thread: FISH - suggestions!

  1. #1

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    Question FISH - suggestions!

    We have a 4ft fish tank, we previously had fresh water tropical fish in it, when we moved we decided we didn't have the time or effort to setup the tank and house the fish while it settled so we got rid of them and are now putting in cold water fish.

    What would you suggest?

    At the moment w have 2 gold fish, i is small/average and the other is medium/large.
    We want different fish for the girls to look at and will work our way up to the $50 a pop big ones once we know the water is ok and no fish are dying etc.

    We are looking at getting a snail and a cold water sucker fish to help keep the tank clean.

    So what do you have, what do you like and what looks pretty?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jan 2010
    Shoe Heaven
    4,839

    There are a variety of different "goldfish" type fish around, multi coloured ones, black etc. What about a collection of those, with a 4ft tank you can have 20+ fish in there (depending on size of the fish).

    Get some sucker fish and snails etc for the tank cleanliness, also watch where you put the tank in terms of natural light, a girlfriend has a tank in a dark part of her loungeroom and she is cleaning it every few days because of the algae build up (and she has suckers in there).

    Also make sure there is enough filtration and air.

    I'd talk to the aquarium shop for the best options, also get some different types of weed.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    pakenham, victoria
    3,660

    i honestly think goldfish tanks are just as much if not more work than trpoical freshwater.
    We have tropical freshwater 'nice' fish atm, im waiting for the last of them to drop off so i can get some nasty cicilids in there!! its hard though i find myself buying the odd fish because my tank looks so bare with my cory's and a few small fish in there.
    u could maybe get an axylotyl (sp?) if ur goldfish are size-able or a siamese fighter. there are some pretty females about atm if u wanted some bulk in ur tank.
    Sometimes when u buy plants they have snail eggs on them too, we've had a couple of free riders in our tank!
    Good luck, i love my tank

  4. #4

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    Thanks girls, we have a nice big filter we used in the tropical tank aswell as one of those little airator ball things, it's in the kitchen off the side of our glass sliding door so plenty of natural light aswell as the tank light!

    At the moment we just have fake plants, is it good to get some real ones?

    I love mexican walking fish, not sure DP would agree but i might try for one... we had them as kids.
    Ohhh some pretty fighting fish.. am heading to the pet shop tomorrow to buy some 'friends' for our little guys!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    pakenham, victoria
    3,660

    real plants are good if u have a few fish in the tank as it adds oxygen to the water.
    Do u have a pump at all? like one of those things that makes bubbles? also good for getting oxygen into a tank as it breaks the water surface.
    The sucky thing about fighters is u can only buy a few females or one male (or both if u want babies but the mating game with fighter is pretty harsh! the male virtually squeezes the female until its unconcious!!)
    Good luck i loooove fish shopping.
    also google the cold water sucker fish, some shops sell a chinese type fish that looks identical to the proper ones (forget what theyre called) but its really really nasty. so just be carefull