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Freshwater Aquarium/Questions Answered by Expert Richard Hight
| Subject | Date Asked |
| 2 mollies drooping tail and thin | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: My 6-yr old and I have had our 10 gallon tank for 2.5 weeks now. The fish store employee said that ... A: First, I'm sorry that some moron at a fish store told you that Mollies would be fine for cycling the ... | |
| Koi in aquarium | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I have just bought two small koi fish that are each about 4 - 5 1/2in long. I have a ten gallon ... A: Although it is rare in captivity, a Koi can reach a size of 3 feet long. Two of them in a 10 gallon ... | |
| convict | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: HELP ME..About a week ago in my 135 gallon tank i noticed that my thermometer had broken i ... A: With large Cichlids, it's best to get either a stick on thermometer that sticks to the outside of ... | |
| Dim Lighting for tetras | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: The question that's been bugging me.... Everywhere I look it says tetras (like neon, glowlight, ... A: Not necessarily dim lighting, they need full spectrum lighting which is not quite a bright as the ... | |
| Moving! | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: Hight, Thank you in advance for your help. So i just bought a house and am currently maintaining ... A: You will likely lose half of your fish if you do it that way. A 75 gallon uncycled tank is way too ... | |
| Tank out of control ... (cont.) | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: Sorry, but it seems we lost our thread. Numbers from yesterday and today. I am concerned about ... A: I still have the forum we were on. I'm sorry if the links didn't work for you. Your tank is ... | |
| Tank out of control ... | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: I am trying to recover from the mistake of adding too many fish after cycling. I had community fish ... A: It sounds like we're on the right track of stabilizing the tank. As for your questions Controlling ... | |
| Fish Tank Size | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: ok i thank you for your answer in regards to the adhesive but now i have another question....I have ... A: 2 full grown Oscars, 5 Convicts and a Redtail Shark together will need at least a 75 gallon tank. ... | |
| jewel cichlid pairing | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: Ok so I bought 2 jewel fish from my LFS and they are male and female. For the first 2 weeks I had ... A: The phrase "You can lead a heart to love but you can't make it fall" not only applies to humans, but ... | |
| Tank out of control ... | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: I am trying to recover from the mistake of adding too many fish after cycling. I had community fish ... A: I read the discussion by Joe Calabretta and some of what he said was correct and some wasn't. There ... | |
| safe adhesives | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: i have quite a few tanks 55's and 135's,240's I've been doing fish for a long time but one thing i ... A: You can use Instant Ocean HoldFast Epoxy Stick. Also remember to let these dry and set good before ... | |
| Tank out of control ... | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: I am trying to recover from the mistake of adding too many fish after cycling. I had community fish ... A: Well first, even in a completely cycled tank, never add more than 2-3 fish at a time, or 1-2 larger ... | |
| low ph | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: Richard my 135 gallon tank i am fighting low ph hoovering at 6.0 I have been changing 25% of the ... A: You didn't tell me what type of fish you have in your tank. It really doesn't make that big of a ... | |
| discus mates | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: I just set up my tank and want to put discus in it. I am trying to figure out what to put with them. ... A: Discus are at their best in large groups, and you need 10 gallons of water per Discus. So in a 72 ... | |
| discus mates | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: I just set up my tank and want to put discus in it. I am trying to figure out what to put with them. ... A: A Discus tank should be just that, a Discus tank. Instinctively, most fish are somewhat aggressively ... | |
| Lake Malawi Cichlids Aquarium | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I purchased a 4 foot 55 gallon aquarium with a built in sump filter (in the tank) in which I intend ... A: When I set up my African Cichlid tanks and my South American tanks, I put small towels under the ... | |
| Ammonia Levels | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I have tried a number of things. I have a 5-10 gallon tank filter, have tried Aquarium Salt, ammonia ... A: First, you'll need to add a hang on back power filter to your tank. Gravel filters are not ... | |
| refilling tank every week or 2 | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 46 gal tank. Does the water have to be dechlorinized before adding or can I add all the ... A: I use an automatic water changer. Once 25% of the water is drained from the tank, I add the water ... | |
| Moving African Cichlids in 75 gal tank across town | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: Simply put, I'm moving and need some advice on how to best accomplish this without killing my ... A: Below is how I moved 200 fish from Houston to Atlanta. My fish spent 2 days in the back of a UHaul ... | |
| Urgent: Moving fish early Monday morning | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: Hey Richard, My name is Josiah and I am an owner of a pretty big community of freshwater fish. The ... A: Below is how I moved 200 fish from Houston to Atlanta. My fish spent 2 days in the back of a UHaul ... | |
| Moving Up to a 170 Gallon Tank | 7/29/2011 |
| Q: I currently have a 75 Gallon freshwater Angelfish setup and am looking to move up in size. I have ... A: I just purchased a 180 gallon tank from my local fish store that was just the tank, stand and ... | |
| oscar and jack dempsey | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: i have a 30 gallon freshwater fish tank with a 6 inch tiger oscar and a 5.5 inch jack dempsey and i ... A: You'll need to get a much larger tank if you want to put any fish in with the Oscar and Jack ... | |
| sick male black molly | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: Greetings Mr Hight, I have a male black molly that is clearly sick and or injured. He can't get his ... A: Before treating again with the medication, replace the carbon in your filter and do a 40% water ... | |
| sick male black molly | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: Greetings Mr Hight, I have a male black molly that is clearly sick and or injured. He can't get his ... A: Black Mollies usually get this bent spine condition when water quality does not meet their ... | |
| Tank size | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: My question is what is the largest tank an unsupported upstairs floor can handle safely? I want to ... A: You have to use your best judgement on this one. No one without seeing your floor would be able to ... | |
| fish | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: is it possible to keep a pair of convict cichlids and 12 bucktooth tetras together? A: Exodon's, aka Buck-Tooth Tetras, should be in a species only tank, in a very large school. I don't ... | |
| Theoretical/Basic Total Weight Equation | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I managed an independently owned and operated pet store years ago that carries a wide variety of ... A: I don't use any equation, I take the weight of the aquarium, the weight on the bag(s) of gravel and ... | |
| Betta tank mates | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: Nick here, just a simple question. Can male bettas be kept with fish such as guppies and corydoras ... A: A male Betta can't be kept with Guppies, Neon or Cardinal Tetras, Angelfish, or any other fancy ... | |
| parrot fish | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: can i keep parrot fish with large gold fish in a 55 gallon tank? A: No, Parrot fish cannot be kept with Goldfish. Their water requirements are much different. Parrot ... | |
| fry massacre | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I am sitting here bawling my eyes out. this morning before work, I saw a baby fish swimming in my ... A: Yes Swordtails and Platys will mate. Or, depending on how long you've had her, she could've been ... | |
| fry massacre | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I am sitting here bawling my eyes out. this morning before work, I saw a baby fish swimming in my ... A: Don't be too hard on yourself. You did exactly what you thought was best and everything you knew to ... | |
| Cichlid Compatibility | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: "can i keep green terror, severum jewel and a blood parrot with blue powder and kodango cichlid? i ... A: Blue Powder Cichlids, Electric Yellow Cichlids and Kodango Cichlid are African Cichlids. Green ... | |
