fish...fish...fish...

[cybersymes]

as i'm a totally new fish fancier...
i have spent a heap of time on the 'net...
researching what to do and how to do it...

i have learnt an awful lot in the last 3 weeks...
from this site and from wide ranging surfs various...

one thing sticks out like a sore thumb...

why do some people have small numbers of different fish...
one of these...two of those...three of another...

i know small tanks are restrictive...and that might be a reason...

but everything i read about HAPPY fish...talks about minimum numbers...
'no less than six'... or ...'at least ten' ...
i can see the logic...and i want my fish to be as happy as they can be...
in a 'glass box' in my home...
thousands of miles from their natural environment...

so i intend to have 4 types of fish...two 'groups' of six...
and two 'groups' of twelve...

so really i just wondered why people have singleton fish...
as every fish profile i look at says they will be unhappy on their own...
[i know there are exceptions...bettas and such]...

if i had a smaller tank...i would put in one type of fish...
and as many of them as i could without overstocking...

 

[timisu87]

Not overstocking is key to a successful aquariam setup. It seems like you know about that though. What type of tank are you getting?

 

[svetlana]

I would say that one needs to approach web info with a grain of salt. Before getting gouramis I've read that they are sociable and at least 3 are required. Turned out that in many cases they are bullies and jerks. Plus every fish (especially cichlids) has different personality. There are many other factors.
One says that otocincluses like each other company yet another says that they do not interact with each other at all (IMO too). There are many other examples and it all depends on a particular setup.

--s

 

[cybersymes]

Not overstocking is key to a successful aquariam setup. It seems like you know about that though. What type of tank are you getting?

i have already bought a tank...2 weeks ago...
my 40[imp]gallon at the moment has 6 platties in it...
over the next few months i will add 6 cories...
12 hatchetts and 12 cardinal tetras...

my target temp is 25 centigrade...ph is seven...
hardness will be ten...
30% water changes are being done every week...

i checked all the info i could to build a community that would live well together...and thrive in similar water conditions...

i only heard of the 'biotope' idea after i had started...sounds great...

my tank is mostly south american...with a north american plattie flourish...

'pinch of salt' ... good point...
there do seem to be conflicting reports on the 'net...
need to apply common sense i guess...chears guys...

 

[Lotus]

It really does depend on what kind of fish. With schooling or shoaling fish, the more the merrier. With most of the fish you have chosen, it is indeed better to get larger groups.

I assume with some people's tanks, they haven't done the research, and don't realise that they need a larger group of the fish. Maybe we just assume that because humans tend to form pairs, that this is what's ideal for fish.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think *most* of the time you see single fish that should have company, it tends to be from ignorance. Someone goes to the store to stock their 10g, and says "I want one of those, and one of those, and one of those, and one of those. Hey, they're all tetras, they'll get along."

I have a single hoplo catfish, and I know that they appreciate being in groups (they are closely related to cories). Unfortunately, I have never found another one. I'd love to get Stumpy some friends if I can find them... they aren't even available online (that I've found). I figure he hangs out with the cories and that helps so he's not too lonely.

 

[cybersymes]

chears lotus and capslock...thanks for the replies...

i think we should launch a 'stumpy's friends' campaign...
and try and find some hoplo cats...

 

[Seleya]

Lotus and Caps pretty much covered it. Your tank is going to be awesome when your done stocking it, much more satisfying than those who are all over the board.

In my case, I have a couple of singletons or pairs of fish who like to be in groups due to attrition -- I had a heater meltdown over the summer that caused fish soup. A few of my survivors went to a friend who had shoals of a couple of the fish I didn't want to buy more of (cherry barbs, black skirts), I put a couple of pairs in my local fish club auction, and the rest are just having to make do for the time being since my interests aren't currently with building their schools up. If I were to do anything further with those tanks, that's the first thing I would do but I'm getting sidetracked with other tanks and biotopes.

 

[echoofformless]

as i'm a totally new fish fancier...
i have spent a heap of time on the 'net...
researching what to do and how to do it...

i have learnt an awful lot in the last 3 weeks...
from this site and from wide ranging surfs various...

one thing sticks out like a sore thumb...

why do some people have small numbers of different fish...
one of these...two of those...three of another...

i know small tanks are restrictive...and that might be a reason...

but everything i read about HAPPY fish...talks about minimum numbers...
'no less than six'... or ...'at least ten' ...
i can see the logic...and i want my fish to be as happy as they can be...
in a 'glass box' in my home...
thousands of miles from their natural environment...

so i intend to have 4 types of fish...two 'groups' of six...
and two 'groups' of twelve...

so really i just wondered why people have singleton fish...
as every fish profile i look at says they will be unhappy on their own...
[i know there are exceptions...bettas and such]...

if i had a smaller tank...i would put in one type of fish...
and as many of them as i could without overstocking...

You'll have to forgive me, but as a dorky English major I simply couldn't help but read that as if it was in verse.

I hope everyone else reads it that way, because it actually has a good free-form rhythm and makes somewhat a good existentialist sort of poem.

 

[cybersymes]

You'll have to forgive me, but as a dorky English major I simply couldn't help but read that as if it was in verse.
I hope everyone else reads it that way, because it actually has a good free-form rhythm and makes somewhat a good existentialist sort of poem.

chears echo...i dunno what it is...
but i always write in this format...
i don't know about poetry...
but maybe i tend to scribble with a certain 'offbeat' cadence...

i see things in sections...forms...
i tend to 'package' all that i do in life...
people normally hate me for it...
i've been chucked off better forums than this...

 

[cybersymes]

Lotus and Caps pretty much covered it. Your tank is going to be awesome when your done stocking it, much more satisfying than those who are all over the board.

chears seleya..it's great to get positive feedback...
in a couple of months i hope to have a tank to be proud of...

In my case, I have a couple of singletons or pairs of fish who like to be in groups due to attrition -- I had a heater meltdown over the summer that caused fish soup. A few of my survivors went to a friend who had shoals of a couple of the fish I didn't want to buy more of (cherry barbs, black skirts), I put a couple of pairs in my local fish club auction, and the rest are just having to make do for the time being since my interests aren't currently with building their schools up. If I were to do anything further with those tanks, that's the first thing I would do but I'm getting sidetracked with other tanks and biotopes.

yikes...what a horrible story...i have a brand new heater now...
i'll replace it next year i guess to hopefully prevent an accident...
but i suppose a new one could go crazy just as easily as an old one...
terrible terrible image that...'fish soup'...

[by the way...i'm with you on the 'nanotank' debate... ]

 

[Jayrod7]

i had 10 platys in my tank until they started killing each other so i took 4 and put them in my other tank (which they still kept killing each other) if they want to be lonely by killing their friends.......hmmm

 

[cybersymes]

i had 10 platys in my tank until they started killing each other so i took 4 and put them in my other tank (which they still kept killing each other) if they want to be lonely by killing their friends.......hmmm

yikes...what was your male/female mix...
i have all girls...no hassles...happy tank...