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Fish/Questions Answered by Expert Richard Hight
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Severum | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: Hey, I have a 75 gallon South American Cichlid aquarium. I have 2 Firemouth Cichlids and one Red ... A: In a South American Cichlid tank, you could add an Oscar, Jack Dempsey, Green Terror or Red Devil. ... | |
| Severum | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: Hey, I have a 75 gallon South American Cichlid aquarium. I have 2 Firemouth Cichlids and one Red ... A: In Cichlid tanks, the shy or timid one of the bunch seems to be the one that is picked on. Unless ... | |
| Oscar swimming off balance and has scrape on top | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: I sent this question to Ron Coleman he has helped me in the past. All Experts said it was moved to ... A: I apologize that Ron was unable to assist you and that there has been a slight delay in getting your ... | |
| adding more angels to a 46g tank | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: My 46g tank have a bunch of live plants and it also have a fluval 405 and whisper 60 as filter and ... A: You can add more Angels to the tank. Angels will either accept or reject new Angels being added to ... | |
| Cichlids food | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: Does Frozen blood worms and ordinary dry worms enhance the colour of the cichlids? Suggest me some ... A: Nothing enhances the color of Cichlids like proper lighting and regular tank maintenance. Cichlids ... | |
| New tank mates | 10/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank that i'm looking to restock but i'm not sure what kind to get. I ... A: Hmmmm this is a little tricky because your Pleco really needs more room and your Cory Cat would do ... | |
| South American Cichlids Weird Behavior | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: My So. American cichlid is orange and really cute, I don't know the specifics but it's that kind ... A: You should not keep African Cichlids with South American Cichlids. Their water requirements are ... | |
| Compatibility with angelfish | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: hey Richard, i have an aquarium, i have a bala shark and 2 orange honey gourami and 2 threespot ... A: Tiger Barbs and Gouramis are not good tank mates for Angels. You'll need to either move the Angels ... | |
| green water | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a 75 gallon tank with a heater a cascade 1000 canister filter. The fish are as follows: 1 ... A: Green water is not a bacteria bloom during a tank cycle. A bacteria bloom would be a milky colored ... | |
| Angelfish | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: We are buying a 55 gallon aquarium soon. I want to put two angelfish as the main fish with some ... A: It depends on your preference. I wouldn't use sand or dirt. Angels prefer a planted tank so I would ... | |
| Angelfish | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: We are buying a 55 gallon aquarium soon. I want to put two angelfish as the main fish with some ... A: Angelfish should be in a larger group of at least 4. Cory Cats should be a group of 2, single Cory ... | |
| Plant | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a basic 20 gallon tank and am looking for a plant that will help hide the eggs when the fish ... A: I use Java Moss, Java Fern, Star Grass, Water Wisteria and Vallisneria along with some floating ... | |
| Gold gourami/tank mates | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: I 'rescued' a 2" gold gourami yesterday because it was under constant attack by another one and was ... A: Swordtails are very easy to keep and maintain. You should be able to put 5 swordtails in a 29 gallon ... | |
| Gold gourami/tank mates | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I 'rescued' a 2" gold gourami yesterday because it was under constant attack by another one and was ... A: The horror stories you've read about Gold Gouramis are probably pretty accurate. They are an ... | |
| Bala Sharks and Oscars | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a Bala shark in a 200 gallon tank and i was wondering if i could add an oscar to my tank. i ... A: Yes, a Bala Shark and an Oscar should be fine together, especially in a large tank. However, Bala ... | |
| Dojo Loach | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I was wanting a Dojo Loach but wanted to know more about them before buying one. What size tank ... A: Dojo Loaches aka Weather Loaches, outside of South American and African Cichlids, are among my ... | |
| betta fish swimming sideways | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: Iread your answer which included adding epsom salt to the water. I have a 1 1/2 gallon tank. How ... A: There's not much you can do with him being in such a small tank. Change the water and use StressCoat ... | |
| betta fish swimming sideways | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: Iread your answer which included adding epsom salt to the water. I have a 1 1/2 gallon tank. How ... A: Yes, he needs a filter on his tank. However, he also needs a much larger tank than 1½ gallons. ... | |
| fish acting strange | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: . i sterlized them with hot water like i do with everything and put them in about 4pm... by 6:30pm ... A: Nicki Explain to your son that Lego men are for him to play with, and not for the fish, and are in ... | |
| 10 gallon | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I am getting a 10 gallon aquarium. I want a bigger aquarium but due to money, and trust constraints ... A: You can keep 4 Tiger Barbs in a 10 gallon without putting anything else in the tank as far as space ... | |
| 10 gallon | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I am getting a 10 gallon aquarium. I want a bigger aquarium but due to money, and trust constraints ... A: Unfortunately in a 10 gallon, you are limited to the types of fish and how many you can keep. 10 ... | |
| Guppies..... | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: ) I have 1 male guppy and 1 female guppy can you please tell me how do I breed them?? Thnkx 4 your ... A: You cannot force Guppies to breed. Like any living creature, they will choose their own mates. It's ... | |
| Betta Behaviour | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a question about my Betta fish, Toby. I got him around December 17, 2010, and at the time he ... A: He sounds like a normal Betta to me. A few of my Bettas behave the same way...like they're saying ... | |
| Betta fish questions | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I've just been given my first betta fish, and I had a couple of concerns. 1st off, it was given to ... A: Your Betta may still be getting used to his new home. Some fish don't eat at first when you bring ... | |
| sand vs.gravel | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I am going to set up a 40 gal. breeder tank for my bottom feeders: plecos, corys, clown loaches and ... A: Sand will create a more natural and professional look for your aquarium. Most live plants also root ... | |
| sick oscar maybe | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: Our Oscars (we have 2) are a year old, they are about 7 inches long, they eat mosquito fish and ... A: This sounds like normal Oscar behavior to me. Some Oscars are a lot more aggressive than others. I ... | |
| red tailed black shark behavior | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: This is my first aquarium, it is 10 gallons. I set it up a little over a month ago, 2 inches of ... A: This is actually quite normal for a Redtail in a tank by himself. He will likely calm down a little ... | |
| Red Dwarf Gouramis. | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought to red dwarf gouramis (i think...?). The staff there didn't know weather they ... A: These are Flame Dwarf Gouramis. The pic isn't that clear, but it looks like the lower one above the ... | |
| bristlenose | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: My bristlenose isnt eating because whenever my green terror swims by he just swims away to hide? and ... A: My Oscars and other Cichlids often eat the Algae Wafers too. The best thing to do in this case is to ... | |
