior to putting it into the tank?  
<Yes, the temperature should match the tank's as closely as possible.>
Also, how long before the babies are born?
<Can't help you on this one; only you can see them! Read here for more info on mollies and pregnancy: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/mollyreprofaqs.htm and the linked files in blue. Furthermore, I urge you to thoroughly research the fish you currently have, and determine if you are willing to provide for their PROPER care, from now through the future. If the response here is no, I implore you to return the majority of your fish stock here. Do realize that your aquarium is incredibly overstocked, and will never find a proper balance, either in waste buildup, or aggression issues, due to the small size of the tank. -JustinN>
 

Stocking FW   12/16/06
Hey again your site is a great source of information. Okay time for  the questions
I have a extra ten gallon tank and I was thinking about  stocking it with Neons or some other small fish could you recommend  some fish for my ten gallon.
Thank you ahead for all the  information.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsubwebindex.htm
RMF>

Balas, Bettas and Catfish   9/2/06
I just bought a Bala shark and two pictus catfish. I was thinking about getting a couple of the big goldfish too but the guy wasn't sure if they could all be together in the same tank. Would they all be ok in the same tank?
< Goldfish are actually cool water fish. At the elevated tropical temperature needed by your other fish the goldfish would not do well.>
Or if not how about a Betta fish?
< The other fish you have chosen get to be pretty good size. The Bala sharks get up to 18 inches and the pictus cats get at least 6 inches. At that size the cats would eat your beta while the big balas sharks would knock him around.>
Would the Bala shark be better off by itself or with another one?
< I believe that the Bala sharks don't mind company and may be schooling fish.>
How about the catfish?
< When they are smaller they are better of in a school. When they are larger they can go as a group or as an individual.>
Are they better off being just two of them or should there be more?
< Two is fine.>
Because that guy at the store said they like to be in groups of 3's.
< That works for smaller schooling fish like tetras and not as much for these cats.>
About how long would it take for the Bala shark to reach it's full grown size?
< A couple of years depending on the environmental conditions.-Chuck>

Fish Flashing and Stringy Feces in Some Tanks at LFS - Is this Common for LFS's or Should I Buy Elsewhere?   8/2/06
Hi Crew,
<Cindy>
I have been fish keeping African Cichlids a little over 3 years now.  I've grown from one 50 g. tank to a total of 6 tanks.  I get my livestock from a local high end independent retailer.  As my hobby has grown, I find myself spending more and more time at my LFS buying supplies.  I'm there once or twice a week.  I enjoy looking at the fish and visiting with the fish guys while I'm there.  Every time I've been there, over the past 6 months, I've noticed problems in a few of their fish tanks.  I'll see several tanks that have fish flashing, maybe a tank with fish rocking, and I always see a few fish here and there with stringy feces more than triple their size that
won't seem to detach.  Is this common of all fish stores?
<Way too common, yes... There are myriad, continuous health issues in retail and wholesale settings in the aquatic livestock business... too much "mixed" life that goes un-rested, un-quarantine, untreated and mis-treated...>
Am I just becoming more aware, or should I be looking for another store for future livestock?
<I strongly encourage you to "shop around", to take on all aspects of providing preventative measures wherever you purchase new livestock>
I see this store occasionally take back large fish that have outgrown someone's tank and immediately after temperature acclimation, release them into tanks with breeder livestock.  I realize they only have a limited number of backroom quarantine tanks, but I would expect fish coming from someone's unknown tank conditions to be quarantined before introduction to other livestock purchased from distributors.
<This source of trouble pales in comparison with the weekly coming and going of shipped wild and distant-cultured stocks... there are seasonal and permanent pandemics that one can identify in our interest...>
I heard it can even be dangerous for a LFS to mix livestock from multiple distributors.
<Yes>
  The fish from one distributor have been exposed to and built immunity to certain bacteria while the fish from the other distributor have been exposed to different bacteria.
<One way of viewing, stating this... it's more "their" systems that have expressed immunity if you will... akin to "A boy in a bubble"... Realize that almost to a one, more than 100% of all the stock goes through any given wholesaler/jobber/distributor's systems weekly...>
  When you combine the fish, and the bacteria they carry, you risk illness as they cross contaminate each other with bacteria
they have no built in resistance to.
<Nor much chance/opportunity to develop/acquire such>
What should someone look for when selecting a good LFS to purchase their livestock?
Cindy
<The bazillion dollar question. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwdis3setsfactors.htm
and the linked files above... Much to state here, and thank you for this prompting. Bob Fenner>

BW Fish, FW Fish & Iodine Q  7/3/06 FW sel....
I have put this one of the forums that you have on your web site already...  Not to sound too blonde, but when I posted it (originally) I was actually trying to send the question to ya'll...  Anyway here goes the question, please let me know if you can help.  Thanks sooo much the awesome site!!!  I have really, really enjoyed reading it!!!
I have a 37 gallon brackish water tank. In the tank resides a green spotted puffer fish (T. nigroviridis), a blue crayfish, three Bala sharks, three zebra danios and four neon tetras.
<What exactly do you mean by brackish?  There is only 1 brackish water species in there--the puffer.  None of any of your other fish would appreciate living in true BW.  As far as the amount of MARINE salt your puffer would need in it's tank, a rough estimate would be around a cup of salt/5g (& that's just when it's young).  As it matures, marine conditions are recommended for a GSP.>
I know that it is a really weird combination, they kinda go together like stripes and polka dots. I also know that you have reservations about puffers and crayfish living together or puffers and anything living together for that matter. My puffer, Calypso, is about 1 1/2 inches and my crayfish, Cozumel, is about 2 inches in length.
<There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that your puffer will eventually maim/eat the Cray, in addition to the neons.>
My Balas, Marga, Rita and Ville seem very happy they are apprx 2 inches in length. There is plenty of room for them to swim.
<They will eventually grow quite large.>
My crayfish has even started to come up to me when I'm at the tank!!  She and Calypso have gotten along very, very well. As long as I keep them both fed and plenty of hiding places. I also have a snail breeding tank, for Calypso and Cozumel, which they just love the escargot treats!!!
Okay so I do actually have a point. I have yet to find this anywhere, but not that Cozumel is having health problems, but just incase for whatever reason she may come down with something in the future, and I do give her the iodine treatment (Kent marine, one drop per every 10 gallons of water). Could this somehow affect Calypso or any of my other fish, also could it maybe affect the snails that I use to feed Calypso and Cozumel. I know that the snails are in my tank for only a short time before Cozumel and Calypso can smell them. Even so, would the iodine affect the snails and therefore in return affect Calypso and Cozumel after consuming the snails???
Like I said before, things are really good and my water is not off balance but if something were to happen this may help in the future... Thanks for your help, if you can.
<As long as dosed as instructed & not overdosed, it should be OK to use.  I'd rethink your species combo seriously though.  ~PP>
Also most of all thanks for the kick butt site!!! Not only is it informative but it is also fun to read!!!- - Arlyn