| PH too high | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a 35 gal. tank (3 months old) with 1 beta, 3 angels, 3 platties and 4 mollies. I was told my ... A: First, don't ever add pH chemicals to your water. As you have found out, they only temporarily lower ... | |
| fish tank | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: I have had my 55 gallon fish tank running for 5-6 years and all I had was two silver dollars and one ... A: I'm sorry about your fish. Most likely, you brought the ich home with one or more of the new fish. ... | |
| High nitrite and nitrate | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 African Cichlids, 1 Jack Dempsey, and a Convict. The nitrite and ... A: Africans and South Americans shouldn't be living together, their water requirements are different. ... | |
| Community Tank | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: Hey Richard I am adding a second tank to my house and wanted small peaceful fish. The tank is 29 ... A: In a 29 gallon with small peaceful fish, the possibilities are endless. Keep in mind though that ... | |
| tank temperature | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: what is the ideal temperature for a tropical community tank? I have Mollies, Platies, Swordtails, ... A: Ordinarily, a community tank temp of 76-79 would be fine, with around 78 being preferred. However, ... | |
| Silver Dollar | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I want a couple of Silver Dollars for a Cichlid tank but dont know if they are compatible with ... A: One of the best things about the Silver Dollar that makes them almost a perfect fish is their ... | |
| kuhli loach | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I learned after I bought a kuhli loach that they like to bury themselves in the gravel. I have hard ... A: Yes, Kuhli's like to bury themselves in the substrate, especially under rocks, logs and other ... | |
| Angel compatibility | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering what kind of fish I can keep with my Angels. I have 3 that are black, silver and koi ... A: LOL I feel your pain with the Tiger Barb. Unfortunately, most Barbs and Tetras will nip at our ... | |
| South American and African Cichlids | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: Can African and South American Cichlids be kept together? My tank is 60 gallon with a Fluval 305 ... A: Well, it's not really a good idea to do, but yes some African Cichlids will work in your tank. ... | |
| Rocks Burning? | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a 10-gallon tank and recently got it. I keep the aquarium heater to 78-82 degrees. I keep the ... A: LOL your rocks are not burning from the temperature. This is brown algae which is common in new ... | |
| Keyhole Cichlids | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I saw you mention Keyhole Cichlids in a few of your posts. I found a fish store that carries them, ... A: Keyhole Cichlids are very peaceful and are indeed compatible with Angels, as long as the Angels and ... | |
| Fish suitable for hardwater ph | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I chose you to answer my question because you mentioned African Cichlids. I already knew that the ... A: I don't know what a red cs is, but a high pH would not have killed your Rummynose overnight. They ... | |
| 29 gallon planted tank | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: . i was thinking rainbow,loach,killie,gobys.. severums? please help maybe i can get one of each? ... A: Although those fish would work together, that is still overcrowding your tank. You could do 5 Tiger ... | |
| 29 gallon planted tank | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: . i was thinking rainbow,loach,killie,gobys.. severums? please help maybe i can get one of each? ... A: Hey Steven A Horseface Loach will grow to over 12" long, much too big for your 29 gallon. Rainbows ... | |
| 29 gallon planted tank | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: . i was thinking rainbow,loach,killie,gobys.. severums? please help maybe i can get one of each? ... A: Reading between the lines here, it sounds like you are fairly new to the aquarium hobby. Therefore, ... | |
| plec & new tank | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: currently housed in a 2ft tank, with no other fish, with an undergravel filter. We have finally been ... A: The absolute most important thing to remember when transferring any fish to a new tank, is not to ... | |
| Cichlids eating bubbles? | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I have two oscars that are 7 inches and 6.5 inches and they occasionally seem to attack the water ... A: It's actually quite normal for them to attack the surface chasing food or perhaps something they ... | |
| Water chemistry and plants | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a newly set up 70 gallon aquarium (36" wide x 18" deep x 25" tall). I've stocked it with a ... A: If the well water pH fluctuates between 7.4 and 8.0, and the RO water is a steady 6.6, I would use ... | |
| congos | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: i have a sixty five gallon tank 36x19x20. i have three beautiful angels and 7 congo tetras. my ... A: With the right tank and water conditions and proper feeding, Congos will become fully grown adults ... | |
| Ghost fish | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 ghost fish, (the see-thru ones) and I notice one of them seems to be getting fat. Does ... A: It's very difficult, if not impossible to tell the sex. Some say the male develops blue color on the ... | |
| High PH tap water | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: Richard. Just got a 55 gal. tank. I planned to get rainbow fish, clown loaches, corys, cardinal ... A: You can buy peat moss and bags at your local fish store to put in your filter. However, the peat ... | |
| white grain like bugs in my aquarium | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a jack dimpse about 10 inches long. the other day I notices bugs in the bottom of the tank. ... A: No they are not harmful to fish. What you are most likely seeing are tiny crustaceans called ... | |
| Eye Cloud | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a ciclid that has had eye cloud for a while we tried T.C tetracyllin, triple sulfa and fungus ... A: Make sure your water quality is high first with water changes. Then make sure you are feeding him a ... | |
| Coolie Loach | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I just purchased a coolie loach, and he isn't eating much. is there a better way to feed him that ... A: Kuhli Loaches are nocturnal, they eat at night. So you may not see yours eat much. Also, if your ... | |
| Silver Mollies | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: Typically, how long should fry be quaratined from the adult fish? I discovered 6 babies one morning ... A: You'll want to keep the fry quarantined until they are large enough to be released into the tank ... | |
| 70 gallon aquarium set up | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I have an aquarium that was perfect for the first three weeks. I added fish (angels and gouramis ... A: Unfortunately, every tank, regardless of size, will become cloudy during the cycle process. It is ... | |
| hi | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: Richard A few days ago I asked you a question about my 2 balloon mollies that are mating.I was ... A: The other fish in your tank will likely eat the babies, especially the Guppy, White Skirts, Mollies ... | |
| new tank? | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: Okay so I have a new tank (only 4 days old) and I have 10 fish. Mostly little tetras, a suckerfish, ... A: Well let me take the easy question first..the water is probably getting enough agitation if you have ... | |
| hi richard | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: i have 2 balloon molly`s that are mating.I was wondering how to prepare for the babies and how long ... A: You'll need a breeder net, preferably one that hangs inside your main tank. Make sure to put the ... | |
| black algea? in tank. Death of fish | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: I have been having a problem with my tank. I have a 55 gallon tank. There has been some sort of ... A: The best way to tackle the algae problem is with a Pleco. If it gets too out of control, you have to ... | |
| Getting a New Tank | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: Hey there! I have a 2.5 gallon tank that I have a crowntail betta and two neon tetra's in, and they ... A: I'm surprised that the Betta and the Neons get along. Bettas normally will attack brightly colored ... | |
| What kinds of fish for 29 gallon | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: I have an empty 29 gallon tank that I gave up on after transferring our fancy goldfish to our 75 ... A: It's been a long time since someone mentioned the Juli Cory Cat to me. The Juli Cory Cats grow to ... | |
| New Parrot Fish Keep Hiding | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon aquarium and recently purchased two orange/blood red parrot fish. Both seemed ... A: Your Blood Parrots are behaving perfectly normal. They will hide and come out when you are not near ... | |
