Fishies!!!!

Shaina

I'm not sure how your filter is set up, but assuming the inlet was still submerged, chances are the pump on the filter is not strong enough to overcome the increased head pressure. Basically...the farther the water level is from the filter, the harder it is to get the water to the filter and back.



Yeah, you'll just have to do your research. I can tell you not that virtually no plecostamous will fit in a 3 gal tank.


Hang in there Once you get it down it's really easy, except that by then you'll know enough that you'll have all these other fish you want...then you'll start wanting more tanks so you can get them...haha


Unforunately...no. In fact, you shouldn't put the water from the store in the tank at all. Float the bag on the top of the tank, slowing adding tank water (I do 1/4 cup of tank water every 15 minutes for an hour or more...depends on how sensitive the fish is and how close the store water is to my own). Once acclimated, net the fish in the bag and deposit in the tank, then throw out the store water.

The reason for this is that while the tank water holds very little beneficial bacteria, it can harbor all kinds of nasties from the store's constant influx of fish from various sources.

If you know anyone with an established tank who will either cut you a piece of their filter media or give you some of their substrate (assuming their substrate is not really smooth), that's the best way to seed your tank. Just keep the media wet and put it directly in your filter or in a nylon sock in your tank (depending on the material), and your tank is seeded .

On other thing - you know about water conditioners, right? The stuff to get the chlorine out of the water? If you add untreated water to your tank later, once it's established, it could kill all that hard-earned bacteria and you're back at square one with a new cycle.

Kuma'sMom

HuskyLuv

If you can place some of the filter media or gravel from your mom's tank that would certainly help speed up the cycle.

If you are looking for fish suggestions for the 3 gallon and do not want a betta. Here's what I've kept in my 3 gallon in the past with great success:
5 zebra danios
1 dwarf guarami w/ a pair of corydoras catfish
1 male betta
3 female bettas

Please keep in mind the fish in each line were not housed together all at the same time. Each line represents a different combination that worked out very well.

Kuma'sMom

I'd be very careful about housing 3 female Betta's together. It can work sometimes, but they can be just as aggressive as a male, and that arrangement can turn bad very quickly. Generally, a 10 gallon is the minimum reccomended for housing multiple females.

emily445455

Thanks, HuskyLuv...that gives me some hope, now I don't feel like buy a tank was a total waste of money

These are the neon fishies I was talking about http://www.petfish.net/pix/glofish_010_std.jpg

So what is "filter media"? I'd prefer not to take her gravel...it wouldn't match our gravel.

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HuskyLuv

Good point KM, arrangement's like that can turn south sometimes. None of my females have ever been aggressive...knock on wood!

It is also good to pay attention to recommended housing, however the minimum recommended housing for a single male betta is also 10 gallons. I have always had multiple tanks in my house and always had a place to separate my fish if the need ever arose (like fighting, illness, etc.). I can't remember ever having a single tank!

I always take the recommended tank size, fish activity level, characteristics and size into consideration before making any decisions. I would not have put 3 female bettas together if I did not think it safe or have a place(s) to separate them out to if things went wrong.

Emily, the "Glo-fish" you linked to are the genetically modified zebra danios I had mentioned in my previous post. A small group of them (4-5) would be fine in your 3 gallon. I would not buy them on principle (I will not support genetically altering a fish purely for aesthetics), however that decision is yours to make. If that is what you would like, I believe they would do fine in your tank. Keep in mind they are a schooling species so a group of 3 is the minimum I would do.

As far as filter media, you can use a used filter cartridge, filter floss, carbon, etc. What kind of filter does your mom have and what does she have in it?

Katzyn

*completely agrees* I definately would not house three females in a three gallon tank. Not only is that not enough space, but three females usually = two pick on one, kill that one, then go against each other.

Criosphynx

Gorgeous!! I remember when i was really "into" bettas, I had about a dozen.... have you bred yours at all?

I could get them to spawn and the eggs to hatch but i could never get babies to live over a week.

Kuma'sMom

Thanks! I'm more into Cichlids, but I do love my Betta's as well! I did try breeding once, and the fry were doing well, but I got busy with school, fell behind on the water changes (they need them daily when they're little, sigh) and I lost the batch. I'll probably try again when I have more time one day. Betta's are hard to raise, the fry will generally refuse to eat prepared food, so you have to feed them live baby brine shrimp. They're also super sensitive to water quality and need daily water changes.

Criosphynx

Thats pretty much what happend to me, I was changing water everyday religiously and then i got busy.

I was using insuforia (sp?) from my pond and I forget what else. Another thing i noticed was a couple got much bigger than the others and probably didn't help. After i killed the third batch i stopped trying.

My big thing was white bettas. I love love love, purple or white.

Hey also the coolest thing just happend like 10 min ago. My SO was feeding the pond and he pointed out a mystery fish. After watching for a while it turns out we have three goldfish that came from nowhere.