FW Stocking Questions  6/20/06
Hi again :)
<<Hi, again, Donna. Tom with you this trip.>>
You guys/gals are an awesome resource, and I actually feel confident using the advice you give (compared to other forums).  So, I had couple more stocking
questions for you...
<<You're flattering us, Donna. We like that. Now let's see if I can help.>>
In my 10g tank, I use a new Penguin BioWheel 100 (good up to 20g) and have 3 platies and 2 otos.  I used to have an Amano shrimp...but it recently died.
<<Sorry to hear that.>>  
I was thinking of adding either another Amano shrimp or a cherry fire shrimp.  
Is one of these shrimp a better choice over the other?  Also, do you think it would safe or a good idea to add 2 panda cories?
<<Either of these Shrimp choices would be good though I might personally find myself leaning toward the Cherry Fire Shrimp (Caridina serrata) if only for the
coloration. As for the Panda Corys, I would advise that these little guys can be a little more "delicate" than other varieties of Corydoras. Just a "heads up".>>
In my 35g tank, I use a new Penguin BioWheel 350 (good up to 75g) and have 2 Pristella tetras, 1 white tetra, 10 neon tetras, 10 harlequin rasboras, 3
platies, 3 mollies, 1 pleco, 4 otos and 1 golden snail.  I was thinking of adding between 2 and 6 panda cories (supposedly, they're better in groups??)
and either a Singapore Flower Shrimp or a Cherry Fire Shrimp.  What is your advice on these additions?
<<Again, on the Shrimp, it's a matter of personal preference though, as you know, the Flower Shrimp can grow to, perhaps, twice the size of the Cherry Fire Shrimp.
Something to think about regarding the size of your tank. The Panda Corys will "group" more so than most. Generally, once the fish feel secure in their new home,
the tendency to school, or shoal, seems to disappear since they, typically, do this for safety, i.e. security in numbers. No threat? Everyone for himself/herself!
This will be less evident with the Pandas, however. A couple of additional thoughts here. Plecos come in a variety of types and sizes. Not
all are content to ignore other tankmates particularly if competition for food/territory becomes an issue. Something to be aware of. Second thought? Your Mollies will likely
benefit from salt in the water. Not an "absolute", necessarily, but it's a pretty good bet. Some thrive, for example, in full marine conditions. (Go figure.) That said,
even your Pleco and future(?) Corys will tolerate some salt. No more than one tablespoon per five gallons of water, though. If you choose to add salt, remember that your
35 gallons is a "gross" calculation, not "net". In other words, everything inside your tank displaces water and subtracts from the gross amount. Better to err on the
low end, say five tablespoons of aquarium salt at the maximum.>>
Thanks!
Donna
<<You're welcome, Donna, and good luck with your new additions. Tom>>

Advice... Raising RMF's Blood Pressure, Joshing? Super crowded incompatible FW mix/es    6/14/06
Dear Mr. Fenner,
<Steve>
Hi, I hope you don't mind me emailing you, I saw your address on wetwebmedia and thought it wouldn't hurt to try anyway :)
<Ends up here anyway... just takes more time generally>
After about a 16 year break from keeping tropical freshwater fish I have recently bought an 84 litre tank, plenty of plants and twelve fish consisting of two black ghost knives, two small plecs - not sure about their names, two Reedfish,
<Yikes... all in twenty or so gallons?>
two silver sharks,
<... Pangasiids... get more than twice the length of this tank in size!>
two upside down catfish - Synodontis mal...?
<Likely S. nigriventris... these fishes all "like" very different water quality... Are you pulling Bob the Fishman's fins here?>
and two Dutch rams - one of which is going back to the shop as he is way too aggressive. Before I bought the Dutch rams I bought one of the Reedfish and a Siamese fighter
<...>
- boy was he aggressive, I thought he might be okay in a peaceful environment as the one I had years ago was fine but it didn't work out with this one. Anyway, I took him back and went for the two rams. Whitespot soon developed despite doing everything by the book e.g.
<... no quarantine...>
feeding them every other day with no more than a pinch of flakes and some live daphnia or bloodworm. Once the disease broke out - on both rams and one of the sharks I turned up the temperature to 28 C and did a 25% water change then I purchased Protozin and have just started the treatment tonight after yet another high % water change. Please could you pass on to me any pearls of your wisdom and summarize for me the ideal soft / hard water / temp conditions for each of the fish I have described.
<Is posted on WWM. Go, read there>
I appreciate the Plecos will be harder since all I can tell you is that they are greenish, small, have light brownish bands on the rear end of their tails, lol. Oh, I have also just added the phosphate remover and also used one of the friendly bacteria restoring free medicines that came with the tank set-up kit.
I appreciate any help you can give me.
Many thanks,
Steve.
<... Steve... I wish we/you could start back at having just purchased this tank... You have too much, too incompatible a mix to keep here... The present treatment is/would be good... if you had these fish in three or four different (water condition, quality) tanks... Read my friend... and quickly. Take back the "sharks", separate these animals into "water" and "temperament" groups, decide what you want to do, either get more tanks or return the animals you can't have. Bob Fenner>

Advice... Raising RMF's Blood Pressure, Joshing? Super crowded incompatible FW mix/es  06/14/2006
Dear Mr. Fenner, thank you very much indeed for your help, with the greatest of respect to the shop I obtained my fish / kit from - if they had given me
the right advice then I wouldn't be in this pickle :(
<Yes... this is not an uncommon situation...>
I am going to take back the sharks as you advised along the Dutch rams and then sort out in my mind what I want, probably will go for a scavenger
catfish or maybe look into keeping my ghost knives... time to get reading as you rightfully said.
<Ahh! Thank you for this follow-up... I really did think your message might have been a "practical joke" foisted by a friend... Bob Fenner>