| Moving fish | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I currently own a 20gal tank with several black neon tetras and a male betta. They get along great ... A: When you leave for school in the fall, you'll need to make the aquarium the last thing you take down ... | |
| tank size and moving | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a male betta, an albino cory catfish, two GLOWfish, an african dwarf frog, and a snail. They ... A: Well first I would get rid of the frog, especially if it is attacking my Betta. Either return him to ... | |
| Power outage disaster | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: Yesterday the power went out in my house for 9 hours in which that time so did my filter and ... A: If your tank was properly cycled, a 9 hour power outage should not have killed your Danios unless it ... | |
| Molly vs Betta? | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10-gallon aquarium (which will be doubled after I move to my new place) that has a dark ... A: Mollies can be aggressive. However, Bettas usually attack fancy finned fish such as the Lyretail. ... | |
| Bala Shark Fish | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a Bala Shark Fish and i just noticed a light color circle on the top of his head. Is it ... A: I haven't known Bala Sharks to get Hole in the Head disease, this is a disease common with American ... | |
| not eating | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: I just got a blue half moon male Betta and when we saw him at the pet store he looked really hyper ... A: I found your question in our question pool. I apologize if there has been a long delay in answering ... | |
| what fish to get for my new tank. | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I have got a filter, a heater and a pump and a light in it, i am just letting everything run for a ... A: The best fish for you and your son to start your hobby with depends on your personal taste. My ... | |
| Betta fish - Aquarium? | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: long time no see :3 I just have a quick question. I currently have a gourami, five small female ... A: Of course I remember you :) Your Betta should be fine with the Gourami and the Mollies. The Gourami ... | |
| Betta fish - Aquarium? | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: long time no see :3 I just have a quick question. I currently have a gourami, five small female ... A: it's nice to see you again too! :-) Whether female or male, your Betta should be fine with the ... | |
| sand keeps going into my filter | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: hi i have a 90 gallon cichlid i use a emporer 400 filter and i have aquarium sand the problem i have ... A: You can buy filter sponges that will fit over the intake on the filter. Many aquarist use these ... | |
| colors | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: My guppy fish just had 6 fry I was wondering do they change colors as they grow to become a guppy ... A: Yes, of course they can change colors as they grow. As with any living creature, many changes occur ... | |
| Tank Filter Too Strong? | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I just purchased a ten gallon fish tank; included with the tank was a Aqueon CA ... A: The surface current from the filter is normal. Some filters have a return flow that is strong enough ... | |
| Females chasing females, sunburst wag | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: Richard, Thank you in advance for helping me with my questions. I have a 10 gallon tank with a ... A: The store clerk was correct, 2-3 females to one male. The chasing thing is fairly normal, especially ... | |
| African and Convict Cichlids | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if african cichlids and convict cichlids can live together. I'm not trying to breed, ... A: Unfortunately, Africans and Convicts cannot live together, their water requirements are much ... | |
| Tank levels in freshwater tank | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a tank with mollies and tetra (x-ray bellies and black neons) I did a test a week ago and ... A: First, the test strips are too often inaccurate. Liquid tests are a little more expensive, but are ... | |
| how many times does sailfin molly gives birth | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE A sailfin MOLLY AND SHE HAS HAD 25-30 FRY AND SHE IS STILL ShAKING AND SWIMMING FUNNY .IS SHE ... A: Sailfin Mollies can produce 10-150 fry, depending on age, size, and how many births she's had. The ... | |
| Adding fish | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 55g planted freshwater tank. I currently have 9 gold barbs, a plecostumous, and a red ... A: I wouldn't use Cardinal Tetras with the Ram or the Redtail, they're a little small for your tank. ... | |
| Adding fish | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 55g planted freshwater tank. I currently have 9 gold barbs, a plecostumous, and a red ... A: With 9 Gold Barbs, the Pleco and the Redtail, you don't have room for many more fish, but there is ... | |
| white fluffy lesions on ciclids | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: We have a 75 gallon tank with a blue crayfish, 4 silver dollars, two severums (one quite larger than ... A: It's tough to identify exactly what is going on, but it is not Ich. It actually looks and sounds ... | |
| 3 problems!!!... | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: Richard! Thank you for taking the time to look at this; I have a few questions,and I hope I am not ... A: Question 1 - I find that Guppies are the easiest fish to breed. Guppies, as I am sure you know by ... | |
| Betta's | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a male betta in a 14 gallon tank with a small pleco and an algae eater The tank is kept at 78 ... A: There could be a couple of reasons. In the wild, Bettas live in shallow rice patties and frequently ... | |
| Aquarium Cycling | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I am new to the hobby so some background. I set up a new 30 gallon freshwater tank on Dec. 25. I ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize your answer was delayed. Well one, ... | |
| tetra tank mates | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I'm new to the aquatic world. I purchased some fish from my local walmart. namely I have 3 Serpae ... A: Of the fish you named, only the Zebra Danios, Swordtails and Corydoras Cat would be compatible with ... | |
| Beta fish | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: "Hi Richard. i'm getting a Beta fish tomorrow and i just needed to know if it's ok to use water from ... A: LOL no it doesn't matter whether it is from the bathtub, kitchen sink or outside garden hose. Just ... | |
| Balla Sharks | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: Hey Richard I have 1 bala shark and 2 suckers in a 30 gallon tank , I was wondering if i added ... A: Bala Sharks are schoolers and would do fine in a group of 4. They are not territorial and would ... | |
| Tetras | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I recently set up a 20 gallon aquarium for my son. He had a 10 gallon aquarium for about ... A: I'm glad to help and as I said, I hope it works out for you. You definitely do not want to remove ... | |
| Tetras | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I recently set up a 20 gallon aquarium for my son. He had a 10 gallon aquarium for about ... A: Well first of all, a Silver Dollar is not a member of the Tetra family. Just a little friendly and ... | |
| Heater OVERLOAD!! Tank @ 86!!! | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: My new heater went haywire!! I set it at 78 when I put it into my tank tonight, and I just went ... A: The only thing you can do at that point is to unplug the heater and let the tank temp drop on it's ... | |
| Plecos | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Richard~ I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank with 2 Fantail Goldfish, 2 Black Moors, 7 Neon Tetras, ... A: I'm sorry about your Pleco. There are a few problems here that I'm going to help you correct. ... | |
| How many balloon mollies? | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gallon tank with 4 balloon mollies... its just a couple weeks old so i'm still working ... A: 4 Balloon Mollies is about the maximum you can keep in a 10 gallon. The odor you are smelling is ... | |
