Especially true for cichlids. I don't try to meddle to much for that reason
Why?
- Thread starter tcav88
- Start date
I'm the same with rays Hendre.
I've had one for a while but I'm no expert.
I think we all have our areas and although I may comment occasionally in other areas I'm most vocal in the c/a s/a cichlid section.
I think people need to be selective with the info they choose to to listen to.
As Dan said you soon learn who's clued up and who's talking crap.
I've come to learn which posters I trust and which ones are not worth listening to.
I wonder if newbies to the hobby can make the same distinction.I guess a lot will just follow the advice that suites them best.
I always look up stuff before I post. If I can't find the answers, then I'll post. I do see a lot of people posting about very basic stuff that can take seconds to look up.
But I also know people who do neither and think they either know everything or ask their local Pet Smart.
I have a friend who has a 20g w/ small community fish. When I saw the tank, the water level was maybe at the mid level of the tank. The power filter was struggling and overflowing where it shouldn't. I asked her how often does she do water changes. She said once a year and changes the filter then. I said you should really do weekly partial changes and change the filter. She said, the tank is fine. She asked, partial water changes? She said she drains the whole tank, and cleans the gravel under tap water. When I explained why this is important, she didn't believe me. She also thinks the average life of a fish is a year lol.
I said, if you don't believe me look it up. Nope. She doesn't want and said I'm wrong.
Edit: I would like to add there are a ton of people on fish forums that ask questions and never take advice. Why even post something if you are not going to take advice? Can't fix stupid lol.
But I also know people who do neither and think they either know everything or ask their local Pet Smart.
I have a friend who has a 20g w/ small community fish. When I saw the tank, the water level was maybe at the mid level of the tank. The power filter was struggling and overflowing where it shouldn't. I asked her how often does she do water changes. She said once a year and changes the filter then. I said you should really do weekly partial changes and change the filter. She said, the tank is fine. She asked, partial water changes? She said she drains the whole tank, and cleans the gravel under tap water. When I explained why this is important, she didn't believe me. She also thinks the average life of a fish is a year lol.
I said, if you don't believe me look it up. Nope. She doesn't want and said I'm wrong.
Edit: I would like to add there are a ton of people on fish forums that ask questions and never take advice. Why even post something if you are not going to take advice? Can't fix stupid lol.
The problem I find with most standard info about cichlids (especially Central Americans), is that most info seriously under states the space needed to keep them.
I have snorkeled with JD's and others in nature and often find 7" Rocio's (JD's) will guard a territory of at least 250 gallons square against all other cichlids, and in the standard literature a tank of 75 gallons is considered OK. To me this advice is BS, and its no wonder aquarists that follow the advice end up with aggression trashed tanks, and dead fish. And those that rehash that advice, to me, are giving others bad advice
And often old literature will state certain cichlids are loners, when in a large enough area many live in loose shoals, and do well in that social situation, and need it to stay healthy, long term.
Of course, they will not display this natural tendency in a tank the size of a rut in the road, which is the size of a 100 gallon tank in many cases.
And in the old literature a limited number of water changes per month are thought to be adequate, when in nature these riverine cichlids live in constant water changes for certain parts of the year.
Garbage in, garbage out.
I have snorkeled with JD's and others in nature and often find 7" Rocio's (JD's) will guard a territory of at least 250 gallons square against all other cichlids, and in the standard literature a tank of 75 gallons is considered OK. To me this advice is BS, and its no wonder aquarists that follow the advice end up with aggression trashed tanks, and dead fish. And those that rehash that advice, to me, are giving others bad advice
And often old literature will state certain cichlids are loners, when in a large enough area many live in loose shoals, and do well in that social situation, and need it to stay healthy, long term.
Of course, they will not display this natural tendency in a tank the size of a rut in the road, which is the size of a 100 gallon tank in many cases.
And in the old literature a limited number of water changes per month are thought to be adequate, when in nature these riverine cichlids live in constant water changes for certain parts of the year.
Garbage in, garbage out.
The problem with your last comment, Duane, is that most people that come to a public forum asking advice on tank size, almost always ask what the minimum requirement is. That hasn't changed since the inception of online aquatic forums, and most likely never will. No one asks what's best for the fish, they ask what's best suited for them.
BTW - I recently answered a question regarding a green sunfish (which I have never kept), as did Duane. Whether or not I have ever owned that species was irrelevant. I gave the most logical, and most accurate answer, based on many years of experience with other aquatic species, including other species of sunfish.
BTW - I recently answered a question regarding a green sunfish (which I have never kept), as did Duane. Whether or not I have ever owned that species was irrelevant. I gave the most logical, and most accurate answer, based on many years of experience with other aquatic species, including other species of sunfish.
I agree 100%. All those sites all state a "minimum" size which many think is what you need. And that minimum is already way too small. My guess is some either can't afford or have the space for a large tank, but they want a certain fish. But they focus on the fish they want first. The don't seem to think about the long term and that that fish will out grow that tank. Really should buy the long term tank first then stock around that. You see a long of impulse buys where the person says, "I'll upgrade later". But rarely does that happen, and the person wonders why they are having problems. Then post a thread about it and don't listen to people who have been there done that. To make things worse, when you give the advice they don't want to hear, they get angry. Next thing you know these people ban together and start an internet fight. But the intention of the person giving the advice is really to help.
I want my fish to reach their full potential in color, size and be happy and healthy. That is why I don't have a dovii which I want badly. My biggest tank is a 150g. No way in hell am I going buy one. It's called self control and caring about the animal's well being.
Hello; I tend to find this true also. I think people get what ever size tank they have room for or can afford. Be that a 75 gallon or a 125 gallon. Space, floor capacity and pocket books rule.
Once they have the tank they then want a fish. What the fish "needs" is often way down the list behind their particular wants. If it sorta fits and will survive then it "must" be good enough.
There are those such as yourself with actual experience of the fish in the wild, so rare, who post good information about tank size.
There are those who have overcrowded or under sized tanks for the particular fish they "really, really want" to keep. If they at some level "know" the tanks are too small, the fact will not be acknowledged either to themselves or to others. They want what they want and will continue myth of a 75 gallon being Ok as in your example. These folks already have a too big fish in a 75 and when some else asks about doing the same thing, they say "go for it" because I guess it makes them feel better if others are doing the same thing.
There is a forum member who tries to keep too many big fish in a tank that is large but no where near large enough for the fish he has. On top of that he has bad source water. Over a few months he has started several threads pretty much asking the same questions about the problems he continues to have. I guess that he wants answers which will allow him to keep doing what he is doing without the problems but we do not cooperate, so he starts a new thread with what I suspect is the hope he will get a different set of answers.
A
AquaAlex1993
Guest
Yes, exactly. Sometimes, often the best advice comes from experienced fish keepers who have given you the knowledge. A lot of members here on MFK have helped me become a better fish keeper and made the hobby before for me.