| What kinds of fish for 29 gallon | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: I have an empty 29 gallon tank that I gave up on after transferring our fancy goldfish to our 75 ... A: There are many fish that would go in your 29 gallon and that are compatible with the Cory Cats. ... | |
| airator | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: i have a dive power submersible pump in a 25 gallon tank. It has an airator hose on it for bubbles ... A: Yes, although the filter adds oxygen to the tank, the aerator bubbler adds additional oxygen that ... | |
| fresh water aquarium | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I recently took a sample of water to Petsmart. The problem is I can change my water by 50 percent ... A: Petsmart will only check your water parameters ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and pH. What you have is an ... | |
| Substrate for Fresh water fish | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering what type of Substrate do fresh water fish prefer. A: It greatly depends on what type of fish you want to keep. Regular aquarium gravel found at any pet ... | |
| moving a community aquarium | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I was wandereing how to move my community aquarium consisting of 4 guppies,2 golden suckers ,1 ... A: It really depends on how far your Grandma's house is from your house. It sounds like we're talking ... | |
| Blood Parrots | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a large 90 gallon tank with just an Oscar and a Pleco. I wanted to add a couple of Blood ... A: I have had the same pair of Blood Parrots for many years and I just bought 2 more baby Blood Parrots ... | |
| Bacterial overgrowth (blue-green) | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10 gal aq that has blue-green growth on everything that I can pull off in sheets. I ... A: If you just transfer the fish and nothing else in the tank, you will not transfer the bacteria. Make ... | |
| planted community | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: zebra or leopard danios,and harlequens or cardinal tetras . also 3 skunk Cory will this work A: There is no reason why the fish you selected won't be compatible with each other. However they are ... | |
| African Cichlid Tank | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: i have a 75 gallon tank with 6 young cichlids, anout 1-2 inches each (2 Electric Yellos, 2 yellow ... A: When it comes to African Cichlids, it's best to add them to the tank all at once to minimize ... | |
| nitrates are high | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: ok,i have a 55 gallon tank. i cycled it for 3 months with used filter medium from another tank ... A: Perhaps I wasn't clear and for that I apologize. You don't change out all of the filter media, just ... | |
| nitrates are high | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: ok,i have a 55 gallon tank. i cycled it for 3 months with used filter medium from another tank ... A: If the nitrates were slightly high prior to adding the fish to the tank, the tank had not completed ... | |
| Aquarium Water Problem - HELP! | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: We bought our 9 year-old son a 25 gallon aquarium for Christmas last year. After we set it up ... A: If your tank has been setup and trouble free since last December, it should've been cycled. So let's ... | |
| African Cichlids | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: Why do my fish keep passing away when I clean the Fish tank,it is not every time I do it but every ... A: You should not be removing the fish from the tank when you clean it. Doing so causes them ... | |
| Cloudy water | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon hex tank with 1 Oscar, 2 convicts and 1 plecostomas in it that all. The tank has ... A: Cloudy water is usually the result of a bacteria bloom. Excess food and fish waste can cause this ... | |
| Compatability..... | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: Can the following species live together peacefully in an aquarium; Discus, siamese fighter, rainbow ... A: A Discus tank should be just that, a Discus tank. However, as with all of my tanks, I pushed my ... | |
| Compatability..... | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: Can the following species live together peacefully in an aquarium; Discus, siamese fighter, rainbow ... A: No, those fish won't work together. The Betta, aka Siamese fighter, will not be compatible with the ... | |
| Identifying a fish | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: Richard, I have searched and searched for a similar fish to find out what type cichlid this is. I ... A: I'm pretty sure this is a male Kenyi Cichlid. Male Kenyi Cichlids are yellow, the females are blue. ... | |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid UPSIDE DOWN for a WEEK!! | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 adult Blood Parrot cichlids who are approx 5 yrs old. Over the past week, one of my ... A: I recently stopped answering questions regarding fish diseases and ailments due to so many people ... | |
| angelfish freshwater kind | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: What should I do??? i feel bad because im sure the one is stressed since the two always bother ... A: Angels are aggressive both to other fish, and with each other, especially if there is a shy / timid ... | |
| Possibly screwed up tank cycle...Help!! | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: Before I ask my question, here are a few things to know about my tank beforehand... Type: ... A: The only mistake you made was listening to the moron at the pet store you went to. The other ... | |
| Swordtails pregnancy | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I recently found a small fry in the bottom of my tank it's about half a cm long. I quickly got him ... A: The dark spot you mentioned on the back of her stomach is called a gravid spot. This is where the ... | |
| Pregnant past gestation... | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have platys that have been pregnant way longer than the normal gestation..how do I know if they ... A: The gestation period for Platys is about 4 weeks. However, they should not be separated from the ... | |
| Compatible Fish | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I have an Oscar in a 125 gallon tank with a Pleco. The Oscar never bothers the Pleco. I know Oscars ... A: All three of these fish are aggressive. When placing aggressive fish together, it's really hit and ... | |
| fresh water aquarium cloudly | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a 75 gal fresh water aquarium that has been established for 2 years. I have 2 medium sized ... A: First, your tank is extremely overcrowded. I would get a second tank for the Convicts. A 75 gallon ... | |
| A very sad demise | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: After reading countless information, guides and tips from the internet and from a lot of Arowana ... A: Arowana's are not the easiest fish to keep. First, they require a vary large tank...at least 200 ... | |
| Pregnant platy behavior | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: My female platy is pregnant and has recently been spending a lot of time at the bottom of the tank - ... A: I wouldn't put her in a breeding net. Breeding nets are where you should put the fry when she gives ... | |
| Uneven bio wheel rotation | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a Marineland tank (eclipse 2 - 27 gallons). My bio wheel has started to rotate unevenly - ... A: My Marineland Bio-Wheel filters have plastic holders that the bio wheels sit in. These come out for ... | |
| Fighting Fish | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: ) I have a glass tank with two male fighting fish; they are separated by a glass divider. They can ... A: This film often builds up in tanks with no surface agitation. Adding a small power filter with a ... | |
| fish that can tolerate low ph | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: could you recommend some fish that can tolerate water that stays at about 6.6 to 6.8.having good ... A: Most all tropical fish will be fine in a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 as long as it is stable. It's when the pH ... | |
| Compatibility | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a 20 gallon tank with a roughly 7 inch pleco and 3 inch gold gourami. I was wondering if ... A: I have to tell you that just this week, I had a large Gold Gourami nipping the fins of my Marble ... | |
| new danio is not eating | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I am new to the fish business. I have a one week old 12.5 gallon freshwater tank. I put 3 zebra ... A: If they all appear healthy, I would give it some more time. Your tank unfortunately will not ... | |
| Filter (fluval 304) | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: just wondering if the hose on the 304 can be too long thus not causing suction of water into the ... A: Yes, the hose could be too long. When replacing filter parts, it's always best to buy the part ... | |
| Discus / Barbs | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I recently received some 3 rosy long finned barbs and 2 gold ones that I bought over the internet, ... A: Barbs should not be in a tank with Discus. They are too active and aggressive for a Discus tank. I ... | |
