Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: Digs1923 on May 28, 2014, 05:58:54 PM
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To give myself something more pleasant to think about - rather than my plummeting pH levels and lack of cycling :( - I've been thinking what to add (when it's finally cycled, of course!) to my 60L biOrb. At the moment I have three Black Widows. Should I add another two to hopefully discourage them from picking on the other fish?
My current wish-list is to add 8-10 glowlight tetras and eventually a dwarf gourami. The community creator doesn't show this as being a problem but I'd welcome any advice from you experts :D Also, are there no shrimp at all that would survive the Black Widows? I did have my eye on the cherry shrimps, but now know that is a definite no-no.
Thanks!
Liz
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I haven't kept black widow's before so I'm not the best to advise but if you're having problems with aggression it could very well be the small shoal size - here's what seriously fish says:
"One of the better tetras for the ‘general’ community tank.....It can be kept with most livebearers, danios, rasboras, other tetras and peaceful bottom dwellers such as Corydoras or smaller Loricariids. It also makes a suitable companion for more robust dwarf cichlids such as kribensis.....Although it has a reputation as a bit of a fin nipper, this behaviour can usually be rectified by keeping it in a small shoal of at least 6-8 specimens. When maintained in these kind of numbers any squabbling is generally contained within the group."
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Hi Liz,
I kept twelve black widows in my old tank with no problems at all, so it's a possibility that adding a few more would reduce their aggression. Do you have a few plants? If not, getting some would give any picked-on fish a way to hide.
With regards to the gourami, your tank isn't very big and I don't know if a fully grown dwarf gourami would have enough room. Have you thought about getting a couple of pygmy (sparkling) gouramis instead? I've always thought they're beautiful and they stay very small.
I can't help you with the shrimp I'm afraid :/
Good luck!
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They're not actually showing any aggression at all - but have only had them 2 and a half weeks. They swim around together and seem very chilled... But who knows what will happen when more fish added. They seem to have a bit of a reputation.
I will take a look at pygmy gouramis Andrea. If space permits, I would like a "centre piece" fish :) . Would be nice to have some colour.
Thanks
Liz
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Gouramis have long pectoral fins that are very tempting to any potential fin nippers, Experience with Black widows seems to vary, some find them very peaceful, some not.
Pygmy gouramis are known as very delicate fish, quite difficult and timid. I think they would need a well-planted tank with plenty of places to hide away. Single male dwarf gouramis are notoriously unpredictable and can become tank terrorists.
I doubt if there are many "centrepiece" fish that would be comfortable in this type of tank.
Personally, I would stick to shoals of small fish. They often look much better than you might expect, if they are in a shoal, better than a few of this and one or two of that. Other tetras would go well.
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A shoal of Ember Tetras (http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/fish/ember-tetra.html) would look good with the Black Widows. They can look drab in the shop, but soon colour up in the aquarium.
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I like the look of the ember tetras Colin. If I got some of those AND some glowlight tetras would they shoal together do you think? It would have been nice to have something blue (that's why I'd thought of the dwarf gourami) but I'm coming round to the idea of smaller fish in greater numbers - especially with the tank i've got (just have to convince the other half, lol).
Are there any small blue-ish fish that would be suitable? I had originally wanted some cardinal tetras but not sure now....
At least choosing fish is a nice "problem" ;D
Liz
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Glowlight tetras are really nice, somewhat forgotten these days but ideal small tank fish. They should certainly get on with Embers. Small blue fish are few. There is the Blue tetra (see the profile on this site) not sure how they would get on in your tank, but they could be OK. There are also blue varieties of male guppy, but they do prefer harder water and a more mature tank and they might be nipped by the Black widows.
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Hi Digs :wave:
I'm no expert and probably of no help at all, but I did have a dwarf blue gourami, who was BEAUTIFUL, but you notice I said "did have". Unfortunately, they are prone to a disease, which sadly, my lovely Flockhart, as he was called, succumbed to. I wouldn't have another dwarf gourami because of this reason. It is very upsetting when everything is perfectly fine in your tank and you lose a fish because of a weakness outside of your control.
