Author Topic: Beginner - New to fish keeping, would like some help and advice :) (Read 82931 times) 205 replies

Alostangel · « **Reply #100 on:** June 25, 2019, 09:44:40 PM »

Ummm so I just looked at my tank... and it looks like there’s a baby fish in there?? I got a video of it but I’m guessing it’ll be too small to get a picture of. I thought I read that ottos and Harlequins are hard to breed??

Sue · « **Reply #101 on:** June 25, 2019, 09:57:18 PM »

There's a thread on another forum by someone who has just found a baby oto. Apparently they do breed readily in aquariums. One recommendation on there is to add leaves - it's not the right time of year to collect your own and you need to know what kind, but you can buy Indian almond leaves at some fish shops, and on-line. These are very good for fry as they grow micro-organisms which tiny fry can eat. They will float at first but they sink after a few days. Fry can also hide under them (once they've sunk).

Most newly hatched fry look similar, you'll have to wait till it's bigger to identify what it is.

Alostangel · « **Reply #102 on:** June 25, 2019, 10:02:26 PM »

Quote from: Sue on June 25, 2019, 09:57:18 PM

There's a thread on another forum by someone who has just found a baby oto. Apparently they do breed readily in aquariums. One recommendation on there is to add leaves - it's not the right time of year to collect your own and you need to know what kind, but you can buy Indian almond leaves at some fish shops, and on-line. These are very good for fry as they grow micro-organisms which tiny fry can eat. They will float at first but they sink after a few days. Fry can also hide under them (once they've sunk).

Most newly hatched fry look similar, you'll have to wait till it's bigger to identify what it is.

Given it’s longer shape, I would hazard a guess at it being an Otto. I read they were hard to breed aha but I guess this may boost my numbers? Are the others likely to try to eat it? (My friends and I have already decided on the name Fred xD)

I’ll see if I can get some leaves then for it, not sure I’m ready to be a grand fishy parent!

Littlefish · « **Reply #103 on:** June 27, 2019, 08:42:21 AM »

Congratulations on your fish fry.

Such exciting news, it's always lovely to see some little ones in your tank, and watch them grow.

Also good news that you've applied to Pets@Home for a job. In the past they've had a bit of a poor reputation for fish, but I know that the local store here has really upped their game in the past couple of years. Not only have they refurbished the store, but I have also witnessed them questioning customers over their tank, explaining the requirements for fishless cycling, and refusing to sell fish to a customer who is purchasing a tank.

Matt · « **Reply #104 on:** June 27, 2019, 12:36:10 PM »

The more I think about it, the more their points system for fish stocking makes so much sense to help guide the uninitiated... well done P@H

Alostangel · « **Reply #105 on:** June 27, 2019, 03:46:26 PM »

Yeah, I think their points system is good for smaller fish that won’t grow too much but their angelfish are rather low pointed I would say from what I know of their eventual size.
I was quite surprised that my Harlequins who were from P@H have survived this long I’ll be honest! But the guy who sold them did ask quite a few questions about the tank, and how long it had been set up but nothing about cycling it... hopefully that’ll come in

Matt · « **Reply #106 on:** June 27, 2019, 04:07:47 PM »

Yeah my Harlies from P@H lasted ages too

Alostangel · « **Reply #107 on:** June 29, 2019, 11:37:05 AM »

Quote from: Matt on June 27, 2019, 04:07:47 PM

Yeah my Harlies from P@H lasted ages too

That’s good news then! I’ve got to figure out what I’m gonna do with them when I finish sixth form as I’m planning on moving to Newmarket 😬 so gotta figure out a way to move them up there (it’s a 1.5 hour drive)

fcmf · « **Reply #108 on:** June 29, 2019, 12:10:44 PM »

Quote from: Alostangel on June 29, 2019, 11:37:05 AM

I’ve got to figure out what I’m gonna do with them when I finish sixth form as I’m planning on moving to Newmarket 😬 so gotta figure out a way to move them up there (it’s a 1.5 hour drive)

You might find this article helpful: https://www.thinkfish.co.uk/article/moving-your-fishtank-and-tropical-fish

Congrats on the fish fry!