| Catfish | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: HOW YOU DOING RICHARD ? I JUST PURCHASE A ALBINO CHANNEL CATFISH..I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON IT ... A: In aquariums, Channel Cats grow 16" to 24" long. In the wild, they will grow to 4 feet long. As far ... | |
| Betta who wont eat and possibly has swim bladder disease | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased my betta fish, Thor, from petsmart. When I brought him home he ate the pellets ... A: The first thing you need to do is stop feeding him pellets. The pellets expand when they are wet and ... | |
| pleco, tank mates | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: set my 30 gallon tropical tank up about three weeks ago and i have been slowly adding fish. i ... A: At 3 weeks old, your tank is not cycled yet. You'll need to wait at least 2-4 more weeks before ... | |
| Dieting fish and moving fish | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: my mom over feeds my fish. she feeds them multiple times a day, every day. they are extremely obese, ... A: Try reducing the amount of food intake for your fish by feeding them once a day, and only feed them ... | |
| Oscars and Guppies | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: First off let me say thanks, I have a few questions about tiger oscars, first- is there anyway to ... A: There isn't a way to tell male from female Oscars. The best way to achieve a breeding pair is to put ... | |
| Cloudy Fish Tank | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon fish tank with a variety of tropical community fish, and some semi aggressive ... A: Well for one, your tank is extremely overcrowded. Your fish likely died from ammonia poisoning. What ... | |
| oscar and jack dempsey fish | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know if its a good idea to have an albino oscar with a jack dempsey? I buy the oscar ... A: Oscars and Jack Dempseys can live together. There should be plenty of caves and hiding places for ... | |
| Betta | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I bought a betta a few months ago, first one. I am trying very hard to keep him happy and he seems ... A: This is Cotton Fin Fungus. It usually doesn't affect the fish's behavior until later stages. Easily ... | |
| goldust molly | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: I have two Goldust Mollies, male and female, and the female molly is very round. The male also ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize for the delay in getting an answer to ... | |
| Sick Arowana | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265065 I'm an expert on this site (in ... A: This is Cloudy Eye. To treat it, perform small frequent water changes to improve water quality, ... | |
| Very sick Betta | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: 5 days ago my little betta started to act strangely, i.e. floating on top of water, rubbing off ... A: Continue treating him with the Malachite Green. Add 1 teaspoon of Freshwater Aquarium Salt to his ... | |
| Fish compatability. | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: Hey, I was just wondering if the following fish are compatible and what size tank they should be in: ... A: The Parrots would be ok with a Redtail Shark, as long as the Redtail has places to hide. I have ... | |
| baby guppies | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: our fish had baby guppies today. 12 in all,a few have not made it.they are in a glass tank aprox. 5 ... A: Yes, you'll want to keep the babies separated from the mother. Also, she will likely have more. ... | |
| molly babies | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: Sir, at least one of my Mollies had babies so i was wondering 1. if Mollies eat molly fry or would ... A: Yes Mollies eat their fry, you'll need to separate the fry from the adults. They should be safe to ... | |
| Parrot fish behavior and brown algae | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 purple parrots in a community 75 gallon tank and also a large ship at the bottom that they ... A: It sounds like your Parrots have laid eggs. You'll not find another fish that makes a better parent ... | |
| Gourami feelers | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I have had a beautiful male pearl gourami for about 3 years now in a commmunity tank. It normally ... A: It is likely they were nipped by another fish in the tank. Try to keep an eye open for any other ... | |
| Info on Oscar tank | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I acquired a second hand tank which I would like to use to house a single oscar. The tank is ... A: Oscars like to redecorate their tanks. It's best to use large rocks that he cannot move or pick up. ... | |
| Info on Oscar tank | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I acquired a second hand tank which I would like to use to house a single oscar. The tank is ... A: A Fluval 205 or Fluval 305 would be perfect for an Oscar tank. You don't want to use an internal ... | |
| Filter too strong | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I have just acquired a 70 litre fish tank and have one small baby goldfish (about 3cm) I just ... A: That is much too strong of a filter for your size tank. I would consider removing it and replacing ... | |
| Adding Fish. | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: i have a tank with 2 tinfoil barbs and a jewel fish and 3 blood parrots. would i be able to add a ... A: Your tank is already at capacity for a 39 gallon. Your current fish are going to grow quite large in ... | |
| Blood Parrots | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 blood parrots. Yesterday they started laying at the bottom of the tank (side-by-side) ... A: Assuming they are just sitting at the bottom of the tank and not laying on their sides, this is ... | |
| High amonia / low nitrite / nitrate | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: Id appreciate any advice on the following concern. We own a 40L freshwater heated aquarium and it ... A: You're doing things all wrong, You should never change more than 30% of the water weekly. This is ... | |
| swollen eyes on fish | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a female green sailfin molly. As I was checking on my fishy babies ( I do this a LOT ) I ... A: This is Popeye. I've never had Popeye in any of my tanks, but I do know it is usually a symptom of ... | |
| Cichlid - Oscar | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: 1 albino tiger) and started them off in a 55 gallon tank.Water conditions are all normal.I have ... A: Well let me start off by saying your tank is way too small for 4 Oscars. 4 of them will need at ... | |
| a broken plecostomus fin | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me. I woke up this morning and saw that my daughters plecostomus has a ... A: Poor little guy. Don't fret, I hear from various sources that this is not as painful as it looks. ... | |
| Oscar in new tank not eating | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: My 13" 4yr. old Oscar has always lived in a 55 gal tank. I have just put him in a new 125 gal tank ... A: I doubt it is anything you are doing wrong. He may just need time to adjust to his new home, and/or ... | |
| Golden White Cloud | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a 28 gallon freshwater tank. I have 4 tiger barbs, a gold gourami, 2 harlequin rasboras, 2 ... A: Gold White Clouds live 3-5 years. The ones you buy at fish stores are usually less than a year old. ... | |
| Oscar | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a Firemouth in a tank with a Green Terror, Convict and an Oscar. The Firemouth leaves the ... A: Your Firemouth is completely normal. They flare like that when they are threatened to make ... | |
| Green Terror | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I have around 5 green terror males and females in a 66Gallon Tank. One bigger size male is ... A: Green Terror Cichlids are highly aggressive both to other fish and their own species. When keeping ... | |
| Substrate | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: i have a 20 gallon tank with 1 common pleco, 4 zebra fish, and a goldfish that my friend gave me ... A: To answer your first question, yes, you have to remove the fish, the decorations etc and change it ... | |