Re: Advice... Fish water conditions / temp.s   6/16/06
Hi crew,
As I am now using your resources to educate myself better I thought I'd just run through the fish types I have, any advice very much appreciated :
Black Ghost Knives 2, water - soft / acidic ? so therefore 6 -7?, temp 24 - 28 C
<... Please read here: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12220&genusname=Apteronotus&speciesname=albifrons>
Silver / Bala Sharks 2, now realize my tank isn't big enough - thanks Bob,
water = middling ph = 6.5 - 7.2, temp 12 - 25 C? that's the temp I read...12?
<Okay>
Reed Fish 2, once again NO where near big enough tank, saddens me to think they let me buy this fish and not properly advise me, my fault too for being
ignorant. One of them is already between 6 - 8 inches and its a 18 - 19 gallon tank! Water = 6.5 - 7 , temp from 75 f to mid 80s.
<Yes>
Synodontis nigriventris 2, ph - 7 - 8 or 6 - 8 ? , at last a fish that may just like my water, temp 22 -26C.
<Yes>
The next two types of fish I have got, Dutch Rams 2, and 2 small plecs (just don't know their name) are harder for me to find the temps / ph for, even
harder for you to know what plecs I have.
<This is so. Most "enjoy" softer/acidic warm water>
Please advise on ph / temps. I'm starting to get a picture that could look like : Synodontis and / or plecs, and / or ghost knives. Silver sharks
<Are these... Pangasiids... too large: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/pangasiids.htm
or a minnow shark: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/minnowshks.htm>
and Dutch Rams (why I want info for rams if they are going back I don't know)
<Here?: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/rams.htm>
and Reedfish to go back to shop due to space rather than anything else.
Is this a sensible approach?
<A beginning>
Thanks as always, will keep in contact as in your help I can trust, where as in the shop I go to I think its a case of the left hand not knowing what the
right hand is doing - despite being nice enough folk.
Cheers,
Steve.
<Bob Fenner>

Re: silver sharks / freshwater minnows called sharks? Ongoing tribulations from poor blindly accepted advice   6/17/06
The two silver coloured sharks are the minnow ones, just thought I'd add that since starting the Protozin treatment both black ghost knives have
died, could have honestly cried when I first saw the state of them, and one of the silver minnow sharks is on the way out.
<... very sorry to read, hear>
This is particularly distressing - as it appears to be suffocating to death and there is nothing I can do.
The shop said to expect deaths and the only other thing they said was to give 6ml for the first 3 days then a day off then two more medication days
followed by a 40 % water change - presumably later on the last day of medication. I did do a 25% change before I started. I have a filter attached
to my mains water supply that gives me two options : 1, filtered, hard water with no impurities - filters finer than a blood cell. 2, soft water with
impurities that are 'legal' like fluoride or chlorine which I can of course sort out with a dechlorinator tablet / liquid or something of that nature.
<The, your source water is not "the problem", or much of one... the over-mis crowding, toxicity of the medicine... is>
One of your colleagues said that it probably would be okay to feed them on one of the medicine days 'free', a relief as one or two of the fish were
clearly very hungry. I've been feeding them every other day and only once a day since I started about three weeks ago - under instruction from the shop.
I would have emailed the crew email address but during your last email back to me you were trying to clear up whether I had the minnow sharks or the
bigger ones...panglas....?
<Pangasiid catfish...>
As always - many thanks Bob,
Steve,
Sorry I didn't say  hello at the top of this email, wasn't trying to appear rude.
<No worries. Do read as much as you can before any action, purchase, please. Bob Fenner>

Crayfish, Sturgeon, Stingray, and Unfortunate Tank Size - 05/26/2006
Hi -
We have a 28 gal fresh water tank with a blue lobster & crawfish.
<These are both crayfish, actually.>
Along with them are a sturgeon, flower stingray & a few  goldfish.  
<You have got to be kidding.  I mean, sturgeon are ENORMOUS animals that need ENORMOUS amounts of space.  Pretty cold water, too.  If this were a 2,800 gallon aquarium, I might think you were serious about keeping a sturgeon.  This tank is grossly inadequately sized.  Uhh, the stingray as well, even if it's a very small juvenile, should be in 100 gallons at a minimum, with some serious surface area.  Even then, it will eventually outgrow the tank.  They get *big*.  And those few goldfish - in this small tank, they will foul the water quickly.  Your sturgeon and stingray are utterly doomed in this space.  I recommend returning these to the store urgently unless you happen to have the money and space it will take to appropriately care for them.  You really, really need to sit down and do a bit of research, here....>
Do we need to provide a closed shelter for the lobster & crawfish to  molt?  
<This is the least of your worries, believe me....  But yes, the crayfish and lobster (again, is also a crayfish) need safe places to molt.>
We had (2) crawfish, and we found a piece of a shell, but now there  is only one crawfish. We're not sure what happened to it.  
<One of the other Crays probably consumed it after it molted.>
Thank you
<Please think about the livestock in your system, and learn to research before making a purchase.  The animals you have will not survive long in your aquarium.  Research first, and then make a conscientious decision about what animals are suitable for your system.  You'll save yourself a lot of heartache.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Stocking A 75 Gallon FW Tank  - 05/22/2006
< In the center of the tank would be perfect. The Cory's would occupy the lower areas while the Gouramis occupy the upper levels. The intake would not interfere with either in the middle.-Chuck>
Thanks Chuck. How many of each do you recommend for 75 gal.? Thanks
again...DR
< This is a big tank and can easily handle a dozen Cory cats and a dozen blue Gouramis.-Chuck>

Tank Compatibility  - 05/21/2006
Hi there,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I am new to this site and I have to say I learned a LOT from reading over various questions from other users and such, so THANK YOU for having such an informative site and for volunteering to help others out!
<You're very welcome!  Glad to hear you're doing your research.>
Anyway my question is this (well actually a couple of related questions): I currently have 2 tanks, a 29 gallon with 2 dwarf Gouramis, 5 silver dollars, 2 Plecos (one chocolate at about 5 inches, and one snowball at about 3 inches), 2 African dwarf frogs, and two small bala sharks (about 2-3 inches);
<Hmmm... (maybe not enough research?) hopefully they are all tiny juveniles & you are planning on upgrading them to at least 100g.  Silver dollars will grow as large as your outstretched hand, bala sharks around 10", chocolate Pleco also 11", snowball Pleco 6 1/2".>
and a 20 gallon tank with 6 rosy barbs (2 males and 4 females) and one blue lobster (which will be going in it's own tank soon, as I hear they like to catch and eat small/slow fish, though no incidents yet). What goes well with rosy barbs and do I have room for other fish for my 20 gallon tank? I also plan on getting either a 55 or 60 gallon tank, possibly bigger if need be because I am really interested in acquiring some discus (about 4 of them or so), and some blue rams. Are these compatible? If so, I was also thinking of adding my bigger Pleco to that tank. Does this sound reasonable for a 55-60 gallon tank?
<I'd forget about the discus & start saving for a much bigger tank for the fish you already have.  Please research the adult sizes of your fish, before you buy them.  ~PP>
Thank you for your time, I appreciate it!
Lindsey