| Sick male green cobra guppy | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: We've had our male green cobra guppy for about a month and a half. He was very active, playing with ... A: Resting on the bottom of the tank is a sign of constipation which can also lead to a more serious ... | |
| Platys and Mollies with bent spine | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a 50 gallon aquarium with a silver dollar fish, rainbow tetra, a skirted tetra, molly's, and ... A: More often than not, the bent spine is caused by a water quality issue. I would start by testing ... | |
| striped peacock eels | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: We have live plants in our fresh water tanks and like to give them plant food. However, i am ... A: I don't have eels, but I have many other scaleless fish in planted aquariums. I use Nutrafin Plant ... | |
| African Cichlids | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I'm just starting a 55 gallon aquarium.I've bought several assorted african cichlids(mbunas). I was ... A: When it comes to African Cichlids, more is better. You should be able to successfully keep 15-20 ... | |
| Female Betta | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: Hey, So I've got a 10 gallon tank and it has one female betta in it. It's heated (26 degrees ... A: Female Bettas can often be more aggressive than males. She is fine alone and probably prefers it ... | |
| Pearl Gourami - Male or Female | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I have one Pearl Gourami. I have read a bunch of sites and looked at many, many photos and still ... A: The photo you attached is a little fuzzy and hard to make out, but it looks like a male. Male ... | |
| Saltwater to freshwater | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: About 2 years ago my family got a 55 gallon tank with the idea to start a salt water tank. My dad ... A: Well pretty much the only thing you can use when converting a saltwater tank to a freshwater tank is ... | |
| Sticky Fins? | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: we have a 125 liter tropical tank which is about 27 UK gallons, with mainly platy's. Occasionally a ... A: Clamped fins and lethargic behavior are more often a sign of stress rather than disease. Stress is ... | |
| Angelfish Acting out | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: My Angelfish has been acting very strange lately. He/She (not sure of the sex) has not been eating ... A: Sounds like it could be either ammonia poisoning, or a bacterial infection. I would do a 30% water ... | |
| 60 litre freshwater tropical - fish compatibility | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I have recently changed from cold water to tropical fish keeping (3 weeks ago) and have only a 60 ... A: Unfortunately, the 2 Gouramis you currently have are nearly taking up the capacity in your tank. You ... | |
| Beginner Fish | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: What types of fish make good cycle fish and how many should I use? A: It greatly depends on what type of tank you want to keep. For a peaceful community tank, Zebra ... | |
| Betta | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I've read where it is recommended that a Betta be kept in a 5 gallon tank. If I keep my Betta in a 5 ... A: A 5 gallon is too small to add anyone with your Betta. A 10 gallon is the minimal size for a Betta ... | |
| Angels | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 60 gallon freshwater tank that I want to put Angelfish in. What types of fish would go with ... A: Angels should be kept in groups of at least 4 and should be the primary fish in the tank. I have an ... | |
| My betta has some problems | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: My crowntail betta has been darting/flashing for over a week now without any signs of white spot or ... A: Darting around the tank is usually a sign of a parasite or bacterial infection. I would add 1 tsp of ... | |
| Fish compatibility? | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: I am in aquatic science at school and we have to keep an aquarium as a project. It have a 10 Gallon ... A: The Gourami is actually going to get too big for your 10 gallon. You may want to reconsider the ... | |
| 55gal issue | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I received a 55gal and stand about 6 months ago.I said to myself cool a free 55.But now the question ... A: It really depends on what type of tank this was prior to you taking it. If it was a salt water tank, ... | |
| my fish are dying | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I recently set up a 10 gallon tank in my classroom. I let the tank run for 4 days and then ... A: I doubt you are cursed ;-) You simply added too many fish at once, and the fish you added were not ... | |
| cloudy water | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: We just recently cleaned our fresh water aquarium which we have had up and running for about 5 ... A: You're very welcome! If your tank has been running trouble free for 5 years, I would remove the ... | |
| betta gill disease | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday, I noticed that my betta fish, George, was acting extremely stressed out (darting around, ... A: Red and inflamed gills are usually a sign of ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning. Once the gills have ... | |
| cloudy water | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We just recently cleaned our fresh water aquarium which we have had up and running for about 5 ... A: The cloudiness you are seeing is a bacteria bloom. When you say you recently cleaned your aquarium, ... | |
| Red Tail Shark | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I Just bought 2 red tail sharks for my 30 gallon tank with 2 tiger barbs. All the fish get alone, ... A: I'm sure this is nothing at all to worry about. Fish often don't look at bright and as brilliant in ... | |
| Texas Cichlids | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: How can I tell the difference between male and female Texas Cichlids A: Telling the difference is hard, if not impossible in young fish. Adult males are generally more ... | |
| Drilled tank ? | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: and thanks for answering my questions. I just bought some tanks from a closed pet shop. 65 gallon ... A: These holes in the bottom of the tanks are used for a water change system. Many breeders and pet ... | |
| Female Cichlid Turns an odd color | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I recently bought a 30 gallon tank recently. With it, came three convict cichlids - ... A: These are all pretty aggressive fish. When placing aggressive Cichlids together, it's best to add ... | |
| feeding | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: i have 2 baby tiger oscars("1.5" inch in size) ,I was feeding them tubifex dry worms,but now i am ... A: There is nothing you can feed fish to make them grow faster. Fish grow at their own growth rates, ... | |
| New Tank Help | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a small tank and one molly and one baby. My adult just lays on the bottom of the tank now. ... A: Yes, when you treat the new water with the water conditioner, it is immediately ready for fish. ... | |
| brown algae | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: We cleaned filter over the weekend and it is coming back quickly. Any suggestions what to do? Oh and ... A: Brown algae is common in new aquariums. The best way to get rid of it is to siphon out 20-30 of your ... | |
| Guppies | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: What fish should I get to accompany my guppies? What fish shouldn't I get to accompany my guppies? A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize the expert you asked was unable to answer ... | |
| Snail! | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a new plant for my Neons, but when I looked in the tank last night there was a tiny ... A: Some people leave snails in their tanks. Other people, like me ;-), prefer not to have them in their ... | |
| Aquarium | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gallon tank that I bought 3 days ago. I had about 16 tropical fish and 1 goldfish that I ... A: Well, the first thing to do is stay away from the man at the pet store who told you to clean your ... | |
| oops | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: Sorry Richard, I got my experts mixed up, Chris is the gentlemen on vacation haha. sorry about the ... A: I can answer your question now. I would've answered before, but I didn't want to step on another ... | |
| Angelfish dead | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: Was finally able to add fish to our new 29g tank yesterday (been cycling for a while now). Two small ... A: You added too many fish to your tank at once my friend. Adding that many fish at once can cause your ... | |
| platy fry | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I have 9 Mickey mouse platy fry in a 5 gallon tank with plants and a air pump.I'm feeding them ... A: You shouldn't put the females in the net breeder. Net breeders are only for putting the fry in after ... | |
