Tropical fish

[Sombrero]

Is there anyone on here that keeps torpical fish?

I've been toying with the idea of getting some for quiet a while, for the kids really.

What do i need to considr? how much? and what sort of fish should i strat with?

 

[Nige F]

I think a few of the regulars here keep clown fish

 

[DIYIdoit]

It's a good idea to set your tank up a few weeks in advance, gravel, filter, heater and most importantly plants. This will get the chemical and oxygen levels settled before you put your fish in. If you're going to have any decent size of tank you'll need a good external filter.

I personally would start with small fish as you can have more fish and more variety. There are loads of varieties of tetra, danio and guppy, these will give you great colour variety. These are middle feeders so get some bottom feeders too like corydoras - again many varieties to choose from. Pleco's are great aswell as they suck on the glass and eat the algae growing there, only 1 or 2 of these though as they grow very large over time. Loaches are also nice and different but again some species (weather loach) grow quite large, I think clown loaches are a smaller variety.

Tropical fish are a great hobby, go for it, you'll love it.

 

[breadnbutter]

im not an expert, but i had a biorb ,its like a much bigger gold fish bowl whith filter and air in center. you can put tropics in it.
its funny watching a cat stair at it .

 

[sooey]

Did you bake any loaves to go with your fishes?

 

[Micilin]

I would say have a look at

http://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/

I keep fish (since early 90s) and the best advice I can give you is to be patient at the start, and then once your tank is established it takes maintenance but 'little and often'

You will need to 'mature' a filter before putting any fish in either by adding ammonia or seeding it from someone else's filter.

On that site there is a lot of info about the compatibility of different fish, tank size etc.

I would advise staying away from the general petshops eg Petworld but find a local tropical fish shop who will be able to advise you. If any of them advocate stocking the tank before it is matured slowly, don't go back there.

I am in Bedfordshire if you needed a filter seeding, or any other info PM me.

Kids like them , and you don't have to walk them.......

 

[AronSearle]

My dad kept them, as a kid all I remember about them is that they needed constant maintenence, this fish would eat that fish, gravel needed changing, filters, flurvals, air pumps, heaters.

As a kid I hated how boring they were and how all you seem to do with them is fiddle with the tank.

 

[Micilin]

All a matter of interests I suppose.

I can't see any need to be chaging gravel, and a bit of research into the fish to put together should avoid fish on fish violence. Heaters last for years, the one in my tank is over 15 years old, as do pumpsfor filtration. If you get an external filter you don't need to be fiddling around in the tank much but like keeping plants or any pet you need some regular maintenance.

You can always get a fishtank app or screensaver !