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Jesse's pigs

Jesse's pigs

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Hiya,

My partner has wanted to start keeping fish for a while but has never taken the leap
...probably because of all the tanks/species etc available even I've found it a bit overwhelming. I kept fish years ago so I must admit I'm just as much a novice. His birthday is coming up and I'd love to set him up a beginner's tank so he can finally start this fish journey.

So any fish keepers? Just need tips, advice. I definitely want a catfish of some sort in the tank but what fish can go with them? What temperature? Tank sizes? And how many fish can I get on a tank? I know pets at home has adopted the 'fish point' scheme but what about tanks elsewhere- how do I know how many fish I can keep in there.
Many thanks! :)
 
If you're wanting catfish, you're looking at getting a tropical set up.

I have a 3ft tank and personally wouldn't have anything smaller.

And... I have an aquatic shop locally who will do free water tests. This is a boon... Water tests are particularly important with a new tank.

Mum.webp

My favourite fish are bristle nosed catfish. This is a picture of my female... It was taken 3 years ago.
 
If you’re thinking about catfish/plecos you’ll be needing a huge tank (min 200 litre for 1), they get big! There are some smaller species that don’t require as much space but need companionship but I can’t think of the names right now, how annoying! The main thing with other fish is to make sure they’re docile fish for community tanks. Fish like angelfish would bully/eat bottom dwelling species.

Have you got an expert fish place near you? I’d personally go with a place more experienced than P@H to get the right kind of fish and eco system for such a lovely big tank! :)
 
Veggies Galore said:
If you're wanting catfish, you're looking at getting a tropical set up.

I have a 3ft tank and personally wouldn't have anything smaller.

And... I have an aquatic shop locally who will do free water tests. This is a boon... Water tests are particularly important with a new tank.

View attachment 118334

My favourite fish are bristle nosed catfish. This is a picture of my female... It was taken 3 years ago.
Click to expand...

This is actually the species I've been looking into. They certainly are stunning fish- her boyfriends bristles are amazing!!

I've seen a few fish shops about that I'll certainly have to query in- definitely ask about water checks etc.

Cavy Kung-Fu said:
If you’re thinking about catfish/plecos you’ll be needing a huge tank (min 200 litre for 1), they get big! There are some smaller species that don’t require as much space but need companionship but I can’t think of the names right now, how annoying! The main thing with other fish is to make sure they’re docile fish for community tanks. Fish like angelfish would bully/eat bottom dwelling species.

Have you got an expert fish place near you? I’d personally go with a place more experienced than P@H to get the right kind of fish and eco system for such a lovely big tank! :)
Click to expand...

Many of the tanks at pets at home look way too small! And their fish point thing really confused me when it says about 2 of a certain fish in a tank then they have a smaller looking tank crammed full🤣 but alas.
 
So ... when you start thinking about what fish you want , ask for fish that are suitable in a community tank .


My current favourite combination is

A shoal of rummy nosed tetras
A few black mollies
A pair of bristle nosed catfish (mine breed 😱)
Some Corydoras catfish
1 Botia. (Keeps the snails down .... in my opinion )


Lots of other choices ..but
I would advise you to avoid guppies and endlers
 
Bill & Ted said:
Are they Clown Loaches? I used to have some of those, I love them such funny little characters x
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Clown loaches are in the botia family and there are several varieties

botia 1.jpg

Here is a picture of mine hiding behind an ornament. This picture was taken in 2016...but he (or she) is still going strong
 
Veggies Galore said:
Corydorus ?

View attachment 118339

Agree they are much better in groups . Above is a picture of 2 of mine
Click to expand...
Yes! Corys, they’re the ones!

Jesse's pigs said:
This is actually the species I've been looking into. They certainly are stunning fish- her boyfriends bristles are amazing!

I've seen a few fish shops about that I'll certainly have to query in- definitely ask about water checks etc.