| Brackish fish | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I just bought some dalmation mollies. I inrtoduced them to the 3 other fish i had. 1 fancy guppy ... A: I think you're going to have problems with the Mollies and the Guppies. Mollies, especially ... | |
| Sucker Fish | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon tank and I have a placasimous (sp) aka suker fish. He is rather large and eats ... A: The correct spelling is Plecostomus, usually referred to as a Pleco. There are many different ... | |
| how to tell genders in guppies | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I just got some new guppies from the pet store. I had one which I believed was male, so I asked for ... A: While it is true that female Guppies usually are not as colorful and have shorter finnage, this is ... | |
| Angelfish | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I am setting up a 55g freshwater angelfish aquarium, and i have a few questions.. I had an ... A: The best thing to do with Angels is to buy them small and let them grow up together. They are ... | |
| oscar | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon tank and I noticed today that my oscar is starting to eat my other oscar and he ... A: It is hit and miss when keeping Oscars together. Sometimes they will get along and others will ... | |
| Angelfish | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: I am setting up a 55g freshwater angelfish aquarium, and i have a few questions.. I had an ... A: One thing to remember is Angels are no Angels. They can be aggressive both toward each other and to ... | |
| swordtail female | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a pregnant female swordtail. Last night we looked in our tank to discover she had given birth ... A: You should put the babies either in another tank, or in a breeder net that hangs inside your main ... | |
| stocking/compatability | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: within the next few months i will be purchasing a 75 gallon tank. i need help with ... A: Neons will not be good with the Angels or the Gourami. When both are large enough, they will eat the ... | |
| My Tiger Oscars Keep Swimming Side By Side Whats Wrong With Them?? | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: My name is Shawnell and my question is I have 2 tiger oscars in a 30 gallon tank they are maybe 1 or ... A: You have to give them time to adjust to their new surroundings. They are frightened right now as ... | |
| Parrot Fish | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently got some Parrot fish from a restaurant that went out of business. I have never had fish ... A: This could be a fungus, but could also be a parasite. I would treat them with Pimafix. Also, raise ... | |
| dying fish | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: "Hi, I have had a healthy running tank for several years now and recently added 1 male and 1 ... A: Well, a few mistakes here. I'm going to help you with them and we'll get you back on the right ... | |
| Betta fish feeding | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: We seem to be having a dispute at my house about feeding our new bettas. My sis and i just recieved ... A: I would use the flakes, that's what I feed my Betta's and they are all healthy. The Bio-Gold is ... | |
| Betta fish feeding | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: We seem to be having a dispute at my house about feeding our new bettas. My sis and i just recieved ... A: Well, I'm sorry, you have been given some very bad advice from all of the information sources you ... | |
| Aquarium lighting and food | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a ten gallon aquarium with two male mollies (a creamsicle and a silver one) and a five gallon ... A: You could switch your feeding to feed them the flakes in the morning and Bloodworms in the evening. ... | |
| Clown Knife Fish | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently have added a 4-5" Clown Knife Fish to my aquarium. I know about this fish and how big it ... A: If the Guppies were meant as food for the Clown Knife, I would leave them in the same tank. I have ... | |
| very sick betta | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I noticed my daughters betta had pop-eye a little over a week ago, I went to petco got some betta ... A: He needs to be in a 5 gallon heated and filtered aquarium. He likely won't make it in the 2.5 ... | |
| whats wrong with my tanks | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I've got 3 tanks, 1 is 30 gallon, 1 is 10 gallon and another one is 5 gallons. I have 3 TinFoil ... A: Yes it would be ok. You have to take the fish out and put them in a temporary holding container. ... | |
| whats wrong with my tanks | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I've got 3 tanks, 1 is 30 gallon, 1 is 10 gallon and another one is 5 gallons. I have 3 TinFoil ... A: Here is an article I would like for you to read... http://www.bestfish.com/ug.html After reading ... | |
| whats wrong with my tanks | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I've got 3 tanks, 1 is 30 gallon, 1 is 10 gallon and another one is 5 gallons. I have 3 TinFoil ... A: Is the undergravel filter the only type of filter you have in these tanks? If it is, this is your ... | |
| sailfin molly[male] | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: i have a 36l hexagonal tank i bought 10 male guppies a sucking loach and a pair of mollies.after a ... A: Mollies and Guppies should not be together. Male Mollies can be very aggressive, especially when ... | |
| How big a tank? | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I've been wanting to set up a small aquarium for my dorm room. I would like to have a Betta splenden ... A: A 15 gallon would be ok for this setup. However, no, you will not be able to keep the Neons with a ... | |
| Snakeskin gouramis have white mouths | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: Greetings...I've had 2 snakeskin gouramis for 2 years now. They are each about 8" long.They live ... A: If they are both active and eating well, then neither of them has Dropsy. Fish that have Dropsy ... | |
| Betta Ich? | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I have a beautiful deep blue betta that I think has Ich. I have had many ... A: Your Betta needs his water changed every week, not every 3 weeks. I know the plastic filter you are ... | |
| molly fish in a bowl | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: hey richard , i bought two small orange molly fish and kept them in a bowl ,howerev both of them ... A: Mollies won't live in a bowl. They need an aquarium with a cover, filter and a heater. Mollies are ... | |
| I want to have an aquarium... any advice what i should get? | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently invested in a 30 gallon tank. No fish yet... I want fresh water fish hoping that they ... A: African Cichlids should only be with other African Cichlids. The main reason is they need a very ... | |
| pink kissing fish/ what they eat? | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: what do pink kissing Gourami eat?? A: I pulled your question from our question pool. Kissing Gouramis will accept a variety of foods. ... | |
| still very upset | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Well I'm still grieving for Toby. I know the fish need me. It's very hard at the minute. Why did he ... A: Sorry again about Toby. I'm not a grief counselor, but I can tell you it wasn't your fault. This ... | |
| Clamped Fins | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Richard In a 30 gallon tank, I have 2 Parrots. 2 Kribensis and 2 Black Tetras. All have been ... A: You didn't tell me about the Catfish in the first part of your question and I guess I was forgetting ... | |
| Clamped Fins | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Richard In a 30 gallon tank, I have 2 Parrots. 2 Kribensis and 2 Black Tetras. All have been ... A: I doubt there is something wrong with any of the food you are feeding them. Is the water clear? If ... | |
| Oscar | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: Hey Richard, you have helped me in the past and I appreciate it. I got another tank its a 50 gallon ... A: It's hit and miss when placing tank mates with Oscars. For example, I have a large Oscar in a tank ... | |
