I've had alot of luck with fish from petsmart but I'm sure there are those that had bad luck with them. Walmart is the one for sure to stay away from.
Total Beginner help
- Thread starter Avogel
- Start date
what about south American fish? I feel like I actually want my first to be south American. but someday I will definitely have a Thai tank haha.
sorry for the change in mindset but I feel like it would be better for me because most of the lfs around here from what I can gather are American cichlids and other South American fish. I may be completely wrong though because my parents aren't taking me to any because they are too far away but I have looked at their websites.
There's not an awful lot of SA cichlids that are suitable and easily available unless shopped online
While cichlids are desirable they can also be nasty. Most have a high desire to be the only fish in the tank. Due to your small tank... you are very limited on cichlids as most get up to 10 inches or more.
sounds like it from what I've since read haha, if not cichlids are there any more SA fish that would be doable or nah?
If you want a fun tank you can do corydoras catfish and an active tetra. Make sure to have sand or VERY fine gravel for corys, and get a larger tetra species. That may be better but ensure a good cycle since SA fish are often sensitive
Hello; they are jumpers. Need a good cover.
Hello; I have had good luck with their fish also.
If you want a nice hardy little cichlid, Honduran red points. If you want a SA cichlid, get a Bolivian ram pair and put them in your 46 along with fish like rummy nose tetras, cardinals, etc. You'll also want to plant the tank. These guys are making it sound super daunting, for whatever reason, but fish are honestly not hard to keep alive. If I was able to do it when I was 8 years old without any knowledge of anything beyond betas, I'm sure you'll be fine with the amount of resources available to you.
Like I said:
1. Make sure you have a filter, heater, and light.
2. Select substrate and whatever rocks/driftwood you want for decor. Make sure it's from a safe source.
3. Partially fill the tank and add whatever plants you wanted, I suggest low tech stuff that doesn't require too much extra, your Java mosses and Java ferns. Some shops sell driftwood that already have plants attached to them, those would be great for you and will add good bacteria to your tank. Just make sure it comes from a healthy shop/tank system. You want to look out for any diseased fish or dead fish in the tank it comes from.
4. Get some "filter juice" from your local lfs, fill the tank with water, add prime (a water conditioner that'll make sure it's fish safe after it comes out of the tap, it stinks but is some of the best stuff for what it does), and pour the "filter juice" into your tank. Have your heater set to anywhere from 78-82 degrees F.
5. Wait a day and then go to the lfs and, if you want to be super careful, pick up a small group of rummy nose tetras or neon tetras, anywhere from 5-10, take them home, float them for about 15 minutes or until their water temperature is the same as your tank water, and release them into your tank. Then a few days later, you can add more fish, I would get your pair of Rams at that point, and more schooling fish. Presto, all done.
I have done this before but with a much smaller tank, only 6 gallons, a single blue ram, didn't bother cycling at all, new filter, new sand, just bought a big batch of Java fern, tossed it in the tank, added all of my fish, which included the ram and a school of 7 neon tetras that were 50 cents each, and didn't lose a single fish.
Like I said:
1. Make sure you have a filter, heater, and light.
2. Select substrate and whatever rocks/driftwood you want for decor. Make sure it's from a safe source.
3. Partially fill the tank and add whatever plants you wanted, I suggest low tech stuff that doesn't require too much extra, your Java mosses and Java ferns. Some shops sell driftwood that already have plants attached to them, those would be great for you and will add good bacteria to your tank. Just make sure it comes from a healthy shop/tank system. You want to look out for any diseased fish or dead fish in the tank it comes from.
4. Get some "filter juice" from your local lfs, fill the tank with water, add prime (a water conditioner that'll make sure it's fish safe after it comes out of the tap, it stinks but is some of the best stuff for what it does), and pour the "filter juice" into your tank. Have your heater set to anywhere from 78-82 degrees F.
5. Wait a day and then go to the lfs and, if you want to be super careful, pick up a small group of rummy nose tetras or neon tetras, anywhere from 5-10, take them home, float them for about 15 minutes or until their water temperature is the same as your tank water, and release them into your tank. Then a few days later, you can add more fish, I would get your pair of Rams at that point, and more schooling fish. Presto, all done.
I have done this before but with a much smaller tank, only 6 gallons, a single blue ram, didn't bother cycling at all, new filter, new sand, just bought a big batch of Java fern, tossed it in the tank, added all of my fish, which included the ram and a school of 7 neon tetras that were 50 cents each, and didn't lose a single fish.