Columbian Sharks, Use, Wal-Mart, Humanity
Sigh,
<<"Sigh", Patrick? Tom here and, we haven't even started yet. :)>>
As someone else mentioned in your FAQ for Columbian Sharks I went to Wal-Mart and bought four of these beautiful creatures on a whim.
<<Never a good idea to buy on a "whim", Patrick, unless you're familiar with the fish you're buying.>>
The display said they would grow to be six inches in length.  
<<Virtually none of the Columbian Sharks sold at Wal-Mart will ever live long enough to be six inches long because few, if any, of their employees know enough about these fish to educate the customers about them. The signs are deliberately mislabeled because only advanced aquarists are going to buy an animal that will attain 13-14 inches in length, perhaps more. (Thank you, Sam Walton, for yet another despicable business practice.)>>
After reading a lot about them tonight I finally landed on this website.  
<<Glad to have you with us to share your experience.>>
As of reading all of this I have decided to return them to Wal-Mart.  I wish I could keep them because they are so beautiful but I do not anticipate having the capabilities to purchase and maintain a suitable environment for them.  
<<Then you're doing the most responsible thing that I, or any of my fellow crew members, could ask of you. Understand, Patrick, that these fish are going to die. Someone who hasn't taken the time to research, as you have, will purchase these fish - provided the store doesn't kill them first - and their ignorance about keeping these fish will lead to their demise. If that doesn't sicken everyone who reads this posting, it certainly should.>>
I have also written Wal-Mart an e-mail urging them to change the information on their displays.  I realize that this will do little to nothing but it's a start.  
<<My hat's off to you, my friend!>> <Please do write corporate, RMF>
Thank you for the information that you have provided.  
<<No, Patrick, thank you. I'm only along for the ride on this one. You've provided everyone who reads this with an example worthy of emulation. I only hope others follow it!>>
I'm very sad to lose these sharks as they are so beautiful and I have been very excited about getting them.  
<<There'll be another day, Patrick. You know what's required for these fish and I'm betting that, in time, you'll have the resources available.>>
This e-mail is obviously not a question but a thank you for the information that you have compiled.
<<Consider this response a "Thank You" from all of us at WWM!>>
Sincerely
Patrick Steiner
<<Tom>>

Wal-Mart addy, prompting  - 05/13/2006
I read on your site that you were urging your readers to contact Wal-mart to ask them to stop carrying, or train their staff to care for the fish they carry.  Bravo!  But the address would be helpful.
Wal-Mart Corporate Headquarters
702 S.W. Eighth Street
Bentonville, AR  72716
479-273-4000
If every one of your readers took the time to send a letter, we could make a difference.  If nothing else to alert the "powers that be" that they loose more "product" (translation money) by not caring for their fish than it is financially (in bottom line sales) profitable.  Also, not buying fish from such a place would go a long way to convincing them not to re-order this product.  If you sell glass, you invest in a lot of bubble wrap.  If you sell fish, you should invest in training sales staff to care for them.
One letter is worth 500 in store protests, by the way.
<Outstanding. Thank you for your interest, help here. Though there are (of course) many fine people, and even some admirable business practices at this largest of U.S.-based (for now) endeavors, I am given to avoid their establishments out of personal disregard for some aspects... the lack of fair representation, health benefits for employees... Some incidental information I've been party to re their adventitious stock/pricing policies... and more to the point here, the lack of regard for the livestock assortment, apparent lack of training of personnel in their "aquarium departments". Am also cc'ing old friends Nevin and Tom Bailey, who supply much of this mass merchandiser with life... to urge their further input. Bob Fenner>

Freshwater Seahorses?  No.... - 04/22/2006
Hi Mr. Fenner, my name is Danny,
<Hi Danny, Sabrina here in Bob's stead.>
I am looking to get freshwater seahorses for one of my tanks.
<Good luck!  There are no such critters.>
Where would I be able to find some?
<There once may have been a species of freshwater seahorse in lake Titicaca, but it is long extinct.  There are, however, a handful of freshwater Pipefishes in the world, though they are VERY rarely available in the hobby.  Take a look at http://www.fishbase.org for information, species names....  and then seek out a store in your area that can special order one of the species you are interested in.  Remember, though, that they will eat ONLY live foods, and can be extremely difficult to care for as a result.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

FW livestocking  4/18/06
Hello
<Hi there>
I am the new owner of a 30 gallon freshwater tank. I have a planted aquarium with a Fluval 3 filter. I have three fancy guppies, two otos (midget
suckermouths), 3 ghost shrimps and a lot of unwanted snails.  
<Heee!>
Everything seems to be going well (water testing is normal).  I have had the tank for 1 month now and I would love to add more fish.
I would love to add an angelfish, a yoyo loach and a bumblebee goby
<... the Angel will probably not be compatible in time... the goby is a brackish water animal...>
plus a few other assorted community fish (tetras, guppies etc).
Can I add all of these types together safely and how many of each should I be adding?
<Better to put together a long-er range stocking plan here... add the smaller, easier-going species in your ultimate list first... a few at a time>
I was reading that I should always add loaches in pairs or in threes...is this true?
<Depends on the species, but yes, these are social animals>
How many fish can I add at a time and how long should I wait in between adding fish and which types should I add first?
<See above>
Can you suggest any other colourful fish that would be suitable with this combination of fish?
Thanks for your time and what a great website.
Chandi
<Are listed... on the WWM site. Start that list, add notes re likely largest size, how fast the choices will grow, their compatibility, feeding, systems requirements... Bob Fenner>