Many of the tanks at pets at home look way too small! And their fish point thing really confused me when it says about 2 of a certain fish in a tank then they have a smaller looking tank crammed full🤣 but alas.
Click to expand...
Yea it’s terrible, most their fish die too. I feel so sorry for them! I wouldn’t trust any enclosures or advice from them that’s for sure!
 
Just get the biggest tank you can afford and have room for, there are so many lovely tropical fishes.
Angel fish are very territorial, avoid them. only get one Siamese Fighting Fish because two will fight to the death! A shoal of neon tetras look very pretty but you need at least five. I do rather like Guppies, some of the Males have fantastic colours. Swordtail are rather pretty too. Blue Gourami are nice. Get some kind of bottom dwelling fish that eats the algae off the floor and the sides of the glass. You can also buy little crabs and shrimps which add interest.
once you get started and gain more experience you can then look at more expensive fish when you need replacements, let us know how you get on, I really enjoyed keeping fishes many years ago, they are very relaxing to sit and watch
 
I would personally find a local independent aquatic shop to view and ask questions. Most will be more than happy to help. You want to see healthy clean tanks with no dead fish in them. These stores tend to take in extra fish from you if you end up having babies and often give you something you need in return (other fish or plants). We have bristlenose plecos and they bred. We still have a couple of the babies now. We have guppies too which have bred (both the endler and 'normal' types), rummy nose tetras, shrimp. We have had celestial danios and some harlequin types. You just need some that aren't fin nippers. Dwarf gourami are also interesting and our male was forever building bubble nests
 
Veggies Galore said:
The only fish I would ever consider keeping in a small tank is a Siamese fighting fish (Betta Splendens ) .
Click to expand...
At least 30 litres..I miss my Betta, he seemed to like playing with a ping pong ball and used to come up and grab his treats (tubifex) from my hand, he lived for 3 years too..I didn't buy him from a small glass, he was in a tank with partitions, however no doubt he arrived in the shop in a small glass..oof I get angry thinking of it.. he lived alongside a small plec at the bottom..he ate the snails...of course :)
 
Sorry missed this!
Yeah I’ve got three tanks atm after snails had babies last year! One 29g with a rehomed goldfish, a 20g with some apple snails and my beloved 29g community tropical tank.
1D2436BF-C178-4CEE-BB30-75FD6A03B412.webp
Just after some new plants added a few months back, looks even messier now as in need of aquascaping as plants have grown crazily! But fish like it! :)
I’ve currently got 4 apples snails, Rainbowfish (Neon Dwarf and Lake Kutubu) and a few Oto catfish, as well as my lonely Corydora after the gang have all got old and passed away. Tank a bit empty so new babies for my bday in Oct I think!
8271380C-9D8A-43E7-AEB9-0613DBAFB1E6.webp
Oto enjoying his Xmas sprout!
6F3DB1D9-8362-4693-B2A3-00048C690B50.webp
Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish (the small one at the top my only ever surprise baby last year!)

I’ve had lots of others, freshwater goby was a big fave of mine, as well as Percy the Bristlenose Pleco who died a few years ago.
6DE45C61-E7A0-4AED-A0C0-391B6498DD96.webp
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Goby Wan Kenobe :)

Also kept Rummy Nose Tetras, Rosey Tetras, a pair of Bolivian Rams and a gang of various Corys (brilliant fishies :D). A few others I’m forgetting atm! Tetras don’t seem to do too well in my tank as really hard water in my area and high pH but had the Rummy Nose about 6years.

Definitely worth seeing what kind of water you have and matching fish to that with their needs. And I’d avoid P@H like the plague! Useless tanks and poorly fish! As @Lady Kelly says above, independent fish shops are much better, most would be happy to answer all your questions, test your water etc. And take in babies if needed (if you chose fish like guppies etc that are mad breeders!).
Hope some help :) in between the rambling!
 