| I want to have an aquarium... any advice what i should get? | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I recently invested in a 30 gallon tank. No fish yet... I want fresh water fish hoping that they ... A: a 30 gallon is too small for even one Oscar, let alone two and other tankmates. Also, two Oscars may ... | |
| Cory catfish. | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I am getting the cory tonight. Tropical fish ae not the only fish I have. I have got two goldfish ... A: Sorry to hear about the Cory. Hmmm that's weird, Cory's are pretty hardy and hard to kill. Did you ... | |
| Fish dying | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: We had a Beta fish in it and then got a cory cat(about 2 months ago). It seems ever since we got the ... A: I'm certain this is a water quality issue. A Cory Cat and a Betta should be fine together. I have ... | |
| fish | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: i have an Oscar fish hes about a month old and growing hes very happy me and him play games he seems ... A: I'm sorry, but your Oscar is going to need a very large tank. He will reach 12" - 14" as an adult. ... | |
| Betta fish | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: One of the Betta fish, the male seems to be showing signs of fin rot. Classic symptoms. I told a few ... A: Well be sure and take care of the Betta Fin Rot before it gets worse. Maracyn and Maracyn 2 work ... | |
| Cory catfish. | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I am getting the cory tonight. Tropical fish ae not the only fish I have. I have got two goldfish ... A: I think you'll be happy with the Cory Cat. Yes, most people who work in fish stores are twits. ... | |
| want tank safe for new Betta | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: My Betta died about 3 wks ago. I had him for about a year, in a 1 gal funny-shaped desk tank with ... A: Sorry about your Betta. A one gallon tank is not sufficient for any fish, especially a Betta. I ... | |
| Oscar Fish | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 tiger oscars both about 5 inches, and one of them is a lighter than the other, more of a ... A: Most likely nothing to worry about. Oscars, like many fish, change colors trying to blend in. About ... | |
| Black Mollies | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: 2 bottom feeders approx 2inches long, and one black molly. I did have two siamese fighter fish ... A: Black Mollies are aggressive, although it is more common in the males. Females can be aggressive as ... | |
| Guppy + Molly..? | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: it's me again. You always answer my questions and help me when I need it most, so you're my ... A: Fish are amazing. As I'm sure you know, they each have their own distinct characteristics and ... | |
| Guppy + Molly..? | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: it's me again. You always answer my questions and help me when I need it most, so you're my ... A: Happy Easter to you! I meant to sign off today with Happy Easter but forgot. I did have a good ... | |
| tropical fish | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: My name is Danielle. I have some tropical fish, little shark fish and variouse other fish like ... A: Well definitely don't get a Pleco then. I don't have any Plecos now. My Catfish, Loaches and Redtail ... | |
| tropical fish | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: My name is Danielle. I have some tropical fish, little shark fish and variouse other fish like ... A: LOL I don't like Plecos either. I'm not afraid of them, I just don't like the way they look. A ... | |
| Guppy + Molly..? | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: it's me again. You always answer my questions and help me when I need it most, so you're my ... A: There are exceptions to every rule. I was actually referring to male Mollies and Guppies who are ... | |
| guppies | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: um. i have to fish that i believe are female guppies. i think one of them has a dark gravid spot but ... A: Just put some floating plants in the tank just in case. If she has fry, they will find their way to ... | |
| Strange gourami behavior | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a 55-gallon tank with 5 gouramis - 2 gold, 2 opaline and 1 blue 3-spot. I also have 4 giant ... A: Gouramis will be Gouramis. Regardless of the species, they are best kept one male to one or more ... | |
| Oscar | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a small tiger Oscar. Over the week I've had him I am able to feed him fishfood ... A: My Oscars used to not eat from the surface either, they would wait until the food started to sink ... | |
| tetra | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: A: Well I'm glad you'll be getting rid of the bass. He belongs in a lake, not an aquarium. As far as ... | |
| What type of fish is this? | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: A very simple question, but saw this fish in the market today I have never seen before, you couldn't ... A: That's a Spotted Green Puffer. I've never kept them, nor do I recommend them for beginners or the ... | |
| stone in aquarium | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: Can I put shale or other kinds of stone in my freshwater aquarium? I want thin light weight pieces ... A: Shale rocks will work in a freshwater aquarium. Make sure they have been thoroughly rinsed. You can ... | |
| Fish help | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I plan on getting a Red Tailed Shark and would like to know if Honey Gourami are okay tankmates. Are ... A: Redtail Sharks will work in many aquarium communities. I have Redtail Sharks with large aggressive ... | |
| sick rope fish | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: When purchasing my rope fish, the employee dropped him twice. Four days later, my rope fish escaped ... A: Well first, when the twit at the petstore dropped him twice, you should've requested another fish ... | |
| gourami disease? | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: i have a gourami - about 4 inches long maybe 5 years old. he's one of a pair. his buddy is fine. ... A: It's actually old age in the Gourami. They typically live 4-6 years. However, I have a couple of ... | |
| Female Betta in a New Tank | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I have had a female betta for about 6 months. She has been in a small one gallon tank with no filter ... A: Most likely this is just a case of her getting used to her new home. Did you acclimate her to the ... | |
| water conditioners | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: When doing water changes and conditioning the water the instructions are to add 1 tsp. per 10 ... A: You're being overly cautious, but that is never a bad thing. 1tsp of conditioner is fine for up to 5 ... | |
| Fish Compatability | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help. In a couple of weeks time I will be given a Interpet Fishbox 48 litre for my ... A: There are many fish you can keep with both Pearl and Zebra Danios. However, in the 48L, you won't be ... | |
| The new babies | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: My mommy molly finally gave birth to the babies either some time early this morning or late last ... A: When it comes to baby fish, only the strong survive. You will likely lose some. You want to place ... | |
| pregnant guppy | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: i have one (looks young) pregnant guppy or minnow (can't tell =[) in a 5 gallon aquarium she has a ... A: I'm assuming there are males in the tank. Just be patient. Gestation period for Guppies is about 4 ... | |
| Little white invaders | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a 150 gl tank with 5 dojo loaches 3 colie loaches a huge placo and an arowana. I have alot ... A: These are snail eggs and/or baby snails. Unsightly, but harmless. They will also likely continue to ... | |
| My Freshwater Tank & fish Problems | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I have a 150 Gal fresh water tank, I purchased at a local fish store. The lady is very ... A: Well it sounds like you didn't let your tank complete the cycle process. This takes 4-6 weeks after ... | |
| My red glass barbs | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: My name is Maddie, and I'm 11. I have a few questions about my 2 red glass barbs.(Red glass barbs ... A: Well unfortunately a 5 gallon tank is too small for 2 Rosy Barbs. When the sign says "Minimum Tank ... | |
