Where can I find more unique fish?

[FishDad]

My son and I are on our first tank and we seem to have everything established. It was a bit of work and I'm not so impressed with the fish selection at Pet Smart or the local independent stores. So my question is are there maybe any online distributors that any of you use? Like I said after all this work I don't mind spending a little money on more unique options.

By the way my son and I have blogged our tank process and I think its pretty interesting so take a look and let me know what you guys think. Patrick's Fish Tank

 

[Kayleigh750]

the only thing I can think of with you living in the states is to order them online if you would be willing to take that option. I know some great local stores in canada, that take great care of fish and have an amazing variety but they unfortunately don't have shops in the states. If your willing to go online, check these links that I have heard good replies from-

Freshwater Fish: Freshwater Tropical Fish Species for Tropical Fish Tanks

cant find the other one... but try that if you'd like to see what's out there

 

[KcMopar]

Most of those local Mom&Pop stores can order you in special stuff and then you do not have to pay the whole over night shipping charge. I really like to deal with my local M&P store. It took a few weeks to feel them out and establish a rapport. They are a little more money then the big box retail stores but its worth it for the service and wonder help I get there.

 

[FishDad]

Hmm I didn't think of asking the local place if they'll do special orders... I'll try that.

 

[Thyra]

I read your first posts to find you have a 10g tank. Three fish is about all that can handle depending on the species, but if they are mollies you are at your limit. My suggestion is to play with aqadviser.com and research compatibility before getting any more fish.

 

[FishDad]

Thanks for the info Thyra, I guess I'm still hazy on how many fish I can fit. I have had suggestions from 2 to 8.

 

[Thyra]

I'm sure you realize that a lot will depend on the fish you pick. The problem is planning ahead or you get yourself in a corner. Am I correct in thinking you have a mollie, a gourami, and a ghost shrimp? Of those three, my only experience has been with the mollies and I know they are very active and very prolific. Some fish aren't as active as mollies and therefore don't get crowded as easily. Angels need a lot of room because the grow vertically (for lack of a better way of saying it) and they have those long flowing fins that attract attention of other fish. For just sheer fun of watching a school of serpeas (5 or 6) is great. They are very colorful and playful, but you already have enough fish in the 10 gal tank. I have a male betta in with two mollies and they do just fine, which might not be the case with all bettas, but you already have a gourami (I think) and supposedly that combination won't work. So far I have had no problems with so called fin nipping, but when you check on Aqadvisor I think you will find a lot of combinations not recommended. What I am trying to say is if I understand correctly, you already chose a molly and a gourami, and if the gourami is anything but a dwarf, you are already full. If you had started with some platies and neons you could have put a few more fish in.

 

[FishDad]

Well, we actually are planning on getting a 75 gallon for the living room in the next few months, so if the molly gets to territorial for the ten gallon I'll probably move it. I just found out the gourami will get to be a decent size so he'll definitely be moved, he is a powder blue by the way.

 

[Fuzz16]

Until you have the 75g I would decide what kind of setup you want: whether its just a small community fish(mollys, other livebearers, tetras, corys), or you want south american (SA) cichlids mixed with community(angelfish, rams, apistos. mixed with swordtails, mollies, tetras,ect.) or you could even do an african cichlid tank(im not an african fan so i dont advocate to much for that )

the powder blue is actually a dwarf gourami and will get around 4" max, he should be moved to a larger tank though with the mollies being in the 10g. You could keep him in the 10g though with a small tetra school and some shrmp and he would be fine. treat dwarf gouramis kind of like a betta though-min of 10g though. no other gouramis and no fish who threatens them or tears ther fins, with bad breeding over years their become more sensitive to water conditions.

Also, watch craigslist. Or you can post on craigslist in pet secton wanting to know if there are any local breeders, or a local fish club. Most fish clubs will have auctions 1-2 times a year and you could get some great fish from them for cheaper than at pet stores and their normally home bred so are a bit more acclimated to the local water and hardier.

feel free to ask questions about stocking ideas, or you can google '75gallon stocking' and it will come up with some ideas, or you can play with AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor which is a great site for different things and educatonal

p.s go with the 75g not a 55g...youll thank me later.

 

[FishDad]

Good to know about the gouramis. Yeah I'm pretty set on the 75g. It seems like that extra 25 will make a big difference. I would really like to do something with sharks. Any advice on what goes well with them?

 

[Fuzz16]

The 55g is annoyingly thin, after my 75 i could never do such a thin tank!

Freshwater or saltwater sharks? Saltwster id give a min of 120g and id get them in an egg personally, but their easier a few weeks old to feed. Id avoid real sharks actuslly.
Rainbow sharks are freshwater but one per tank though. If your looking for a fish that your son would like, look at clown poached, they have a nice look and you could to 3-4 but their super slow growers.
Another option id an eel, tiretrsck or peacock are easy to find and you can get them to eat out of your hand. But they'll est small fish.
Dojo and kuhlii poached are snakey looking.
Blue acaras, firemouths are semi docile and could do one or two in a larger community fish: tiger barbs, a rainbow shark, mollies maybe

 

[FishDad]

Probably freshwater. Although saltwater is very tempting, the varieties are incredible. Thanks for the advice, I'll look up those fish you listed.

