Just beginning, question about possible freshwater fish..

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Paperlantern4

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Maine
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I apologize in advance if this thread isn't in the correct area, please feel free to move it if that is the case. Also, I feel I should preface this by saying that some of these questions may sound stupid, but I'm very open to advice (how else does one learn?). So, feel free to be honest and share your personal experiences, as well as knowledge you have based on research.

I don't have much of a background in fish keeping. I had some basic telescope goldfish as a child. As a young teen I rescued an elderly and neglected Tiger Oscar (I loved him dearly, he was kept in a classroom in a tiny dirty tank, students would poke him with pencils in the tank..it was devastating). He lived with me for about two-three years and the previous owner estimated he was about 8 at the time I got him. I sold the tank after he passed, thinking I wasn't going to get anymore fish.

Lately, I've had the nagging urge to get some fish. However, I don't really know where to start. I'm thinking of acquiring a new 75-100 gallon tank, as well as some live plants. I'm not sure on the substrate yet (sand or rock) because I don't know which fish I want to get.

I really LOVE oddball fish, and I'm greatly attracted to freshwater Elephant Nose fish, rays, and other "unusual" species. I know these may not be ok for beginners, I'm assuming they are for experienced keeps only. Am I correct in thinking this? Has anyone here kept Elephant Nose fish successfully as a beginner?

I know rays may be completely out of the question with only a 100 gallon tank. I've read a bit about tea-cup (reticulated) rays, but the advice seems to be mixed. Some recommend a 60 gallon tank while others recommend a 300 gallon tank. What are your thoughts?

Are there any "oddball" freshwater fish that are ok for beginners or those with only moderate experience? I plan on doing at least another 6 months of research before committing to any one type of fish.

Also, what are some good filters and what other equipment would I definitely need? It seems like around here we just have cheap filters (the type with sponge and charcoal inside), I'm guessing I would need something a bit more substantial if I were to get into more exotic types of freshwater fish. Any recommendations? I'm willing to order equipment online.

I'm eager to learn, so any advice is welcome, thanks! :)
 
I'm still not experienced really myself, have been keeping fish for less than a year. So if my suggestions are totally off, someone feel free to say so. Just don't shoot me. :P

What about upside down catfishes and leopard ctenopoma? I know there is someone around here who started out with a bichir and a ctenopoma but I am not sure if that is really a good place to start or not.

A brown ghost knife could fit in this tank, size-wise, but not sure if knives are beginner friendly. From all I've read the elephant noses sound hard to take care of.

African butterfly fish seem neat too. Just very jumpy from all I've read.

I hope that at least helps with some ideas. It's all I can think of at the moment.
 
R u looking for just one fish or do u want a community? Do u want a fish that has a lot of personality like an oscar?
 
There are tons of oddball fish out there but that is not my area of interest so I don't have a whole lot of information on those. However the fish you started with was an Oscar and they fall into the area of New World Cichlids or some say SA/CA Cichlids (South American/Central American). These are my favorite types of fish. Fish in this category are mostly prized for there personality they are interactive with there owners. Goldfish ,which you mentioned having as a kid, do the same to some degree . Most fish are not like this. I just wanted to for warn you so you don't get a fish and wonder why it pays no attention to you.

Also oddball fish to a novice may not be very odd to someone that has been the hobby a while. My wife once told me that to our friends all my fish are rare. They get wowed by my peacocks and to me peacocks are pretty common.

If you would like something like your oscar look into

Jack Dempsey
Green Terror
Jaguar Cichlid
Red Dot or Orange Severum - These are kind of oddly shaped peaceful to
Fire Mouths
 
If your into oddballs try birchirs or knifefish. They are easy to keep oddballs.good for a beginner like yourself.

100 gallon would be a great grow out tank for a retic but you will need to upgrade. I say a 300 sounds about right for an adult for life but as with any fish the bigger the better.

Go on ebay and search aquarium filter you should be able to find a decent canister filter for pretty cheap. Make sure you do your homework as to how much flow you will need. I personally like to shot for 5-10x overturn rate. For example my 40 breeder has two aquaclear filters pumping 400 gallons per hour. So 400 divided by 40 =10x over turn.


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Some I would suggest that you may consider odd but have personality are a Blood Parrot or Flower Horn. Both are man made hybrids specifically breed for there funny shape and coloring.

These aren't my fish pics are from google image

FH.jpgFH2.jpgBP.jpg

BP.jpg

FH.jpg

FH2.jpg
 
Thank you so much for all your input! Garshark, I'm looking for maybe 2-3 or 3-4 fish if that's possible. I don't want a HUGE amount, but I do want more than just one. I'm not really picky when it comes to interactivity. I would be just as happy with a fish that wants nothing to do with me, as I would with a fish like an oscar that pays attention to me. I will definitely check out the birchirs and knifefish, as well as the other fish you all recommended.
 
Paperlantern4 said:
Thank you so much for all your input! Garshark, I'm looking for maybe 2-3 or 3-4 fish if that's possible. I don't want a HUGE amount, but I do want more than just one. I'm not really picky when it comes to interactivity. I would be just as happy with a fish that wants nothing to do with me, as I would with a fish like an oscar that pays attention to me. I will definitely check out the birchirs and knifefish, as well as the other fish you all recommended.
Click to expand...

Do plenty of research on the knife fish. Some will fit fine in your tank others will quickly grow out of your tank. Birchirs seem t obe quite addicting :) I don't own one but there are many that have them on here and they say you can't own just one.

Some others I just thought of are Fresh water puffers or Clown Loaches.
 
blood parrots would be the perfect "oddball"starter fish...you could get a 75 gallon tank fairly cheap throw a little extra filtration on and do 3-4 parrots a striped raphael or synodontis cat and a bichir and have a great oddball tank..good luck ,do some research,, and enjoy fishkeeping , you have found the "right " site for info...it doesn't get any better than mfk :)
 
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