Giordano's tank

giordanopg · July 28th, 2007

Hi!

I'm new to all of this and I'm REALLY enjoying it.
Being a rookie, I made some mistakes with my buys (like buying goldfish and a lot of other supposedly non compatible fish and overstocking the tank). Fortunately, they're seem to be getting along. They've been there for a couple of months.

I have a sports theme 40 GAL tank with:
1 black moor goldfish
1 ryukin goldfish
2 bala sharks
4 blackskirt tetras
2 angelfish
1 dwarf gourami
2 zebra danios
1 pleco

The tank has a filter (sponge), some bioballs and a powerhead.
I'll appreciate any suggestions like... "your tank is a time bomb with those fishes, you should..."

Looking forward to getting a saltwater tank (maybe in a year or two).

Cheers!

UPDATE: WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WHAT IT SAYS IN MY SIGNATURE

Franciscus · July 28th, 2007

Hello Giordano, welcome.
I am new to this site as well.
From experience, goldfish and tropical fish, can live together, the only problem is, goldfish are messy, and outgrow their flat-mates.Also, their fins may be nipped.
If you can, install an outside the tank filter, they are easier to clean and not as messy.
For the rest, if you are having fun, the fish are well housed and healthy, your on the winning side.
There are some fantastic photo's and advice on this forum, but finding out for oneself is fun as well.
Cheers,
Franciscus

COBettaCouple · July 28th, 2007

welcome to fishlore!

Franciscus is right, the goldfish tend to like cooler temps than the other fish, put out a lot of waste and get big. Check out http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Goldfish.htm for a little more about the Goldies.

giordanopg · July 29th, 2007

Thanks for your responses!

Again, rookie question:
how will I know if my tankmates are not getting along and I have to do something about it?
Because right now, even though I have that weird mixture of species, they don't attack, follow or bite each other. They seem to be okay.

Callum The Cat · July 29th, 2007

if theres any trouble just take them back to the LFS or LPS (local fish shop and local pet shop)

Peace Out Callum!

giordanopg · July 29th, 2007

Thanks Callum,
my question really was how would I know if there was trouble? They would be biting are fighting each other? or would there be other less obvious signs?

I live in a small city in the Northwest of Mexico. There are 3 fish shops here but none of them seem very knowledgeable. They advised me to buy tetras and then to buy the angels and the goldfish. As soon as I started reading about aquariums I found out that few tropical fish get along with goldfish.
Anyway, if there's trouble I can give it a try and see if any of the shops take either the goldfish or some of the others.

Callum The Cat · July 29th, 2007

its actually Callum but thats cool and yer that pretty much what everyone does and we can help u even if ur LFS can't and yer jaww locking fin ripping bitting casing each other but unless one suks then if there getting along they shoould be fine

Peace Out Callum!

COBettaCouple · July 29th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by giordanopg

Thanks for your responses!

Again, rookie question:
how will I know if my tankmates are not getting along and I have to do something about it?
Because right now, even though I have that weird mixture of species, they don't attack, follow or bite each other. They seem to be okay.

Your angelfish are the most likely to get aggressive, if they buddy-up or start mating. You'll spot aggression by seeing fish nipping at each other or if you notice fins missing, bite marks, some fish hiding that don't usually.. just watch for unusual behavior and all to try catching any problems early.

giordanopg · July 29th, 2007

Sorry about that, Callum. I corrected the post.

Thank you, FLBettaCouple, I'll look for that behaviour.

giordanopg · July 30th, 2007

I was thinking about returning to the shop both goldfish.

What additions would you recommend?
The stores here usually have mollies, loaches, barbs, gouramies, platies, swordtails and the fish that I have right now.

COBettaCouple · July 30th, 2007

A couple more tetras to bring that school up to 6 and maybe a kuhli loach or 2.. just check the adult sizes of all your fish to see how much room you'd have left for the loaches with the 1" of adult fish per gallon guideline.

giordanopg · August 2nd, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLBettaCouple

A couple more tetras to bring that school up to 6 and maybe a kuhli loach or 2.. just check the adult sizes of all your fish to see how much room you'd have left for the loaches with the 1" of adult fish per gallon guideline.

Ok then,
I returned both goldfish, both bala sharks and the pleco.

I want to buy next week, as you suggested, 2 or 3 more tetras and a loach or another gourami.

COBettaCouple · August 2nd, 2007

cool.

giordanopg · August 9th, 2007

I bought 3 more tetras and they are schooling great!
I also bought 3 platies and a swordtail and 2 live plants. I got carried away... again.

COBettaCouple · August 9th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by giordanopg

I bought 3 more tetras and they are schooling great!
I also bought 3 platies and a swordtail and 2 live plants. I got carried away... again.

lol.. how many fishlore members had said that more than once.

sounds like things are going really well with your fish.

giordanopg · August 10th, 2007

Ok, here's a new picture of my tank.

You have to imagine it. The tank is placed in a pediatrician's office. There are lots of sports related toys, small footballs, baseballs, tennis rackets. Even the chairs are basketball shaped.

Kids just get hypnotized there.

Callum The Cat · August 10th, 2007

ohh yer i always get carryed away

Peace out Callum!

COBettaCouple · August 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by giordanopg

Ok, here's a new picture of my tank.

You have to imagine it. The tank is placed in a pediatrician's office. There are lots of sports related toys, small footballs, baseballs, tennis rackets. Even the chairs are basketball shaped.

Kids just get hypnotized there.

cool

giordanopg · August 24th, 2007

I measured my tank today and it really is a 34 GAL tank, not a 40 GAL. My seller was wrong.

After lots of messing around, this is what I have in it right now:

6 blackskirt tetras
1 angelfish
1 dwarf gourami
2 zebra danios
1 platy

Cody · August 25th, 2007

i started werid also well not with mixing goldfish but i took risks here and ther but really the only proublem of fish not getting along is when i had a silver dollar and dwarf grourami togehter and the gourami won the fight other wise my fish always got along

giordanopg · September 5th, 2007

I bought a couple of cory cats. I think they are peppered corys.

The tank is shaping up!

fishlover1 · September 5th, 2007

haha thats cute your angelfish is always on the left side of the screen!

giordanopg · September 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishlover1

haha thats cute your angelfish is always on the left side of the screen!

Yeah, that's the spot he likes for the photographs.

timg · September 8th, 2007

Hi there!

Sounds like you are really enjoying your hobby and having a lot of fun! Be a little cautious not to overstock your tank though, since the angel will grow quite big. So far you seem to have a very good balance in the community, and I love the layout, it's quite unique!

giordanopg · September 9th, 2007

I bought 2 last fish (I promise).
I was getting some algae so I bought a couple of otos.