| Ammonia | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: On 7/5/09, i setup a new 55g tank. I was told after about 10 days, my water levels looked good by a ... A: I would feed your fish sparingly everyday rather than every other day. Don't feed them more than ... | |
| Ammonia | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: On 7/5/09, i setup a new 55g tank. I was told after about 10 days, my water levels looked good by a ... A: Well the first mistake you made was listening to the moron at the fish store who said your tank was ... | |
| starter fish | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: before i go in depth with my question, do you believe in using starter fish to cycle a new aquarium? ... A: Gouramis are really not the best cycle fish. Mainly, because of the way you have to keep them (1 ... | |
| baby fishes | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: Six months ago,i had baby fishes about 60 to 70 and unfortunately all of them died one after another ... A: Baby fish should be transferred to a fry tank, or they will be eaten. The temperature of the fry ... | |
| starter fish | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: before i go in depth with my question, do you believe in using starter fish to cycle a new aquarium? ... A: Yes, I have always cycled my tanks with starter fish. Zebra Danios and White Clouds work best, ... | |
| platy fry | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 9 Mickey mouse platy fry in a 5 gallon tank with plants and a air pump.I'm feeding them ... A: You will also need a small filter for the 5 gallon. Make sure the filter intake is protected so it ... | |
| Betta companions | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: five baby angel fish in a 10 gal tank, and 4 white cloud mountain minnows 4 zebra danios 9 neon ... A: Out of the fish you named that are currently in the 30 gallon, the only ones that will go with your ... | |
| 5 gallon | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: Currently I have a male betta in a 5 gallon tank alone with a filter, heater, caves and fake plants. ... A: Unfortunately, to provide a Betta with tankmates, you'd need at least a 10 gallon. There just isn't ... | |
| betta problems | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I have had my betta, Smaug, for about two months. He lives in a three gallon tank with a filter. The ... A: The discoloration could be nothing, a simple change in colors which is common as Bettas get older, ... | |
| Fishless Cycling | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I decided to go the route of fishless cycling after killing two others...I put the tank together, ... A: Fishless cycling works though I've never done it. I prefer to cycle with fish, because it creates a ... | |
| Oscar | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: My son purchased an Oscar and it stays up against the wall of the tank. It will not venture out into ... A: If the Oscar is new, he'll need time to adjust to his new home. Provide him with plenty of hiding ... | |
| moving fish | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I am moving soon, and I have three tanks of fish to move with me. US 20 gal, 10 gal, 40 gal. I have ... A: GREAT question! Test the pH of the new water, if it doesn't vary that much from your current water, ... | |
| moving fish | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I am moving soon, and I have three tanks of fish to move with me. US 20 gal, 10 gal, 40 gal. I have ... A: The most important thing to remember is to make your aquariums the last thing you take down and ... | |
| Livebearers Interbreeding? | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have two female Mollies, a mother and a daughter. This daughter was the sole survivor of mom's ... A: Guppies and Mollies will breed. I've seen pictures of fry from a Male Molly & Female Guppy cross.. ... | |
| How often can I add PRIME to my tank during break in cycle | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I have had my aquarium for about 4 weeks now. I am experiencing the cycling period right now. How ... A: I'm sorry, I thought you were referring to another product called Prime by another company. The ... | |
| How often can I add PRIME to my tank during break in cycle | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I have had my aquarium for about 4 weeks now. I am experiencing the cycling period right now. How ... A: I've never used PRIME or any other bacteria additives. I've found over the years it's best to cycle ... | |
| fish acting funny | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a 100 gallon tank and in contains 2 sm red devils and 2 sm jack dempseys with about 25 gold ... A: It's tough to say. Check your parameters ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels. Also add a couple of large ... | |
| high nitrite and nitrate levels | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a ten gallon tank. Ihave a level of 5 ppm of nitrites and nitrates. The tank is 5 wks old. It ... A: Well the first advice I must give you is to research the fish you want to keep prior to buying them. ... | |
| mollys | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I also have a black molly female and I also think that she is carrying babies. The problem is that I ... A: Mollies reach sexual maturity in about 8 weeks and are full grown at 3-4 months. It's very possible ... | |
| i got snails lots of them | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: i have lots of snails a small infestation if you ask me how would be the best way to rid myself of ... A: Depending on how large your tank is and how many fish you have in it, the best way to rid your tank ... | |
| Tank update | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I wrote to you a couple months ago about getting a tank, levelling, etc. I know you asked me to get ... A: Planted tanks do speed up the cycle process since live plants consume ammonia & nitrites. During the ... | |
| tank help | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: Hey.. well a friend gave me i think a 90 or 100 gallon tank two days ago with huge rock {not live ... A: Wash the inside of the tank with vinegar and water and rinse very well. Let it dry for about 24 ... | |
| Rummynose Tetras | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I was at my LFS and saw some interesting little fish. I was told they are Rummynose Tetras and I ... A: I have many Rummynose Tetras myself. They make a nice colorful addition to community tanks. They ... | |
| freshwater angel fish | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I just brought an angle fish home from the store. I didn't notice it at the store but now that it is ... A: Most fish stores have a 14 day return policy on live fish. You can return it to the store and ... | |
| oscar and eels | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: i have a 9 or 10 inch oscar. i love that fish. but he has been on his own since about 2 inchs and ... A: If the eel is larger than the Oscar when you introduce him, they may be ok together. When ... | |
| tiny dark brown spots on my Betta's tail | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I bought a beautiful young red/orange halfmoon betta from Petco. He is lively, friendly and lives in ... A: As for his tail, it sounds like he might have got a little too close to one of the Corys and they ... | |
| chilhids | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me the top 5 docilest chilhids. because im try to find tank mates 4 my spot finned ... A: Kribensis Cichlid, Keyhole Cichlid, Festive Cichlid, Blood Parrot Cichlid and Severum Cichlid are ... | |
| unexplained fish death | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a 37 gallon tall tank with 1 African Butterfly fish and 4 Cory catfish still thriving after 1 ... A: I agree that I don't think it's the phosphates, they are present in most aquariums. Some have higher ... | |
| Yellowing on rocks? | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have just started a freshwater tank about three weeks ago. we have only two fish in it right now ... A: This is algae. There is both green and brown algae. Brown algae is actually more common in aquariums ... | |
| dalmatian mollies | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: my dalmatian mollie (((there is no male mollie in the tank. I got the female already pregnant from ... A: If this is your Mollies first birth, she can have 2-25 fry. If she has given birth before, she can ... | |
| qty of fish in 38g high tank | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: Sir, i am interested in keeping the right qty of fish in my 38g tank. it has been up and running ... A: I'm surprised your ammonia level isn't through the roof. Your tank is severely overstocked my ... | |
| tank mates | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I just bought 4 fish for myself and my daughter. We chose a danios, a blue paradise gourami, a ... A: Well unfortunately, in a 15 gallon tank, you don't have room for many more fish. Maybe one more ... | |
| Yellow, cold water color | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: i have a 300ltr tank with 2x cichlids and 2x Plechos. one of the plechos is about 15cm long and one ... A: Do you actually have cold water or is that just a description that you used? With Cichlids and ... | |