| Black Mollie Wigging | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: My Mollie just keeps wiggling in one spot. He will eat food but after that he goes back into a ... A: It's a tough one to answer. It doesn't sound like normal Molly behavior, unless he's the only Molly ... | |
| small aquarium | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1 gallon tank that I would like to be able to put fish in. Are there any you would ... A: Unfortunately a 1 gallon tank isn't much good for anything. No matter how small the fish, you ... | |
| sick betta | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: please help...my betta has not eaten in 5 days...looks constipated. I changed his diet to floating ... A: Regardless of what most Betta care websites and even some experts on our forum will tell you, ... | |
| Me again, another question. | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: it's Sarah again! I am also thinking of getting a red tailed shark, but I need to know if I can keep ... A: Redtail Sharks should be kept as singles in any tank, because they become very aggressive towards ... | |
| fish | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: i have to black mollys and i was wondering that how can you tell f its a girl or a boy? A: With Mollies, as well as other livebearers, you look at the bottom fin that's closest to their tail. ... | |
| Breeding Bettas | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to breed my betas. He built a bubble nest and when i put them together the female tore ... A: Unfortunately, you found out the hard way that breeding Bettas is not for the average aquarist. What ... | |
| Tiger Oscar Questions | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: i have a few questions about my tiger oscars. they are constantly hiding it seems like they only ... A: Oscars like to hide and need to have lots of hiding places in order to feel safe and secure. Oscars ... | |
| Guppies and other tank mates | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to know if guppies can go in the same tank as Gourami's Angel's, Brichardi's and ... A: You've got some problems in this tank we need to correct. NO Guppies cannot go in that tank! They ... | |
| Betta Jumped out of Tank | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I changed my betta's water right before going out for about 3 hours a couple days ago. When I came ... A: I've never heard of Trycelerine, nor is it in any of my medical dictionaries. Could you possibly ... | |
| 150 gallon tank: stocking suggestions | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: :) I've kept peaceful fish all my life and am now wanting to move into the semi-aggressive group ... A: This should work well for you using the fish you named. Also, I doubt the Kribensis would bother the ... | |
| Green water in my freshwater tank | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I am a fairly new owner of a 60 gallon freshwater tank and have not had problems with it for the ... A: This is an algae bloom caused by poor water conditions. All aquariums need 25% water changes weekly, ... | |
| 150 gallon tank: stocking suggestions | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: :) I've kept peaceful fish all my life and am now wanting to move into the semi-aggressive group ... A: There are many possibilities for the 150g semi-aggressive tank. The ones you listed are smaller. ... | |
| my new oscar | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: i just bought an oscar from petsmart and he was realy active in the store and even in the bag on the ... A: Oscars are nervous when they are introduced to a new home. If he went to a back corner, this means ... | |
| Unknown Sickness? | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10 gallon long tank (24x12x12?). I have 1 dwarf gourami, 3 platys, two panda cories, and ... A: First, invertebrates should not be in a tank with tropical fish. 7 out of 10 questions I receive ... | |
| Dojo Loach white area on her nose | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a 9-year-old Dojo Loach who about 4 months ago appeared to with a white area on her nose. ... A: Being that its a Dojo Loach, you have nothing to worry about. If it's a spot on the nose and ... | |
| Beta Question | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I have had my Brandon, my beta, since October 2006 and he has alot of sentimetal value. And while ... A: That doesn't sound strange at all. It is very easy and human nature to become attached to our little ... | |
| blood parrots and friends | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: i have a few tanks but the one im asking about is a 250litre i already have 1 blood parrot cichlid,5 ... A: The Angelfish, Cory Cats, Kribensis and Keyhole Cichlids will NOT work in this tank. Tinfoil Barbs ... | |
| High ph in my tank | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 75 gallon tank that I recently set up with a canister filter and about 2 inches of gravel. ... A: No, African Cichlids will not work with your current fish. That high of pH is rarely found in ... | |
| Proper Feeding | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I need some advice for proper feeding for my fish tank that I have just completed and have properly ... A: Well first, the Betta and the Neons are not a good mix. Bettas usually attack brightly colored fish, ... | |
| new aquarium set up for betta | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a Betta fish that I keep in a 1 gallon bowl. I just recently got a 10 gallon and I'm wanting ... A: I would get the 10 gallon completely setup. Add the gravel, decorations, fill with water, get the ... | |
| betta fish | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: i want a beta fish, but before i get one i need to know how to take care of it. first question is ... A: Below is a detailed guide on how a Betta should be kept. A Betta needs a recommended 5 gallons of ... | |
| My little Black Shark | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I got the little black shark a couple months ago and fell for him. I have decided to let go of all ... A: The Black Shark should be fine with both Oscars and Jack Dempseys. Black Sharks should be kept as ... | |
| please help me.(= | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: so i just bought a male beta fish about 5 days ago (Spencer) and for the first day he looked great ... A: Well first you need to get Spencer a larger place to live. A 5 gallon filtered, heated and covered ... | |
| tank | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a white powderery substance settling on my plants and is building up in filter i have changed ... A: The white powder substance sounds like some kind of mold or fungus. If you're using Aquarium Salt, ... | |
| Egg Yolks | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I heard somewhere that you can feed fish fry egg yolks? Is that true? If so are there raw egg yolks ... A: Some people I've heard have fed partially cooked egg yolks to Betta fry. I don't recommend it. The ... | |
| betta fish | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a beautful male betta fish and he is in a 3 gallon aquarium by himslef. I do ... A: No need to feel bad, I don't blame you for the Betta's condition. You see, many people buy Bettas in ... | |
| Freshwater juvenile Angelfish koi | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: For a few weeks now two of my angelfish koi have been inflicted with (I presume) a cloudy fungus ... A: This is likely Cloudy Eye, usually caused by poor water conditions. Check the water quality first ... | |
| my sick corydoras trilineatus | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I have three corydoras who were originally in a 32 inch tank with a variety of other fish until they ... A: Well first, adding any type of fish medication to a tank with shrimp in it will kill them. Most fish ... | |
| betta fish | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a beautful male betta fish and he is in a 3 gallon aquarium by himslef. I do ... A: Well, I am familiar with that type of filter. I don't use them, they are worthless. Most of them ... | |