I haven't looked back through your posts I'm afraid to see what size your tank is or what your water conditions are like, but if you are specifically looking for blue fish, (they are my favourite too ;) ) then maybe blue neon tetras would be ok. They are on the fish profiler, so have a look. I was originally going to have them when I first got my tank, (then I went off on another tangent :-\ )
I have seen them in a shop here and they were really lovely.
Like I say, check and see what you think of them and if they are ok for your set-up.
Good luck :)
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The blue neons are indeed beautiful :D Had wondered about having them with the Black Widows, but unless someone advises against it, I think I will go with that. Will up my Black Widows to 5 and eventually (if my tank EVER cycles ::) ) I will also add some glowlight or ember tetras and some neons. Black, silver, orange, blue and red should be colourful enough, lol.
I went to Pets at Home earlier and have to say the young man I spoke to was extremely helpful and patient. He sounded to me like he knew his stuff - but then again how would I know... I know next to nothing!! We'd only gone in so I could show hubby how pretty several glowlights looked together and happened to spot some zebra snails that looked really cool. PAH man said snails wouldn't use up any of my "allowance" as they produce very little waste so maybe I'll be able to get some of those as well?
Can't WAIT to get more fish :D :D How will I ever last 6-8 weeks.... but don't worry, I'm learning to be patient ::)
Liz
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By blue neons, do you mean blue tetra? They are really lovely, unfortunately my tank isn't long enough for them. :(
I'm thinking of ember tetra for my 40cm cube tank. I'm planning to have lots of plants so should look nice.
How's the cycling going? I'm on day seven but am away from home so not able to test for next few days.
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Hi Puffin, yes i did mean Neon tetras. Blue neons are probably a completely different fish, lol. And please don't ask about my cycling..... :yikes: See my other thread and you'll see just how slow it is! I'm on day 18 and so far nada, zilch, no ammonia-eating bacteria :o
Do you know yet what fish you're going to have in your tank?
Liz
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Oh dear, yes I'll take a look.
As well as ember tetra I fancy cpd, (lol autocorrect thinks I mean cod, not sure tank is big enough!) or cherry barbs, then again there's green neons. Also considering a shoal of cory.
Not all of these of course.
Ps
Having trouble with this site, not sure if it will let me post, anyone else??
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Sorry...I meant Blue Tetras, but now I have seen that you have a Biorb, they would be no good for your tank as it would be far too small, I think. There's not enough swim room. Sorry to lead you astray, I have been out in the sun the last couple of days, so I am blaming that ;)
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lol autocorrect thinks I mean cod, not sure tank is big enough!
I can do you a good line in cod ;)
Also considering a shoal of cory.
What do you mean??? Only considering a shoal of Cories :o
Ps
Having trouble with this site, not sure if it will let me post, anyone else??
It has behaved so far with me today, but it has had it's moments in the past ???
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Hey Steve....impressed or what! Look at all the quoty things I did there :rotfl:
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Resa,
What do you mean??? Only considering a shoal of Cories -
Lol, what I mean is after my tank is cycled, I've bought my initial fish, it's had a bit of time to mature, and my bank balance has recovered from buying tank, stand, substrate, plants, testing kit, de chlorinatior, ammonia, Then I WILL be be buying a shoal of cories, species as yet undecided. ;)
Liz,
Shame about the blue tetra, how about green neons? Or any of the other fish I mentioned for my tank?
(Obviously as a newbie too, I have no idea on their compatibility with the current occupants)
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Hey Steve....impressed or what! Look at all the quoty things I did there :rotfl:
Have a drink... on me! :cheers:
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Ps
Having trouble with this site, not sure if it will let me post, anyone else??
I had trouble yesterday, too.... but there was no sun to blame! I'm going to blame the unremitting grey drizzle instead.
Hey Steve....impressed or what! Look at all the quoty things I did there.