Some very specific freshwater questions .. stkg. mostly  04/17/2006
Hello. How's the WWM crew?
<Mmm, am okay m'self... is this part of the above stated specifics?>
It’s been a year or so since my last email.
Anyway, I got some questions, and I would truly appreciate your group’s prompt reply.
<I'll give you mine>
I currently have 2 clown loaches, 1 albino rainbow shark, 1 rainbow shark in my 75gal tank, and I’ll be transferring them to my newly setup 90gal tank
once it has fully cycled. The tank was setup just yesterday, and in it are some green Cabombas, and what might be Vallisneria or sagittaria or
Eleocharis (LFS forgot its exact name, but it looks a lot like a clump of tall green grass. Got the names from looking at WWM pics). Next week, I’ll
be buying some water sprites. Tank also has 5pcs of old bog woods (I bought this 3yrs ago) w/c I haven’t used in a long time (like for 2yrs). The filter
is Resun 808 canister filter with a pump output of 1500l/h and filter circulation 800l/h. The tank is situated by the window and receives direct
sunlight in the afternoon. (By the way, I live in the tropics – Philippines actually. Ave. temp. is 29 C.
<Toasty!>
I’m planning to add some more fish into the tank. I really have my heart set on some cyprinodonts like platies, mollies and swordtails. Question is, are
they going to be compatible with the loaches and rainbow sharks with regard to behavior and water parameters?
<The minnow sharks might go after the slower livebearing toothed carps... only experience can/will show>
I know the livebearers love hard alkaline waters. I’ve no idea for the loaches, and rainbow sharks.
<Their ranges for water quality overlap here>
Also, is it okay to have bogwood in their tank?
<Mmm, yes... along with regular water changes (20-25% a week)>
I know bogwood lowers ph and makes water soft, but I just love the aesthetics of it.  But, if it would be detrimental to my fish’s health, I will remove them. My fish comes first. LFS and fish breeders tell me to add rock salt to a livebearers’ tank. Will the loach and rainbow shark tolerate that?
<Enough to make a difference, yes. About a maximum of a level teaspoon per ten actual gallons of system water. Replaced with water changes per volume changed out>
While I’m at it, I plan to buy some tiger, rosy, Sumatra, and one spot barbs as well. I might throw in some serpae, black skirt, and red cross tetra too.
What do you think?
<The Tetras are not likely a good mix here... for reasons I suspect you're aware of>
Would that be too diverse a community tank?
<IMO, yes... I'd stick with a theme of similarly tempered animals, plants, that "enjoy" similar water quality, or better, these characteristics and biotopic considerations>
Thank you so much for taking time out to answer my questions. More power!
Paul
<Indeed! Thank you for writing/sharing. Bob Fenner>

Keeping Monos with Freshwater Fish  4/14/06
Hello Bob, how are you?  
<Bob is great, you've got Pufferpunk here today.>
I wanted to put a few monos in my 75gal and was wondering if the current fish I have in my tank will withstand brackish water?  The fish are as follows:  6 tiger barbs, 2 rainbow sharks and a clown loach.  I have read that they should be slowly acclimated to full concentration seawater as they age, but for now I wish to keep them in my FW tank (and later transfer them to my SW tank).  Can I do this with the fresh water selection of fish that I have?
<None of your fish will appreciate salt of any kind, especially the amount you will need to even start out keeping monos.  We're talking about at LEAST 1 cup of salt/5g for juveniles.  Also monos grow to around a foot & are schooling fish (5-6).  This means at least a 300g tank for all of them.  ~PP>
Thanks

Ramblings re FW livestocking    4/14/06
Hi,  I have 2 - 75 gallon tanks.  In the latest one we have 2 clown loaches, a knife,
<What species, family at least?>
  a cat, a pleco, and a severum (very gentle)  and a few dwarf gouramis.  I like fish   with lots of movement or play and color;  not just the typical;  any suggestions. I have fun watching the clown loaches as they seem to play "tag" together. All the   fish are very well acclimated to each other and do very well.
     The second large tank has 3 pacu that I am presently searching for a home for   so that tank will be clear to restock - more suggestions - I have seriously been
  considering discus.
<?>
Or,  can the discus be added to the aforementioned tank?
   <Not practically, no... have different temperaments, water quality needs>
  I also have in another tank 3 Oscars that I am selling.  For a while I had a   smaller live bearer tank but just enjoyed more of a variety of fish and the
  larger tanks are the best so that I can put fish that can grow somewhat.
     I just sold 2 - 55 gal. tanks so am now down to the 2- 75, 2 - 10 and one   30 gal.  Lots of fun for my husband and I.  We built a special cabinet that
  house the smaller tanks recessed inside and the larger ones on top -   a one wall unit..........   
  Please respond,
  Sincerely,
  Nelwyn Mills   
  do you notify by email your responses?
<Yes... and post. Bob Fenner, a bit confused with what you're looking for here. The basic requirements (Systems) and Compatibility of these and many other freshwater organisms are posted on WWM. Please, go read there re. Bob Fenner>

Cool water Companions - 04/04/2006
Hi,
<Hey, Nate!>
I am looking for some companions for some white cloud minnows.  My tank is currently about 68 degrees.  I have a heater, but I understand the white cloud minnows don't like anything above 72.  
<Right, best to keep it cool.>
Right now I have a 75 gallon with about a dozen minnows, so I have room for more fish.  I was thinking of maybe adding another dozen minnows.  For other cooler water companions.  
<Indeed!>
I understand I can add guppies, swordtails, platies and mollies (should I bump the temp up to 72 for these guys?)  
<Actually, I'd skip on these and go for something a little "cooler" (pun heavily intended) like Goodeids or Skiffia.  Don't mix species from the same genus (for example, Ilyodon xantusi can mix with Ameca splendens, but not Ilyodon furcidens).  You can find a number of Goodeids available on http://www.aquabid.com now and often through local aquarium clubs.  In fact, if you're in the SF Bay Area, I know where you can get a few different species pretty easily.  Goodeids are big, beautiful livebearers that not only prefer but ultimately *need* the cooler temperatures that you're working with.  You could probably be okay with some of the less heavily inbred swordtails, maybe mollies as well, but the best bet for fun fish is the Goodeids.  You can also swing something like giant or zebra danios, as these fare quite well in cooler water.>
Are there other fish that like this temperature range (maybe a few bottom dwellers).  
<Bottom dwellers - yeah - try to locate Etheostoma species, if you can; these are North American natives, kinda goby-like and very cute.  Some are *quite* colorful.  I believe there are a number of North American natives available at http://www.jonahsaquarium.com .  For something more "common", your basic weather/dojo loach will appreciate the cooler temps, as will some of the more delicate and bizarre "hillstream loaches".  There are even a few Loricariids that can be found in cooler streams.>
I am most interested in hardy, colorful fish.  Thanks.
<Ilyodon xantusi, Ameca splendens, zebra danios and weather loaches would make fine additions for active, colorful, fun critters.>
Nate Terry
<All the best to you,  -Sabrina>

Hard water system choices for livestock    3/29/06
My parents have a 55 gal. aquarium with 2 serpae tetras, 2 silver dollars, one 9 in Pleco and their water is hard well water. I'm trying to switch them over to fish that handle this water better , but I am also looking for fish that are peaceful. I'm not there to watch these fish all the time and my parents just want to look at a pretty aquarium and don't pay attention to any problems that may arise. I've been looking into rainbow fish and I am not sure what kind to get or if there are even better choices for  these circumstances. Do you have any suggestions?
<A Rainbowfish system... perhaps with some SAE's and relatives (see WWM re) would be very nice. As might be a larger livebearer (Swordtails, Mollies) display... And must plug my favorite... some large fancy goldfishes... There are many more such themes that might be employed. Bob Fenner>