| tank mates | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I just bought 4 fish for myself and my daughter. We chose a danios, a blue paradise gourami, a ... A: First, it is actually called a Paradise Fish, though many often refer to it as a Blue Paradise ... | |
| cloudy water | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gallon, filtered, fresh water aquarium, with one betta fish in it. It has been set up ... A: You can still have a bacteria bloom even though your parameters test fine. If it is a mild white ... | |
| Fry tank. | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: I have finally got my first fry batch.They are yellow labs(African cichlids).I have about 20 of them ... A: You should have left the babies with the parents in the big tank. African Cichlids will care for and ... | |
| ph balance | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: i have a 50 gallon tank,but i am having a hard time maintaining the pH balance .I went to pet smart ... A: The first thing to do is test your tap water. If it is low, you may be best to keep fish that can ... | |
| cichlid | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: richard my question is at the moment i have acommunity set up of black widows,paradise,mollies, ... A: First, I apologize for the delay in answering your question. We had a power outage yesterday that ... | |
| hiding places | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: recently my pair of jewel cichlids killed a tuxedo cichlid[as told by pet shop] when i asked the ... A: Yes, it is true that most fish need hiding places. This is especially true with more aggressive ... | |
| Green algae | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: My entire tank is filled with green algae. I have two large angel fish, two goldfish, two algae ... A: The algae will not harm your fish, but of course, the tank looks nicer when no algae is present. ... | |
| Placostomos | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: What to placostomos eat? A friend has been deployed and left a fish tank with just a placostomos in ... A: They will eat a standard flake food such as Tetramin Tropical Flakes. They will also eat algae from ... | |
| Green Spotted Puffer | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: I've done some research myself on the net about Green Spotted Puffers but I cant seem to fine the ... A: Unfortunately, I've never had an interest in keeping Puffers. Based on the research that I've done ... | |
| cloudy water | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: ANSWER: Hi Kevin For your high pH, first test your tap water. If your tap water has a normal pH, ... A: Oscars prefer a pH of 7.0-7.5. but will adapt to a wide range of tank conditions as long as the ... | |
| cloudy water | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: A: For your high pH, first test your tap water. If your tap water has a normal pH, then there is ... | |
| Inherited Fish Tank | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: This is going to be a very long question and I apologize in advance! Lol. Anyway, my boss was ... A: You didn't mention what came with the fish tank regarding filters, lights etc, or if you got just ... | |
| Algae Mayhem | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4 foot aquarium tank in my room which is not in direct sunlight but is in a position that ... A: I don't know of any UV curtains. They make a UV sterilizer for your tank, but they are used to clear ... | |
| My Dwarf blue gourami | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I had started a tank a couple months ago and everything seem to be fine until my one gourami started ... A: While the Dwarf Gouramis are a bit more peaceful than the standard Gourami, they should be kept as a ... | |
| Over grown Pangasius Catfish & Tinfoil Barbs | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a 75 gallon tank with one Pangasius Catfish (approx 13")and two Tinfoil Barbs (approx 12"). I ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool, I apologize for the delay in getting your question ... | |
| fry tank | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: We set up a separate tank for fry without thinking about that they could get sucked up in the ... A: There are actually a few choices when it comes to the filter in the fry tank. One, you can use ... | |
| red tailed black shark | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: i recently asked another expert what kind of cool not too big black bottom dweller i could get for ... A: A Redtail Black Shark will not be ok in the 15 gallon with other fish. I don't even recommend a ... | |
| 24/7 fish light | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: Well I had a late night and forgot to turn off my fish tank light! Will my fish be okay? And my ... A: Your fish will be fine if you just left the tank lights on overnight. I keep my lights on timers, so ... | |
| Fish Compatability | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a new 5ft tank to go with my 4ft and 3 ft tanks. I moved my 6 african cichlids ... A: Unfortunately no, your African Cichlids should only be mixed with African Cichlids. None of the ... | |
| Freshwater Mollies | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: my mollie has just given birth 8.4.09. Concernedas to whether I need special food for the baby fish ... A: If you grind up the regular flakes to crumbs they should be able to eat them. However, it's better ... | |
| molly with red ... | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: .. we have a 10 gal. tank with three mollies in side. one dalmation like mollie and two white ... A: Sounds like a bacterial infection, could possibly be an injury. Try Pimafix. Pimafix is a natural ... | |
| Question on using Api general cure | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: My name is Chelsey and I was wondering. I am almost certain that my opaline gaurami has hole in the ... A: Ich and Hole in the Head are 2 different diseases and treated 2 different ways. If these sores you ... | |
| questions about tank set up and fish | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to cycle my 29 gallon tank. I bought the tank off craigslist. It had fish in it at one ... A: Here is a link to help you cycle your new tank. When you say you put a "piece" of a fish in the ... | |
| changing to a new filter | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a 75 gallon used aquarium that came with a whisper filter and it has been running about 3 ... A: Rather than replace the filter in the 75g and possibly starting the cycle process all over again, ... | |
| Fish Died suddenly | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 150 gallon freshwater aquarium with a large (I forgot what it is called)filter that sits ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize for the delay in answering. Your ... | |
| Dead fish..... so confused. | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: So here it is, I have a 45 gallon tank, Its been established now for 6+ months. (Btw this is my ... A: Well, Bettas should never be put in a tank with Neons and Guppies. I think you're "ghost" Guppy is ... | |
| Red Platy Fry | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: My daughter's red platy gave birth on 4/01/09, I've set up a separate tank just for the fry who have ... A: When it comes to fish fry, only the strong ones will survive. It's nothing really that you are or ... | |
| Help Roxie and Walter | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I just recently got two betas as a gift. One male and one female. Each have their own 1 gallon tank ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. You can't keep Bettas in a small one gallon tank and ... | |
| Fry | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: Hi I have a 20 gallon tank with 5 platies in it my females are pregnant all three of them now one ... A: When it comes to fish fry, only the strong survive. Caring for Platy fry is very easy. The best ... | |
| Preparing my aqaurium for tropical fishes | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I baught a 180 litre,second hand fish tank.The previous owner had used it for tropical fishes. ... A: When buying a used tank, especially if it's from someone you don't know, it's always a good idea to ... | |
| new tank | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I have been using your site for the last month as a treasure trove of information. I used to keep ... A: I'm assuming you have an incandescent light hood in the 5 gallon. They make a soft plant light for ... | |
| new tank | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I have been using your site for the last month as a treasure trove of information. I used to keep ... A: That would be overcrowding your 20 gallon. In addition to the 6 Rasboras and the 2 Corys, you might ... | |
| Noisy Filter | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a fresh water aquarium, with a water filter that sits on the edge of tank. The filter has ... A: Unplug the the filter and remove the intake tube. Take the impeller out and clean it with an old ... | |