| To Clarify | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I would really appreciate your help. I've been having some issues with my aquarium for a while now. ... A: First, other than the Cloudy Eye I mentioned, I don't think there is anything wrong with your Pearl ... | |
| betta fish | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a Biorb baby tank and have two female betas and one male in it. The orange female nipped the ... A: Bettas, male or female, cannot live together in the same tank. They are called Fighting Fish for a ... | |
| My Poor Gourami | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20g freshwater tank filled with two black skirt tetras, a bleeding heart tetra, a (tame) ... A: Well, this is a tough one to answer. If you're certain it's a male, it could be constipation. ... | |
| At the end of my rope... | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I would really appreciate your help. I've been having some issues with my aquarium for a while now. ... A: I'm familiar with April, but unfortunately, I don't have time right now to browse through forums. So ... | |
| Tiger Oscar and his 55 gallons | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: We have a wonderful Tiger Oscar and he lives in a 55 gallon tank. He is very friendly (except ... A: First, Oscar tanks should be cleaned twice a week, not every 2 weeks. Tankmates for Oscars are ... | |
| platy or molly? | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I bought this platy and she has a blue and pink stripe and the rest silver (ill attach photo) I dont ... A: Well your pic is fuzzy, I hope the Platy is healthier than she looks. This is called a Mickey Mouse ... | |
| Our Oscars | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: We have 2 oscars, about a year old. We are extremely dilligent on their care and all things ... A: Depending on the size tank they're in, Oscars can get territorial, even if they've been together for ... | |
| my fish | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I got 2 zebra danio fish and kept them in there for 3weeks and they did fine. So I went back to the ... A: What you have is Ich. There are many treatments available. Mardel's Maracide or Coppersafe, ... | |
| Mass death of Fish | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: Over the past 24 hours I have lost about 10 fish out of my twenty gallon tank. I would like to tell ... A: You're very welcome. What you have now is fin rot, and sounds like a severe case of it. Fin rot is a ... | |
| Platy and Guppies | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon tank with various fish who do fine together. However I have a turquoise male ... A: Well the obvious choice is to relocate the Platy to another tank. Or, move the Guppy to another ... | |
| Mass death of Fish | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: Over the past 24 hours I have lost about 10 fish out of my twenty gallon tank. I would like to tell ... A: Many problems here and I'm not sure which to tackle first. So I guess I'll just start and see how it ... | |
| 55g filter | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: Hey Richard I bought a used 55 gallon on craigslist. It was just the tank and the top. No filter, ... A: In my larger tanks I use multiple power filters. In a 55 gallon I use 2 Penguin 200B on each end and ... | |
| Guppies | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I have 6 guppies and 3 cory catfish in a 75 gallon tank. I want to add more fish. How many and what ... A: There are many fish that would go well in a Guppy community tank. Fish you can mix with both your ... | |
| Stocking levels? | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: Hey there =] I have a 40 gallon tank. There are 3 albino cories. 5 harlequins 5 silvertips ... A: Your 40 gallon is already overstocked. You currently have 50 gallons worth of fish. I certainly ... | |
| sinking betta | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: Here's the story of Ozzie the sinking betta. I got Ozzie in San Diego, put him in a 2-3 gallon bowl ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize for the delay in getting an answer to ... | |
| bettas | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: How big do bettas generally grow? What fish can you mix with bettas? ANSWER: Hi Matthew Bettas ... A: Bettas by themselves should be kept in a 5 gallon, heated and filtered aquarium. If you plan on ... | |
| Sailfin Molly Tank set up | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 90 Gallon with 8 assorted small to med size mollies, 5 guppies, one Dwarf Gourami, one ... A: While Mollies will adapt to most water conditions, a specialized Molly tank like yours should be ... | |
| What plants should go in a fry tank? | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 35 gallon hex. It has 2 female platy, 1 pleco, 2 inca's, and 2 albino cory's. One of my ... A: Fry usually like to hide in floating plants. However providing some planted plants would be ... | |
| Betta Death | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I had a Male Betta for about 1 month and 18 days then he died. But the day before he was up at the ... A: Hey Allison Sorry about your Betta. I'm not sure what killed him, could've been an older Betta that ... | |
| Gourami-Spitting Bubbles | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a single male dwarf gourami for my 65 litre aquarium. I also have 8 Tetras, 2 ... A: The Dwarf Gourami possesses a labyrinth organ. This organ is similar to a lung. The fish takes in ... | |
| Fish Stocking Confusion | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I have, over the years, accumulated much conflicting information about the amount of fish ... A: Generally, the rule is 1" of fish per gallon of water. But you have to consider the size the fish ... | |
| Cichlids | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: Hey Richard Thanks for helping me with the brichardi. After researching further i dont think they ... A: You are very welcome. I hope one day you decide the Brichardi are for you, they are one of my ... | |
| suitable tankmates | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are shortly going to be setting up our third tank, were hoping to get one between ... A: Sorry, I missed the Silver Dollars in your first question. Silver Dollars are a peaceful, ... | |
| suitable tankmates | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are shortly going to be setting up our third tank, were hoping to get one between ... A: Discus are a unique fish, and when cared for properly, will provide you with a pretty aquarium. ... | |
| Mollies | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I really love mollies and would love to try and breed them myself for my own tank but my problem is ... A: Well first, snails and other such creatures don't belong in an aquarium with tropical fish. This is ... | |
| Aggressive molly | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20 gallon tank with 1 Male black molly, 1 female black molly and 1 Lyretail male molly ... A: All male Mollies in my observance of keeping them, have been aggressors toward other male Mollies, ... | |
| Brichardi | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I was at a local petshop and seen some of these and they were smaller than most other ... A: Well let me correct your first problems, then I'll give you some info on the Brichardi. You need to ... | |
| bettas | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: How big do bettas generally grow? What fish can you mix with bettas? A: Bettas will generally grow to 2-3 inches. Good tank mates for Bettas are Dwarf Gouramis, Moons, ... | |
| betta | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: i have had my betta for a few years. It was doing well, his name is Sushi. But about 2 months ago i ... A: The average life span of a Betta is 2-3 years. I've known a few to live as long as 4 years. As they ... | |
| guppies | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: My son purchased some guppies around Christmas and one was a girl and five were boys, so the girl ... A: Not necessarily showing all of their colors, but sexing them. It can be challenging but not ... | |
| guppies | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: My son purchased some guppies around Christmas and one was a girl and five were boys, so the girl ... A: Simply put, they can go back in with the adults when you can tell the difference in the sexes. Males ... | |