Aquarium stocking, FW   3/15/06
Good Afternoon,
<And to you>
Great site!!  It’s always on my “to read” list while I eat my lunch at work.
<It's my first thing in the AM... to get it done/over!>
Seeing as you provide such great advice, I thought I would pass some plans I have for my two tanks (both are cycled, and ready to go) by you and get your reaction/thoughts.
I have a 20 gallon tank that is well planted on one half, and open on the other half (with a few ornaments/cave/driftwood).  I have one dwarf Gourami in it, as his tank mates died about a month ago (other Gourami died of a bad infection of some kind, and clown loaches caught ick). I isolated this tank, raised the temp to 86 and treated with salt to clean it of any further infection.   I plan on getting another dwarf Gourami, a Gold Gourami, a Pearl Gourami and about 6 Harlequin Rasbora for this tank (and probably 1 snail).
<I'd stick with just two Gourami species here>
I have a 10 gallon tank that I would like to use for a livebearer tank. I plan on having 3 fancy guppies and 3 platies. There are the usual plastic plants and ornaments in this tank.  I plan on using a ratio of 2 tablespoons per 5 gallon of sea salt in the tank.
Do these set-ups seem reasonable?  I don’t want to over populate, and make the space stressful for the fishes.
Thanks
Adam
<Should work. Bob Fenner>

Reviving and Stocking FW System   3/14/06
Thanks in advance for taking my question.  I’ve tried to look through the
FAQ’s for answers, but I haven’t had any luck.  I keep a 6 gallon Eclipse at
work.  Until last week, I had a male Betta and a Platy.  They had done well
(enough) together in a 1.5 gallon tank with an aerator but no filter.  But I
decided that they would be happier with more room and some filtration, and upgraded to the 6 gallon tank.
< Goo Idea>
The tank was looking a little empty with just the two of them in there, so last week I went to the pet store and got a guppy and a Dalmatian molly. When they got home, the guppy started eating immediately but the molly
wasn’t too perky.  The molly was close to dead the next morning.  He’d stay
really still, and then freak out for about 5 seconds and swim in spirals.
Then he’d stop and fall back to the bottom of the tank and lay on his side.
I removed him from the tank and put him in some fresh water, but he was dead
within about 15 minutes. Since the guppy seemed to be working out ok, I went back and replaced the molly with a second guppy.  The next day, I came in and the original guppy was dead.  His fins had been bitten off, and I don’t know whether that
happened before or after he was dead. I’ve now come back in to work after the weekend and the 2nd guppy and the original Betta are dead.  The platy seemed pretty weak, but alive, so I quickly put the old 1 ½ gallon tank back together and got him into fresh
water over there (I keep bottled water for the fish in my office so that
it’s the same temp).  He perked up within a few minutes and is now eating
and active. I’m thinking that something foul came in with the new fish.
< That is why we always recommend a quarantine tank for new fish.>
I was back in the pet store over the weekend, and almost all of their freshwater tanks are
empty (they were all full and had new arrivals on Friday).
< Should have asked where all the fish were.>
I had checked my water quality right before everyone started dying, and everything but iron
was in normal range, and I think that’s just for the plant anyway.
My question (finally!) is what to do now with the tank.  I’ve done about ½ a
water change and have it cycling now, but should I dump the whole thing and clean it out?
< Let the tank sit for a week with no fish. Most parasites will soon die off without a host. Check the water. Ammonia and nitrites should be zero and the nitrates should be under 25 ppm.>
Is there something I can do to make sure that in the future
new arrivals don’t bring the fish plague in with them?
< Make the older smaller tank a quarantine tank. Search the WWM website for details.> Whatever this disease was, it took fish from being fine and active one day and killed them
overnight…I’d rather just keep the platy alone in the small tank if there’s
nothing I can do to keep from being the fish version of Typhoid Mary in the
future. Any advice you have will be appreciated…I’m very new at this.
Thanks, Jen
<Instead of buying brand new fish at the store over the weekend try buying you fish on Thurs. before they get a new shipment in. This way the fish have been in the store nearly a week. Most of the weaker fish will die off at the store and not in your tank. If they do get sick then the store will have to treat them and not you. If you do this and quarantine the new fish this will greatly reduce your problems in the bigger tank.-Chuck>

Large FW aquarium stocking  2/6/06
I have been asked be our local hospital to take over their 300 gallon tank.  About 10 yrs ago I had set it up for them and made it an African
Cichlid tank.  I then got sent to 6 mo of training out of state and transferred the account to a LFS.  They promptly pulled out all of my
large specimens and sold them in the LFS and replaced it with a juv. They typically put in red zebras so they ended up with a tank full of
red zebras which everyone thought were comets.  (It is actually kind of fun to listen to all the fish experts working in the hospital
explain that the tank is having problems because goldfish are such dirty fish, when its a tank full of Africans).  The administrator
wants nothing to do with cichlids now, and that was usually my standard for a large freshwater tank.  I have some good ideas for
filling that tank up, utilizing schools of little flashy guys like neons and such, but thought I would see what you guys thought since I
have been away from tanks for quite a whale
<Thar she blows!>
and you play with this stuff daily.  Any suggestions?  His only demands are that it be colorful, active and have lots of variety...and no red zebras.  Thanks.
<... some sort of theme... biotope. Show some pix to whoever really makes the decision here... Something suited to the prevailing water (tap) quality. Bob Fenner>