Littlefish · « **Reply #109 on:** June 29, 2019, 12:37:24 PM »

And this one https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/travels-with-your-fish/

Alostangel · « **Reply #110 on:** June 29, 2019, 01:13:10 PM »

Thank you! I’ll have to revisit those when it comes to moving them! Glad I mentioned it so it gives me lots of time to prepare for it

Sue · « **Reply #111 on:** June 29, 2019, 04:00:07 PM »

Once you have an address in Newmarket look at the water company website for details of hardness and pH. If they are similar to your current water, that's OK; but if they are very different, we can help you acclimatise your fish to different water.

Alostangel · « **Reply #112 on:** June 29, 2019, 04:50:26 PM »

Sounds good. I’ve got over a year so it’s not urgent

Littlefish · « **Reply #113 on:** June 30, 2019, 10:02:01 AM »

As far as I remember, It's Anglian Water. The hardness is similar to what I have in Cambridge (17dH), but with lower nitrates (around 25-30ppm, rather than the 40 I have here).

Alostangel · « **Reply #114 on:** July 04, 2019, 09:16:19 PM »

So I’m currently having a bit of an issue I guess you could say with my gravel looking rather horrible. It’s dirty and there’s so algae trapped in the spaces underneath it against the glass that the ottos can’t get to. I had a search and most things I saw said to siphon it close to the gravel but I really doubt that’s going to work. If there any other way I can clean the gravel and the glass around it?

Matt · « **Reply #115 on:** July 04, 2019, 09:32:30 PM »

The algae has grow just on the glass round the bottom of the tank... it's not in the gravel as such. It can give ow here due to light reflected off the internal surface of the glass. I know a simple and very effective solution! Take an old credit card, and, being careful not to trap anything between it and the glass, scrape the algae off the glass by passing the credit card down between the glass and gravel, at a slight angle to scrape it nice and clean!

Alostangel · « **Reply #116 on:** July 04, 2019, 09:36:03 PM »

Quote from: Matt on July 04, 2019, 09:32:30 PM

The algae has grow just on the glass round the bottom of the tank... it's not in the gravel as such. It can give ow here due to light reflected off the internal surface of the glass. I know a simple and very effective solution! Take an old credit card, and, being careful not to trap anything between it and the glass, scrape the algae off the glass by passing the credit card down between the glass and gravel, at a slight angle to scrape it nice and clean!

Thank you! I’ll definitely have to do that. I also have a glass sponge cleaner for the algae on there too so I’ll do that at the same time. Any recommendations for the actual dirt and stuff around the gravel?

Matt · « **Reply #117 on:** July 04, 2019, 09:50:46 PM »

If the gravel itself is dirty it would need to be siphoned out, cleaned and returned I would guess... you could clean with bleach then chlorinate very thoroughly...

Alostangel · « **Reply #118 on:** July 04, 2019, 09:52:29 PM »

Quote from: Matt on July 04, 2019, 09:50:46 PM

If the gravel itself is dirty it would need to be siphoned out, cleaned and returned I would guess... you could clean with bleach then chlorinate very thoroughly...

Will just scooping it out work? I can do that fairly easily and that should work if I can do that. Would also give me the opportunity to replant my plants outside of their pots

Matt · « **Reply #119 on:** July 04, 2019, 10:04:07 PM »

It would definitely work, Though it might make quite a bit of mess in the tank unless you gravel vacuum very thoroughly. Any length of garden hose or similar could be used to siphon it out. It will probably be easier this way I'd suggest...

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Beginner - New To Fish Keeping, Would Like Some Help And Advice :)

Beginner - New To Fish Keeping, Would Like Some Help And Advice :)

Author Topic: Beginner - New to fish keeping, would like some help and advice :) (Read 82931 times) 205 replies

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