Hello Lucy,
Welcome to the fishy forum! You've made a really good move by joining, everyone on here is so friendly and helpful. I too, was new to fishkeeping and have had my fish for just over a month now after doing a fishless cycle with my tank. The advice and support I got, especially from Colin and Sue, has been much appreciated. Even questions that must to them, have been really stupid, were answered with patience and obviously huge experience. I would listen to them over any fish shop, if I were you.
Sadly, since getting my fish, 2 have died. One, a little otocinclus, which both Colin and Sue reassured me, have a bit of a reputation for not making it past the first month. I still have two and I am hoping that they remain ok. The other was one of my guppies, I had five to start with. As Colin said, they too, seem to pop off for no reason. It was the one that my bully boy fish harassed constantly so I don't know if the stress of that contributed to him giving up, but it was very upsetting, especially when you think that everything is going well with your tank. Still, (fingers crossed
everyone else seems to be doing well, including the fry that my little platys surprised me with last week
I am on countdown until I can get my little panda corys to complete my fishy neighbourhood
I wish you well with your tank, and as Colin said, we all love piccies of other folks set-ups!
Resa