Stocking A Large 300 Gallon FW Tank   2/7/06
I was thinking on adding the following:
Top water: Hatchetfish, Zebra Danios, Pearl Danios
< All very active and look good in schools. The hatchets tend to jump when spooked so may not be a good choice for a very active area.
Mid: Cardinal Tetras, Neon Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Rosy or Bleeding Heart Tetras, Kribensis or rams.
< All good fish as long as they are all going to be about the same size.>
Bottom: Cory cats, Pleco, Clown loach, Kuhli loach, Otocinclus
<Some Plecos get big. Go to planetcatfish.com and get a species that will not get too big for the other fish. Clown loaches get very big over time and can be aggressive. Go to loaches.com for a smaller more suitable species.>
I ran across this combo in one fish book a long time ago.  Any thoughts about adding guppies, mollies, swordtails?
< They really prefer hard alkaline water to look their best but larger ones will go after smaller fish.>
I have always shied away from these and leaned more towards the African cichlids as it doesn't seem like their home aquarium that way.  
Also, I was wondering if gouramis or a betta would do well.  I wasn't sure if all the quick little tetras would pester them too
much.  Also wondering if you could put both in, or if the gourami is to betta-shaped and would get attacked?
<Bettas have these nice long flowing fins that other fish can't seem to resist. Soon the fins are ragged and the fish is hurting. Gouramis have these little ventral fins that have been transformed into little feelers. Other fish always tend to pick these off and they never regrow right.>
Any input as to species you would add or omit?
< The cardinals would look great but need soft clean soft acidic water to thrive.>
How many individuals would you recommend for a 300gal?
< Many factors involved like water changes, filtration etc... I think your biggest problem will be disease control. I would quarantine all fish in a smaller tank for at least two weeks and add each species slowly over time. This will allow you to see how each are adapting to the new tank. Nothing causes more trouble in a public aquarium than sick dying fish and green water.>
Would you use plastic or live plants?
< Live plants in the areas that get light and plastic in the darker corners.>
Either way, in a 300gal it is going to take a lot.  I wasn't sure if the live plants would look nice enough for a display tank.  I have seen some live planted home
tanks that look stunning, and some where the plants look shredded.  
I haven't done much with live aquarium plants, and will definitely have a test tank at home either way.
Thank you.  The site is great.  Lots of good information in there.  
I wish I had accessed all this information years ago.  I learned everything the old-fashioned, expensive way - “Whoops, that didn’t
work.  Better go back to the pet shop.”
< Good luck with the project and thank you for you kind words.-Chuck>  

20 gallon tank - How many fish?!?   1/10/06
    Hello!
   <Hi there>
  My boyfriend and I have just set up a 20 gallon tank with 4 plastic plants, a small cave and a small rock. I have a bubble curtain set up in the background which seems to help the water circulation considerably, and of course I have a good working TopFin Filter set up. I use a water heater to keep the temperature between 76-78 degrees. I heard that it is better to add half the fish you plan to have to your tank first, and then add the other half later, for adoption reasons:
   <Yes>
  So, today we went to a tropical fish store
<Wait! How long has this tank been up and going? Has it cycled?>
and purchased a male swordtail and a female swordtail, two Bala sharks,
<Get way too big for this size system...>
and 6 zebra danios. I tested the water before they went in and all levels are stable (nitrite, nitrate, pH, alkalinity, etc.) so right now all of the fish are looking extremely happy and energetic, but the tank still looks really bare. We were thinking of adding 1 Angel fish (because i also heard that you should either put one angel in or more than 3 to prevent bullying), 2 gouramis and 4 glass cats.
<I would hold off on adding more fish/es till this system has been running a few weeks more>
I am hoping that would fill the tank just fine, but i wanted your advice (since you seem to answer everyone's questions so well!) on whether or not you think this is overload for my tank and whether or not all of these fish are compatible with one another and the ratios for each separate species of fish seem okay.
<The Angel/s are a wild-card... may work out fine or be agonistic>
I still have a lot to learn. I have been doing research on the web, and so far it seems as though they should be compatible, but desperately want expert advise!
   <Best to proceed slowly... especially at first, and in making stocking selections>
  Thanks so much in advance for all of your help!
  Jaime and August from Baltimore, MD
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

"Freshwater Lionfish"   1/7/06
Hello I have had trouble learning what the species requires I searched your site an your crew says its a Sculpin or something but here is the fish that I have. This is the scientific name Batrachus trispinosus.  This is a picture of the fish your pictures weren't the same thing. There are numerous common names as with all fish, but I get the best results on google using the name Freshwater Lionfish.
>> Sorry I hit send too early my cut and paste is all garbled by Word:
Batrachomoeus trispinosus (current valid name) comes from Brackish water, in the Mekong and around Indonesia.
There is a very similar fish from the North and Atlantic coast in the mangroves of South America called Batrachus surinamensis, also found around the mouth of the Amazon in Brazil and points south. As suggested they will need some salt in the water. They get quite big, I have seen them over 16 inches. Other than that they have the same requirements as marine species in the group.
<Thank you for this. There are indeed a few species offered as "FW Lions"... almost all are brackish to marine animals. Bob Fenner>

FW Community Tank Recommendations  - 01/03/2006
We have a 55 gallon freshwater community tank.  Right now we have five Rummynose tetra; two Congo tetra; two hatchets; two swordtails; one dwarf gourami; one Raphael cat; one whiptail cat; one dragon fish; one Cory cat; a golden algae eater; an African butterfly fish; and a baby whale.  We're shopping now for a royal pleco.
We're rapidly running out of space but still want to add a few more things- looking for something interesting that would occupy the middle of the tank. Any ideas? Thanks Dan.
<With thousands of freshwater species available it is difficult to know what fish are available in your area of the world. The Royal Pleco will get big. I would recommend a different type of pleco that stays smaller. Go to Planetcatfish.com to research other types of Plecos. Your dragon fish may eat smaller slower bottom dwelling fish. There are two ways to go. You could go with the small fish/big school effect. This is like adding 20 more rummy nose tetras and the big school moves as one unit and can be pretty impressive. The same for your Congo tetras. The other way is to add bigger fish. Bigger fish tend to pick on and intimidate smaller fish. Angelfish would work but might pick on the feelers of the gourami. Cichlid wise keyhole cichlids or festivums are very peaceful. Odd ball fish would include headstanders, glassfish, glass catfish, transparent Knifefish. Schooling fish like rainbows are both colorful and have a very cool habit of "flashing" neon colors from their forehead area. Celebes rainbows have long fins that they use to display to one another an is very interesting to watch. Go to aquabid.com and check out the other fish that may be available to you.-Chuck>