| BETTA | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I just got my betta and i got a heater as well but if the heater stays on to long then the water ... A: Two problems here. One, your heater is too big for your tank, and two, your tank is too small for ... | |
| Bala Shark mystery | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: We have three Bala Sharks and I walked in the room yesterday morning to start the tank's light ... A: I must say you have an interesting collection. But after the guy told me the other day that he's had ... | |
| new 30 gallon | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I have just purchased a 30 gallon, it is all set up (filter, heater, air pump, gravel, ... A: There is a lot you could do with this tank, but you don't want to add any more fish until the tank ... | |
| 10 Gallon Aquarium | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 Danios, 3 Cory Cats and a Chinese Algea Eater in a 10 gallon aquarium. OK, I know I am ... A: I wouldn't worry about replacing the filter at this point, but yes, soaking the filter media or Bio ... | |
| 10 Gallon Aquarium | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 Danios, 3 Cory Cats and a Chinese Algea Eater in a 10 gallon aquarium. OK, I know I am ... A: The green color is an algae bloom caused by too much light. Change the water as you have been, and ... | |
| Tank levelness | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I asked you some advice about getting a tank a month or so ago, and I ended up getting a 50 gallon ... A: I must say that is interesting, I've never had that happen before. All of my aquariums have all been ... | |
| 5 gallon fish tank | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently bout a 5 gallon fish tank for my son and i bout the filter and everything to go with it. ... A: The brown stuff is algae. Brown algae is is common in a lot of fish tanks, but especially new ones. ... | |
| Tank levelness | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I asked you some advice about getting a tank a month or so ago, and I ended up getting a 50 gallon ... A: I absolutely remember you. Take a tape measure and measure the tank both from the ends where it sits ... | |
| genreal | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: ... I have a 30 gallon tank with one 5' inch tiger oscar(owned 5 months bck) and two 3' silver ... A: 1) Yes, Silver Dollars are good tank mates for an Oscar. 2) It's best to decorate the tank with a ... | |
| blackswordtails | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: new aquarium-did everything by the book yet 2 of my black swordtails died after two days and the ... A: We really need more information to be able to assist you. How old is your tank, what size is your ... | |
| tropical fish tank | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: 2 plecos 3" and 2",2 tiger barbs both about 1.5",1 clown loach about 2.5",1 keyhole about 1.5",1 red ... A: You have way too many fish in your tank. Not only that, but your Clown Loach will eventually become ... | |
| Hair and green bubble algae | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 gal. fresh water tank with one male beta and about 3 or 4 guppies that are breeding in ... A: Live plants can be cleaned with a soft cotton cloth. You may not get it all off of them, but you'll ... | |
| Hair and green bubble algae | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 gal. fresh water tank with one male beta and about 3 or 4 guppies that are breeding in ... A: With weekly water changes, you should be cleaning the gravel, inside panels of the aquarium and the ... | |
| Betta Discoloration | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: A couple days ago I noticed that my betta, Hootie, has 4 plae orange/discolored scales on his back ... A: This could be him changing colors, which is normal with Bettas, or it could be a fungus or bacterial ... | |
| Baby freshwater fish from creek | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: When I was camping I had decided to catch some small fish in the creek nearby. These small fish live ... A: Without knowing what type of fish these are, I can't tell you what they would eat. Most wild fish ... | |
| Sick Molly? | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: it's me againnn~ I just have a quick question this time. I cleaned my tanks today, and afterward, ... A: This isn't the Molly the Guppy was bothering is it? This could be many things, a parasite, a ... | |
| Fish dying after water change | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I am having trouble with my 55 gallon tank. It has the filter that hangs on the back of the tank. On ... A: The 4.0 ammonia level is something to worry about. That's why you should do water changes of 10% ... | |
| Fish dying after water change | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I am having trouble with my 55 gallon tank. It has the filter that hangs on the back of the tank. On ... A: About the only GOOD advice you received from the twits at the pet stores is to leave the tank alone. ... | |
| Betta problem | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: Richard. I've had a male beta in a 1.5 gal. tank (w/o filter, but w/aerator) for about 8 months. I ... A: It takes weeks and sometimes a few months for a Betta to recover from fin rot and the fins to grow ... | |
| compatability | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a 50 gallon tank with abouut 5 or 6 harliquin rasboras, and 2 plecostomuses (about 6 inches). ... A: A couple of Cichlids that will work with the Rasboras are the Kribensis Cichlid and the Keyhole ... | |
| Angelfish | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 31 gallon tank with 5 angels and 2 clown loaches, the person at the pet store said there ... A: If you have a breeding pair, I would definitely keep them. Angels choose their own mates, so a ... | |
| angelfish breeding | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a pair of black marble angelfish,the problem is the female doesnt produce eggs at all.The ... A: You don't have the proper tank for keeping or breeding Angels. A pair of Angels need a minimum of 30 ... | |
| Angelfish | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 31 gallon tank with 5 angels and 2 clown loaches, the person at the pet store said there ... A: Your 31 gallon is too small for 5 Angels and 2 Clown Loaches. Did you know Clown Loaches can reach ... | |
| pregnate molly | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: i bought a pregnate molly about 2 months ago. she is as big as a house now. i was wondering how long ... A: The gestation period for Mollies usually takes about 4 weeks, sometimes slightly longer. The number ... | |
| Old fashion under water filters | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: Please let me know where can I find the old fashion under water (mechanical)filters, I mean the ones ... A: Undergravel filters can be found at any fish store. However your power filter should be doing it's ... | |
| sex of Gouramis | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two dwarf gouramis. How do i tell if they are female or male? A: The male Dwarf Gourami have diagonal stripes of alternating blue and red colors, and females are a ... | |
| New Aquarium | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20 gal tank and it has been running for 4 days with gravel, plants and tap water. I have a ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. I apologize it wasn't answered in a timely manner. ... | |
| fish | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gallon fish tank, I just added 10 gallons of distilled water in the fish tank. when is ... A: First, you'll need to remove the distilled water and add either tap water treated with a water ... | |
| I have a problem with my fish. | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I have quite a problem with my fish. To let you know some background info first, I have 1 african ... A: I'm not sure about using the 55g for fish after using it as a home for mice. You can't use any type ... | |
| Fish Aggresion?? | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I had 1 black molly in a tank with a fantail goldfish and one month later i find that the fantail ... A: I just pulled your question from our question pool. Both female and male Black Mollies can be ... | |
| fresh water plants | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: my freshwater plant is dieing and i dont no y. can you help me? i have 5 guppys 6 neon tetras, 2 ... A: You're very smart for 12. You really shouldn't add pH buffers to your tank. pH is really most ... | |
| black molly care | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I have had a tank for over a year, a 10 gal, and have presently moved all the fish into a 20 gal ... A: I've heard that too, about the largest fish setting the tone for the tank. In my experience, ... | |
| 10 gallon setup | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a 10 gallon aquarium and have some questions about it. I previously tried to breed ... A: Well, 2 female Bettas will not work together. They are called Fighting Fish for a reason. The male ... | |
| cloudy and green | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: i have a fresh water tank(30gal)with a oscar a couple cichlids and a pleco, at the best the water ... A: First thing to do is make sure the tank does not get direct sunlight. Next, try a more subdued ... | |