 

[KcMopar]

If you are looking for FW fish that have amazing colors but not work of a SW tank you might consider the African cichlids for the 75G. I have a 75G tank with Africans and its stunning!!! I went with Peacocks (mbuna) species. These are very rewarding fish and they are always eager to greet you at the front of the tank expecting a treat. The tank is always alive with action and color. There is a lot to learn and read about what Africans can be tanked together so do the research first.

 

[FishDad]

I'm glad you mentioned cichlids, because I was just thinking about them as an option. In fact my local m&p shop claims to have the largest cichlid collection in the country. Its called "Something Fishy" in Cleveland, Ohio. I know almost nothing about them so as you said I would have to research it. My only apprehension is that I understand cichlid tanks are usually cichlids ONLY. Am I right about that?

 

[Fuzz16]

Angels are cichlids too. Varies by type whether their aggressive

Africans are usually strictly Africans, with little option for live plants. There are some bottom dwellers that go fine with then
New world. S American, n American, andcentral have a wide variety of cichlids, from. Aggressive to not.
I prefer s American. Colorfil, not always as much as Africans, but they have a lot of personality. Dwarf civhlids are popular and do well in community settings, far more than some. There's also aggressive like green terrors and oscars they're aggressive fish only tanks


Sorry for mispells, on kindle

 

[FishDad]

Didn't know that about Angels. I did some research on cichlids and it seams like most prefer American due to their personality. I'm curious though, why do Africans have trouble with live plants, and do Americans have the same problem?

 

[KcMopar]

The Africans like to dig when they mate or sometimes when they are marking their territory which changes all the time so plants only do well when planted in a pot and weighed down. I have and had American cichlids tanks for decades along with Africans tanks too. I have always found that the Africans are always fallowing you around the room and come to front of the display to greet you. I get more interaction from my Africans but I get more personality from my South american Oscar Cichlids. I also have 7 Jack Dempsy's SA cichlids, these are very colorful but are rather shy unless its food time. The SA Oscars are like dogs but, they swim in your tank full time. These Oscar fish will do tricks and act silly to amuse you while they beg for food. My Oscar tank is the fun tank because they react to my voice when I am in the room. All three will now eat off of a spoon, its pretty crazy. The African tank is my second favorite because they are always active and absolutely stunning looking fish only second to my Saltwater fish. The African tank is never boring, its alway hopping in there and is joy to watch. The Dempsey tank is full of an explosion of silver, blue, green, and red colors. These fish are shy and do not normally greet me unless I am holding the dish with the home made fish food. These ones tend to hide a little when I come to observe them. They are a must have because they look great but, if you looking for a fish to react to you Dempsey's are not the fish for you. When people come over to my house the Freshwater tank that gets the attention is ALWAYS the African tank, as they do not care who is in front of the tank. They are going to be nosy and come check them out and flash their viewers with an array of color.
Plants in any big cichlid tank is hard because they all dig.

 

[FishDad]

Wow, lots of good info. It sounds like my son would get the biggest kick out of the oscars.

 

[KcMopar]

The Oscars are bursting with personality!!! Very fun fish. If you want two of these you really need at least the 90 gallon as the 75 gallon would be a little tight for fish of this size. Oscars are very easy to raise and care for. Avoid feeding them goldfish and feeder fish (there is not much nutrition in them anyway), unless you raise them yourself and know they are clean. These fish contract ich very easy. I feed mine night crawlers from the yard or just about any bug the kids find in the yard, they have a blast feeding the Oscars live food. I have even bought worms/wax worms from the bait store for them to. They also need weekly water changes to keep the nitrates down so they do not get the disease called Hole In The Head from neglected water changes. I also recommend getting them as babies and from the same tank at the fish store as they sometimes will shun a fish they have not cohabited with since birth. This is why I only have three, I got a forth about a week later and had to give him up because the other three would not have anything to do with him except fight and chase him.

 

[Fuzz16]

My Oscar sheered every plant...for fun i think. Busted a Hester too. Slammed into my hood while i fed my discus tank or ignored him. Had to turn Tv on or he'd splash. Lol. Dog...like a chiuahaua! But id give him ham, he'd let me rub his side and when my hand was in the tank he'd be nipping or investigating. He played wit ping pong balls, and ive heard stories of spitting them out at people lol. Love oscars, but after he died too quickly i never got another. When i have a house...i may visit a friend (lonebluewolf) and get hers and tank. Lol

Cant comment on Africans personality but get tough leaved plants, anubias, or they'll pull leaves off. But small size allows you to get an assortment of cors and breeding is common, I'm sure your son would enjoy baby's