So turns out my goldfish must have spawned a while ago and these are the survivors......either that or some kid dumped his fish in my pond lol

Kuma'sMom

lol, that's crazy! Does sound like you have some breeding going on in there! I get the occasional survivor in my cichlid tanks as well. Do you have any Betta's now? I'm a big fan of the dragons.

drfong

Emilly, do not add ammonia if you add fish. Do one or the other. Ammonia kills fish. Gravel DOES contain alot, probably most of the benificial bacteria in an established tank. We need to know what type of tank/filter, etc you have to really give good specific advice. Pictures would be great. It sounds like all the fish you like are tropical so you need to have a heater if you keep your house colder than about 78. Most small tanks use filters where the whole media/carbon unit is combined and disposable. If the bacteria were limited to the filter you would have to start over everytime you changed the filter. Put the established gravel from your mom in the tank in the back half then cover with your gravel. You won't even notice her different gravel. Don't rinse her gravel off with tap water as the clorine will kill off some of the bacteria. Just put it in your tank. If you go that way, just keep it full and add a fish or two. If you choose a small schooling fish add 3-4 and keep a good eye on it. KNow that your tank is fully stocked and you really need to keep an eye on the water conditions with a good test that checks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH. Keep them in good shape with frequent water changes, about 10% when any of the parameters start to climb. Once you get to where ammonia and nitrites don't climb just do waterchanges to keep it clean and nitrates low.

The pleco fish is way too big for a 3 gal tank. They get very large and like the goldfish will only stress if confined. Female bettas can be kept together, but in 3 gal they may just fight. They need space and lots of plants to hide in. I had 3 in my 90 gal tank and 3 became 2 and then 1. I guess the one was particularly aggressive. Mollies can be ok, but it depends on what type. Some get pretty big. They are also livebearers and you would want to keep just males or females. Males generally are smaller and brighter looking. Same with guppies or platts. If you go with a schooling fish, get a really small species as you need 3 to 4 for them to be happy. Many people say you really need more than 6 for the fish to thrive. I would not put six of anything in a 3 gal tank, so you may want to stay away from schoolers.

I forgot to mention that many fish like salt. Depending on the fish type, different salts. If you go with a live bearer, I recomend sechems live bearer esentials. It is about 6 bucks and will last forever in your size application. Its way better than typical aquarium salt like they sell at walmart.

I hope you don't feel we are trying to tell you what to do, but help you avoid the mistakes so many of us have already made.

Criosphynx

It blew me away because the goldfish in the pond are only like 8 months old and maybe 6 inches. The assumed babies were over an inch already.... I don't get how i've never noticed them b4.

I have two bettas now, a family was moving and brought us a bunch of really random fish.... Parrot cichlids, bettas, a red devil (sigh) and a lone tinfoil barb (lol)

I used to have babies all the time when we had africans, but im a south american cichlid kinda girl and i made sure not to have pairs of anything recently. But i used to have flowerhorns that spawned years ago and even a jack dempsey and a green terror that hooked up ( i know, lol) and of course the cockroaches that are convicts.

I have a huge 4year old female severum now that is just wasted here, if i knew som'one with a male, they could have her!



How you feeling Emily? everyone is smothering you with info!! J/k

Kuma'sMom

Yeah, I know all the advice can be overwhelming at first, but everyone's really trying to help you Emily. I know all too well what it's like to start a tank without the proper info and then watch everything die. It's almost enough to drive you right out of the hobby.

Criosphynx, sounds like you have some nice fish. I'm an African, Central American girl myself. What kind of Betta's do you have? And those fish can really shock you with how early they breed! I've had Africans breeding at an inch and a half!

Criosphynx

Thank you!

Oh my!!

Both are purplish males. One has a crowntail the other is normal. They are ok looking, like i said they were freebies. Do you have saltwater too?

and yes its TONS of info. I've only met ONE person so far that didn't kill off his first tank. He had his original fish for 7 years when i met him.

When i started 10-11 years ago i murdered tons of fish.
What saved me from quiting was i bought a book, and then i had a little success finally, which made me realize it was do able. Now i haven't lost a fish in years

Trust me Emily, its an addiction once you get a taste of success!! I used to have 6 tanks! I've dumbed it down a bit, now im down to two and a pond.

Roscosmom

awww now, why the sigh?! LOL< I kid, I know why! I have a four year old female red devil I bought at a cichlid show as a tiny fry, she's stunning! But has to live in a 120 alone.

Speaking of bettas, I raised show bettas for a couple years while competing. Here are a few of my grown fry before they went off to show/auction. I loves me a plakat.

orange girl

Roscosmom

one of my babies breeding for an F2






jeesh, I'll stop there! Started going through photobucket and became reminiscent! Breeding can be fun and addictive. I only dabble with wilds anymore.

Katzyn

Holycrap, sexyfish. *jealous* I love me some PKs, too, but I've only had one, and boy was she feisty!

Kuma'sMom

RoscosMom, very nice Betta's! I love that red marble!

Criosphynx, the cichlids that were breeding at an inch and a half were dwarf Africans, Pseudotropheus Demasoni, but still shocked me, lol. I've had peacocks trying to spawn at 2 or 3 inches though too. They're productive little buggers! lol I don't have any salt water tanks. Too much work for me, and I can get nearly the same colors and more personality with my Africans, without all the hassle.

And I too, murdered way too many fish when I was starting out. That's why I now try to help people whenever I can, it's just heartbreaking to lose fish that way. I never had the resources available now with all the internet forums out there, just trusted the fish stores, sigh. It is addictive though. I have 4 tanks, and am looking forward to setting up my own fish room and expanding! Sigh, there should be a support group for this. "Hello, my name is Andrea, and I have MTS (multiple tank syndrome)". LOL

Roscosmom

lol, fish forums aren't the place to find the support! They only add to your addiction. When I joined TFF I had a few questions about a 29 gallon I was setting up. Six years later and I have hundreds and hundreds of gallons worth of tanks in my house

Thanks for the comments on my babies. It's so fun raising them and sometimes tough to let certain ones go off into the world. But when you get a shiny Best of Show trophy or Ribbon it becomes worth it. I seriously had to stop myself once I got into my photobucket

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