Wow Resa..... very impressive! It's only taken a year and a half. :rotfl:
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[quote
Wow Resa..... very impressive! It's only taken a year and a half. :rotfl:
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You can't rush these things :rotfl:
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Oh...b****r it!! I spoke too soon :-[
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he-he-he :))
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[quote
Wow Resa..... very impressive! It's only taken a year and a half. :rotfl:
[/quote]
You can't rush these things :rotfl:
Stop it please! A man of my years can't take this much stimulation before dinner! :rotfl:
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Stop it please! A man of my years can't take this much stimulation before dinner! :rotfl:
Sorry Steve.....what time do 'Meals-on-Wheels' usually arrive? :rotfl:
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It's OK Steve..... we've got one of these.....
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Street-defibrillator.jpg)
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Sorry Steve.....what time do 'Meals-on-Wheels' usually arrive? :rotfl:
"Meals-on-Wheels?"... if only. I have to walk up the shops and get my own ***** meals! :isay:
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Liz, don't be tempted by Resa's talk of cories. You have just about the only kind of tank where they are not recommended. Biorbs have a very small floor for the volume and bottom dwellers need more floorspace. And the bio-media is those rocky things on the bottom which are far too rough for cories.
Nerite snails do make good algae eaters and come in a variety of colours and sizes. The biggest are zebra snails (light and dark brown stripes) then the ones I've seen called red onion or racing stripe nerites which are orange red with black markings. The smallest are the Clithorns, these can have black and yellow stripes or are just plain brown, and they may or may not have small horns. They are usually quoted as having very little bioload but they do poo a lot since they do eat algae. I'd wait till you have some algae before getting any.
They can't breed in freshwater as the newly hatched larvae need salt water to develop. But the females lay sesame seed like eggs over all the decor, and they don't come off easily.
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Liz?... Is there someone called Liz here?... I think Sue's going dotty!... :rotfl:
Sorry Liz... We sort of hijacked you... Resa got carried away. She gets like that sometimes and we have learned to be tolerant ;)
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Oh...b****r it!! I spoke too soon :-[
:rotfl:
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I knew this forum was going to be fun as well as informative..... you're all mad :raspberries :rotfl:
Liz
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Liz, don't be tempted by Resa's talk of cories. You have just about the only kind of tank where they are not recommended. Biorbs have a very small floor for the volume and bottom dwellers need more floorspace. And the bio-media is those rocky things on the bottom which are far too rough for cories.
Oops...sorry Sue, I will go and sit on the naughty step :-[
In my defence, I thought some small Cories would be ok in an Aquanano40 as that is what I thought Puffin has, and Liz is Digs, isn't she?
Now I'm just confused ??? ??? Mind you, it's not hard to confuse me ;)
I think I'd better go lay down in a darkened room ;)
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Sorry Liz... We sort of hijacked you... Resa got carried away. She gets like that sometimes and we have learned to be tolerant ;)
I echo Steve's apology, Liz :-[ I am very sorry to have digressed on your thread. I can only try and excuse my shameful behaviour by telling you...that it is ALL Steve's fault, he is a very, very bad influence, and is ALWAYS in the wrong thread....I have had to tell him of this before, but you have to make allowances for his age :rotfl:
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I knew this forum was going to be fun as well as informative..... you're all mad :raspberries :rotfl:
How VERY dare you :o...I am NOT informative ;)
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Yes, it was me with the cories, (or caries, as autocorrect so kindly points out, have appointment for a filling on Tuesday!)
And an aqua nano 40.
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It's always confusing relying to 2 people in the same thread. I wanted to make sure the one with the biorb didn't think cories were OK in her tank. We all know that Resa loves her cories ;D
For clarification:
Puffin has a 40 litre tank and small cory species are fine.
Digs, aka Liz, has a biorb which is a tank that shouldn't have cories; or any other bottom dwelling fish either.
Oops...sorry Sue, I will go and sit on the naughty step :-[
I wasn't criticising, just a bit worried that Digs (Liz) might think cories were OK in a biorb - or anyone else with a biorb. I had to skim through the thread to remind myself who had which tank, and I got a bit confused as to who was who. These days I am easily confused ::)