Well, today I dragged the other half to two different LFS (actually one wasn't so local but he took me anyway)
Having had an experience of Mr Grumpy in the one less than a mile away we tried two others with a view to getting our fish locally when the time arrives.
First place had loads of fish, shrimp, frogs etc in tanks that were very old looking, although the water was clear. However, their Siamese Fighting fish were in tanks/fish bowls with no aeration, filters and not much gravel and were on the bottom of the tank. Is that normal.
?
What wasn't so clear was the advice.
I explained that I was doing a fishless cycle and it wasn't finished yet but nonetheless I was told I could still put fish in, just a couple mind to start the tank off.
Me: Oh, I thought I had to wait for the tank to finish.
No, as long as you look out for the
PH you'll be fine.
Me: Well ours is a well tested 7 so no worries there at present, but what about the ammonia
Oh as long as it's around 5 you'll be fine.
My face must have shown my consternation because that was quickly changed to, zero is better but well around 2.5 is OK. Then of course, you have to worry about your Nitr
Ates and as long as that's about the same as the ammonia you'll be OK.
Me: Do you have any male Endlers as that's the sort of size I'm thinking of.
Well, I think there's one male in that tank, and another one in that tank and, Oh yes, there's another one in that one.
Me: So how many fish can I have in my little 21 litre tank, bearing in mind we know we only want little ones, and I understand Fish such as Endlers and Neons are shoaling fish so I know I need more than one or two.
That size tank, well 15 or 20 would be fine, something like neons etc. Don't add them all at once mind, as it will stress the fish and the Nitr
Ates will spike
Me: - I'm doing a fishless cycle and nothing will be going in until it's completely finished.
Well there's nothing to stop you adding a couple of hardy fish now.
But I'm partly through a fishless cycle so it sort of defeats the object eh? Thanks we'll think about it.
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Off to the second one over 10 miles away. Better looking tanks, nice shop, friendly staff. Betta fish in same size goldfish bowl as before though with no filtration or air.
Long story short, a young girl offers to show me fish. I tell her we're doing a Fishless cycle, looks puzzled. Well
WE recommend that you set up the tank, leave it a couple of days then put in a few hardy fish.
Me: but I've started the cycle now so will finish. When it's done how many fish can I put in my 21 litre tank.
Oh, loads if you are going for neon size.
Following a question regarding shrimp, she took me to another member of staff who proceeded to say we do
NOT recommend the fishless cycle
AT ALL. There's no point.
People think they can put all their fish in at once and then there's a spike and the fish die. You can't put all of them in at once. You have to let the tank settle. Add a few, then add more
Me: Well, what do YOU think I can put in this little tank of 21 litres, admittedly with aeration and filter and heater.
Can I mix, for instance, the Cardinal tetras with the glowlights?
Not a problem, in fact you could start the tank of with 10 or so of them and then add another 5-10 a couple of weeks later.
Left the shop feeling very disheartened.
I've taken the trouble to investigate how to look after fish. I've sought advice on here and browsed the web, even the two young people at PetsatHome said I should only put in around 5-6 fish and they sell them, just like the LFS.
Is there no morality attached to any of this as far as fish welfare is concerned.