I've found this tank AquaEl Leddy 60 Aquarium Kit

Is this an adequate first timer tank to begin with? Then look into getting fish that would live happily in that (I know this rules out any larger types of catfish 😥 but seems a pretty decent tank.) :)
 
Jesse's pigs said:
I've found this tank AquaEl Leddy 60 Aquarium Kit

Is this an adequate first timer tank to begin with? Then look into getting fish that would live happily in that (I know this rules out any larger types of catfish 😥 but seems a pretty decent tank.) :)
Click to expand...
It’s quite small for catfish tbh, at 54l. But a few Oto catfish or Pygmy Corydoras would be ok. To be honest with fish tanks bigger is better for water quality and not causing issues with poorly fish. My tanks are all Juwel tanks (easy to look after and I’m used to them!). There are some nice ones for not too many pennies :)
But depends how much space you’ve got and how many fish you’re planning on having. You do have to cycle the tanks before adding fish (another long thing to read up on!) and smaller is faster, but if water goes a bit funny can affect the fish faster as not much there.
It’s harder keeping fish properly than a lot of people realise!
My goldfish is coming up to a decade but I have friends that bought 10 after them dying continuously, then gave up. Definitely worth doing it properly, my fish and tanks are so lovely to watch and definitely relaxing!
 
As a pet shop employee guys, please dont taint us all with the sane brush :(
The tanks you see in pet shops have huge, mature filtration systems, and are actually one very large tank separated into several smaller ones, totalling thousands of litres.
The fish are only there for a short amount of time.
The water is sterilised to prevent spread of bacteria by uv lights in the back of the system.
The water is constantly being removed via an outlet as fresh water enters, like a constant steady water change.
Where I work we sell a range of tank sizes, up to 300 litres in store and larger online. If people choose to pick up the small starter tanks, that's up to them.
I spend hours at work daily algae cleaning, health checking, siphoning waste, tending the plants, writing up treatment plans and more to ensure they are happy and well cared for.
I turn people down every day with incorrect set ups; we don't just sell people fish willy nilly.
We also test water samples for free, all you have to do is ask.

So yeah. Please don't judge every pet shop and every employee the same. I've kept fish for years, have two tanks myself and find it a little upsetting that people see us this way. I understand some stores may not be the best but at my store at least, the fish are as much a priority as the other animals, sales, profits etc. and we pride ourselves on keeping our fish well and ensuring they go to good homes.
 
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This ⬆️ 👍
Unless you have been into every single store and they are all the same, be careful of tarring every store with the same brush. It's actually quite hurtful 😔
 
Wheekallweek said:
As a pet shop employee guys, please dont taint us all with the sane brush :(
The tanks you see in pet shops have huge, mature filtration systems, and are actually one very large tank separated into several smaller ones, totalling thousands of litres.
The fish are only there for a short amount of time.
The water is sterilised to prevent spread of bacteria by uv lights in the back of the system.
The water is constantly being removed via an outlet as fresh water enters, like a constant steady water change.
Where I work we sell a range of tank sizes, up to 300 litres in store and larger online. If people choose to pick up the small starter tanks, that's up to them.
I spend hours at work daily algae cleaning, health checking, siphoning waste, tending the plants, writing up treatment plans and more to ensure they are happy and well cared for.
I turn people down every day with incorrect set ups; we don't just sell people fish willy nilly.
We also test water samples for free, all you have to do is ask.

So yeah. Please don't judge every pet shop and every employee the same. I've kept fish for years, have two tanks myself and find it a little upsetting that people see us this way. I understand some stores may not be the best but at my store at least, the fish are as much a priority as the other animals, sales, profits etc. and we pride ourselves on keeping our fish well and ensuring they go to good homes.
Click to expand...
I’ve just commented on the other thread as well but I’m sorry if my comments came across as if I was bitching about all stores, I wasn’t, I’ve just had lots of bad experiences with my local one. Many poorly, or dead, fish in tanks, as well as poorly animals. They don’t have many larger tanks and the only fish I ever got from there probably a decade ago didn’t live long at all. They have large tanks they keep the fish in but not much choice for people to buy.
I’m sure some stores are great, this was just based on my experience.
 
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