| compatible fish | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gal. tank with catfish and silver dollars and was just wondering what other fish I could ... A: It really depends on how many you currently have. You don't want to overcrowd your tank. Silver ... | |
| Sick Gourami | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a blue paradise gourami that has been sick for 3 days- no idea why. All of my levels are ... A: I'm not sure I understand your question "Could this have been the problem" If you're asking do I ... | |
| Sick gourami | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a blue paradise gourami that has been sick for 3 days- no idea why. All of my levels are ... A: This could be a number of things. An infection from the bite, an internal injury from the bite, ... | |
| Black Mollie Babies | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: My 9 year old son had 1 fish that had babies. We put those babies into a 20 gallon tank and now we ... A: Once Mollies start breeding, it seems like a weekly event. The only way to get them to stop breeding ... | |
| koi | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: Since then 4 of my fish have gone missing and my betta is not happy. any suggestions?? Can koi go ... A: Koi are more suitable for ponds, not aquariums. The Koi most likely ate your other fish. The Betta ... | |
| tiger barb swimming | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: i had my fish for 4 days and just today 2 of them started swimming funny. they swim downwards ... A: This is probably either ammonia poisoning or some type of bacterial infection. Check your ammonia ... | |
| how to make my tank brackish tank | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I have to spotted green puffers that I bought at wal-mart they did not give me much information on ... A: Steven You have 2 green spotted puffers and a catfish in a 10 gallon tank?!?!? Too bad you didn't ... | |
| Betta care | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I had one Betta who lived to be almost 4. He started acting sick so I thought it was just 'old ... A: Well first, never use a paper towel to clean a fish bowl or aquarium. Tiny particles from the paper ... | |
| dalmation fish | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: how do you tell a female from a male dalmation fish? I have 2 and one chases and herds the other ... A: On Mollies and other livebearing fish, you look at the bottom fin on their underside just before the ... | |
| Male Betta Fish | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: My fish is 1 yr old: male. He has traveled from Oklahoma where I got him to Calif. About a month ago ... A: Well first, I don't advise anything less than 2½ gallons for a Betta. I would try a broad spectrum ... | |
| fish | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: ok here is my question at the back of her she has a big black spot i have put her in the baby tank ... A: Just let nature take it's course. Check her daily. Sometimes when a female becomes stressed, she ... | |
| feeding | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Ok. First let me tell you who all I have... 1 peacock eel 4 glo fish 4 white mickey mouse platys' 2 ... A: I've always said if you can't breed a guppy there is something wrong. As for the others, I tell ... | |
| feeding | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Ok. First let me tell you who all I have... 1 peacock eel 4 glo fish 4 white mickey mouse platys' 2 ... A: WOW... there ya go ;-) Provided your "Delivery Room" is setup and ready to go, the only thing you ... | |
| red tail shark and cilids | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon tank that has two red tail sharks, three red tail loaches, two bb cats and about ... A: This is most likely either bad water conditions or a parasite of some sort. Check your ammonia and ... | |
| Something wrong with my platy | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm new to the fish world. I have a 33 gallon tank with some guppies, platies, mollies neons and ... A: Dropsy is not a particularly contagious disease, but the cause of it may still exist in your tank. ... | |
| fish deaths new tropical tank | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: We have a 260 litre tank which is 4 weeks old. We started it off with water from a 100 litre tank ... A: Ok this is something I've never experienced and I wasn't able to find it online or in my books. But, ... | |
| feeding | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: Ok. First let me tell you who all I have... 1 peacock eel 4 glo fish 4 white mickey mouse platys' 2 ... A: I must say that is quite an odd collection you have there. But most of my tanks are as well. I'm ... | |
| Beta fish | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: My Beta fish just sit at the bottom of his bowl. When i feed him he only swims vertically, when he ... A: I really need more information before I can attempt to answer this. How old is he? What type of tank ... | |
| balloon molly | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: My adult balloon molly has a growth like along her dorsal fin and there is also like a single ... A: It's hard to diagnose your Molly over the Internet but this sounds like it could be Lymphocystis. ... | |
| Getting a male betta next week | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I just got a six gallon tank and I am getting a betta next week. Mysister just got a one gallon ... A: That's what they are called, Glowfish, also Glowlight Tetras and no, they won't work with a Betta. ... | |
| Weird oscar | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a 30 gallon tank with a pleco which is very small and an ocsar which is small right now and ... A: Believe it or not, your Oscar is perfectly normal. Oscars are not comfortable in the open, they need ... | |
| Something wrong with my platy | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm new to the fish world. I have a 33 gallon tank with some guppies, platies, mollies neons and ... A: It's hard to diagnose without seeing him, but it sounds like it could be dropsy. I recommend putting ... | |
| cleaning gravel | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 12 gallon tank that has recently been completely depopulated due to new tank syndrome, and ... A: I've heard the same about cleaning new tanks. I believe new tanks as well as established tanks, need ... | |
| Betta fish spitting food out | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I noticed that my Betta spits his food out (Tetra pellets) after "chewing" them. I assume he is ... A: I apologize for the delay in answering your question, it had been sent to our question pool. Well ... | |
| What are some good tank mates for my betta and gourami's? | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently set up my tank, it has gone through its biological cycle and tested the water several ... A: I apologize for the lengthy delay in answering your question, it was sent to our question pool. In ... | |
| White Spots on Fish | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: My question is why does my fish have white spots all over its self? We treat and change the water, ... A: This is Ich, a parasite common to fish. Fortunately, I've never had Ich in any of my aquariums. Here ... | |
Fish
Answers by Expert:
Richard Hight
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I own and maintain several freshwater aquariums from 2 to 180 gallon. I can answer most questions about freshwater aquariums, including setup, cycling, maintenance, compatible tank mates, feeding. Moving? I've moved fish both across town and across the country and can help you get your little aquatic friends to their new home safely. I know and have experience with most freshwater community fish, South American Cichlids and African Cichlids. If I don't know the answer to your question, I'll do research to find the best answer for you. I don't answer questions about Goldfish or keeping Goldfish with Tropical Fish. I also don't answer questions about keeping crustaceans (shrimp, snails, crabs etc) with Tropical Fish, nor questions about saltwater fish or aquariums. I'm not available to answer questions on weekends, this is when I do maintenance on my own tanks.
Experience
Many years of personal experience with fish and aquariums
Education/Credentials
HSG 2010-2011 prof
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