Small Tank, Big Problems  12/15/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
My young son has 7 gallon glass tank with 50 watt heater, Whisper filter with carbon and a fancy in the tank aerator. We usually have a centerpiece (ship, castle, coral) and 1-2 larger plastic plants and a couple smaller.  About an inch of gravel in bottom. The occupants are a zebra danio, black phantom tetra, red phantom tetra, glow eye tetra, a gourami, à Cory and a tiny algae eater.
<That's a lot of fish for such a small tank.  If you are trying to follow the  1"/gallon rule (used only for small fish), then you have to account for their adult size.  In that case you have well over 10" of fish, depending on what species your gourami is & the "algae eater" (if it's a pleco, they can grow over 18").  Also, most of your fish are schooling fish (tetras, danios) & you only have 1 of each species.>
We have lost some fish over a period of time (3 platys, a bloodfin) and had to return an aggressive molly.
<They can be pretty mean!.>
The fish we presently have seem to get along pretty good although tend to hide most of the time with the exception of the
danio.
<Probably because they are uncomfortable not being able to school.>
The Cory recently developed some white growth on his side and then a large bubble appeared on his forehead and burst. He started moving around crazily and we find him in strange places such as top of the heater or alongside it.
<Sounds like bacterial infection, due to poor water quality.  Cories are usually fairly hardy.>
The water temp is about 80. At first I thought it was outgassing from too much aeration, but then I noticed one of his eyes bulging and his sides seemed protruding. The conclusion with the local Petco was dropsy and we have been treating it for a couple days now. He seems to be improving.
<That's good.>
I removed the aerator from the tank when we thought of the outgassing and I wanted to clean it as it was pretty algae caked.
<Probably not necessary to remove, but if your filter has good water flow, the extra bubbles aren't really needed.>
I now notice the tank rapidly increasing in algae on all the plants and there are some dark black spots growing on the glass.
<Could be from overfeeding & not enough water changes.>
I clearly have a sick tank. I know I should be changing 20% of the water weekly but its probably been more like every 2-3 weeks.
<Aha! I was right! 50% weekly water changes are what I do to maintain a healthy tank.  Especially one that is overcrowded.  Be sure to clean the gravel too.>
I was going to put the aerator back in but then I noticed an article/discussion on your site about sponge filters.  Since it appears that carbon is only effective for a short time, what do you
think of my using a correct sized sponge filter for bio and aeration reasons along with the whisper filter for particulate and carbon filtering?
<Carbon isn't needed.  I only use it on freshwater tanks to remove medications I may have used in a hospital tank.  I love Aquaclear filters.  They have a sponge (for mechanical filtration) & BioMax ceramic rings (for biological filtration) & I like to put about 1" filter floss in between (for polishing the water crystal clear).>
I do not have a test kit (a problem I plan on changing today) but I clearly need to get more in tune with the water issues and change the 20% weekly.
<Great! Test for ammonia & nitrItes (should be 0 at all times), nitrAtes (should be <20) & pH (should be around neutral, 7.2 or close to what your tapwater is).>
Finally, I bought a Hydor Ekip 250 awhile back liking the all in one idea. But it was a bit noisy for my son¹s bedroom. So I kept using the whisper. What do you think of this filter design? Is the sponge my best bet for the bio reasons?
<I am not familiar with this system (although just looked it up on the net).  It looks as effective as most other filters, for a small tank.  Be sure to leave your existing filter on your tank for at least a month after you buy a new one, so the bacteria have time to establish in the new one.>
Thanks much for your timely reply. His fish need you!
<Good luck & remember--water changes, water changes, water changes!  ~PP>
James

Coldwater Fish Tank Stocking  11/15/05
Hello, I am very impressed with your site, it is very useful.
<Thanks>
I am 15 years old and in my bedroom I have a 6.6 gallon coldwater aquarium with a filter but no heater. The tanks dimensions are 24 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches. At the moment I have six white cloud mountain minnows and two Garra garra taeniata. 
I am interested in either getting rosy red minnows - will they school with the white cloud mountain minnow or will they create two separate groups? Or a trio of guppies for breeding (two males and one female) or zebra danios (are the long finned or short finned species better? what is the minimum number of these I can have in my tank to keep them content?) What would be the best mix or either guppies, red minnows or zebra danios to go with the fish I have at present? How many would you suggest? Thank-you very much for your advice, Joe
< Go with the danios. If they are all the same size they will probably school together. The fins of the male guppies may get picked on by the other fish. Get about 6 of each for a schooling effect and to make them feel more comfortable. Check the nitrates and do your water changes often to keep the nitrate levels down.-Chuck> 
<<Mm, I think Chuck mis-read the size of this aquarium - this is far too small for six of each of these groups....  -SCF>>

Moving Fish Around  10/20/05
I have two tanks with too many fish in them.  In one, the fish just got way too big, and the other way too friendly.  I have two more tanks...a ten (well 2-10s actually--but parts for one.) and a 30 X 12" tank (long) I would like to shuffle my fish, and get two of the black tipped shark/minnows.   The "sharks would go in the 30 X 12 tank, and I would like to move out several female cichlids to the ten gallon tank.
I would like to move one of the goldfish (they are so pretty-fantails) to the longer tank too--with the sharks (and maybe a few Neons?)  Can or should I take water from the old tanks to set up the new tanks to keep from shocking the fish.  They all seem really healthy and happy--but crowded at the moment, and I'd just like to alleviate the crowded part.  Thanks
<It is more important that you use some of the old gravel from the established tank to be used in the new tank. It contains bacteria that will be needed to convert fish waste into less toxic compounds. Try not mixing goldfish with tropical fish. Goldfish like cooler temps than the tropicals. Somebody will get sick over time.-Chuck>

Not The Greatest Mix, and Maybe Velvet - 10/18/2005
Hi and thanks for a great site!
<Good morning, and thanks for the kind words!>
I have a screwy tank population and I need advice on how bad it really is and if I can intro a livebearing species into it.  I have a 29 gal long tank with an AquaClear 200 filter and a heater. For livestock I have 2 Plecos, 1 banjo catfish, 1 dwarf frog, 1 Kuhli loach (sp?),
<Kuhli>
1 Oranda,
<Does NOT belong in this tropical mix at all.>
6 tetras (maybe serpae or phantom) , 5 small mystery tetras-3/4 inch white with 2 red spots on fins, and 6 Cory cats. I had a school of black sailfin mollies-about 9 as well.
<Too many fish, including the mollies.  Mollies prefer harder, more alkaline water than the tetras, banjo, loach, plec, Corys....>
I keep the tank at 78 degrees, I add 1tbsp of salt for every 5 gallons and I test it every 2 days. I do a 10 gallon water change 2-3 times a week
<Slow down there, turbo, that's a bit too much changing of water!  Kick back and enjoy your tank a bit.>
and the ph is always around 7.8,
<Too high in my opinion for the most of your fish - BUT - a stable pH is what's important, NOT a precise pH....  I would keep this as-is, if it's working well for your fish.>
ammonia zero, nitrites and nitrates negligible.
<Mm, nitrites should not be "negligible", but zero.>
Half of the mollies were a new intro and I think they stressed out the original mollies. After 2 days together I saw one male start to lose weight and move to the bottom of the tank and start shimmying.
<Not a good sign, at all....>
He died. Another one became sick the next day and I took him to the pet store fo