| Fish Suddenly Aggressive | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 30 gallon aquarium with 2 small angelfish, a couple of balloon mollies, and a couple of ... A: Hmmm that's interesting to know. I'll have to research that one, I've never experienced it or heard ... | |
| Fish Suddenly Aggressive | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 30 gallon aquarium with 2 small angelfish, a couple of balloon mollies, and a couple of ... A: It's likely the stress that killed the Angels, rather than an injury. Sometimes stressed Angels ... | |
| White fungus on stick | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently introduced a stick into my fish tank and now there is this white fungus growing on it. Is ... A: If this is a real stick, it needs to be removed from the tank. Real wood will rot when it gets wet ... | |
| betta post-acclimation problems | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have more of a concern than a problem since I think I may be worrying too much, but I've never ... A: Well I'm delighted that you gave him an adequate tank with heating. Most people put Bettas in small ... | |
| 30 gallon fish tank | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: i just bought a 30 gallon fish tank i have a 10 gallon with mollies zebra danios and peppred cory ... A: A 30 gallon would be good for both Angels and Convicts, but you would not be able to add Convicts ... | |
| Pleco | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: My pleck has gone quite pale form being a dark brown colour to now having very pale sides. Is there ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. A change in colors is really nothing to worry about, ... | |
| My new eel-like pet. | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I just recently bought an eel-like 'fish'. He is freshwater and I'm pretty sure he is a kind of eel. ... A: Hard to say by your description, but it could quite possibly be a Dojo Loach or a Cuvier Bichir. You ... | |
| Green Water | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: Recently in my 75 gallon tank green water has occurred. My ph is 7.2, no nitrates, 82 degrees and my ... A: This is definitely an algae bloom from all the light. A UV Sterilizer would be a good idea in your ... | |
| Clown Loach feeding | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: Do you think they would do alright on the hikari cichlid gold pellet? A: Clown Loaches are bottom feeders and will usually eat any type of food that falls to the bottom. ... | |
| bichir care | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: (pardon the informalities) im beginning to get a hang of the aquarium keeping hobby with a lot of ... A: The Cuvier Bichir isn't an aggressive fish per say, but they do eat small fish, shrimp etc that will ... | |
| Levels after water change | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: ..I have read so much lately but have never seen this question asked. How soon after I do a water ... A: You're right! I don't think that question has been asked before, and it's a very good question. I ... | |
| new tank | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: i'm going to be getting a new 38 gallon tank within the next few months. i also have a tank that's ... A: If the new tank is a few months off, there is a great way to instantly cycle the new tank. Get a 2-3 ... | |
| black ghost knife training | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Black Ghost Knife a few days ago and I think they're the coolest things. I've heard of ... A: There really aren't any tricks or tips, it's more about trust. I have many fish that are friendly in ... | |
| jack dempsey | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a dempsely that has reached maturity.He has killed off all of my other fish which I know is ... A: I just found your question in our question pool. I apologize it wasn't answered in a timely manner. ... | |
| corry albino fishies acting weird | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: leopard corry he is ok but the two albino almost trying to get out of the water. Is that normal? ... A: Corys will generally be fine in a wide range of pH levels so I doubt that would be causing any kind ... | |
| fish compatibility | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: simple question, not sure if you will know or not, but i have a tank with a puffer and a needle ... A: There are many species of Needlefish, so not knowing the exact species you have, I can't say for ... | |
| freshwater ph won't drop below 8.4 | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: 55 gallon setup with aquaclear 500, an airstone, and 5 baby green terror chiclids. Tank established ... A: There must be something in the tank raising the pH. What type of gravel are you using? Some ... | |
| Balloon Molly | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I have a single Canary Balloon Molly over which I have several concerns: 1. On the right side ... A: Sounds like she has some type of bacterial or fungal infection. Dwarf Gouramis will very rarely show ... | |
| Pimafix and Melafix | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I treated my 90 gal and my 75 gal with a melafix and pimafix combination like it said on the label ... A: You need to know, or at least be close to certain what you are treating before adding any ... | |
| Gouramis black spots | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I have one male and one female Gouramis in a 55 gal tank. I have noticed that the female recently ... A: Fish often change colors as they age. If they appear healthy otherwise and are swimming and eating ... | |
| algae and wood decoration | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I am starting a new 45 gal planted tank, I have no fish yet. I have put in some drift wood ... A: Well first, the driftwood from Petco is fine, but the other piece of wood needs to come out of the ... | |
| Ammonia | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: My tank is 5 weeks old. Fish have been in tank 3 week. have gone thru 3 cycles since set up.Ammonia ... A: The only way to lower ammonia is with small frequent water changes. If you are still getting high ... | |
| angel fish | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: One more question, I have an angel fish in a tank by himself, and he seems very healthy and is ... A: Angels are no angels indeed. It really depends on how big your Angel is and how small the other fish ... | |
| arghhh, tank problems | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: First, my partner and I have both had very successful tanks in our past"s", and I think that is why ... A: Well first, when adding new water to the tank, you should put the water conditioner in first, not ... | |
| guppies,mollies | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: can a guppy give birth then a few days later have more?she looks as though she is about to pop ... A: Both Guppies and Mollies can have fry for up to 6 months after one mating, and usually have them ... | |
| will the eggs hatch? | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 foot tank with tiger barbs in, a friend needed to rehome a parrot fish and a brown ciclid ... A: Blood Parrots are a hybrid between a Red Devil and a Gold Severum. There are many varying opinions ... | |
| fish compatability | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a 30 gallon aquarium, and would like to know whether a breeding pair of ... A: Well first, that's too many fish for a 30 gallon, especially if they breed. Next, Goldfish ... | |
| neon fish | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a fish tank with neons and gubies. Two of my neons are fat, and have blue stone like in there ... A: Neon Tetras do lay eggs and are almost impossible for the average aquarist to breed. Here is a link ... | |
| filter | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: hey richard Its me again Lol I went out and bought the emperor 400 today the only thing i dont get ... A: Hey Jess The media containers are for additional filter media. I put different things in mine, ... | |
| filter | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently got a 55 gallon tank from walmart. It came with just about everything the ... A: Those aquarium starter kits are an inexpensive way to begin fishkeeping. Like you say, they contain ... | |
| High ammonia | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10g aquarium with a pink kissing gourami. I know that this species requires a much larger ... A: You definitely want to move Fred into a larger tank as soon as you can. He wouldn't need a 55g ... | |
| setting up a used tank | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a used tank, 60 x 18 x 24, it was advertised as a 125 gallon tank but it might be closer ... A: Yours is a high 125 gallon aquarium. The long version of the 125 gallon is 72 x 18 x 20. If the ... | |
| freshwater ich being hard to get rid pf | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: in my 45 gal i have a mix of cichlids. got a outbreak of ich a week ago almost overnight.. i ... A: I've never had an Ich outbreak in any of my aquariums, so I've never treated it. However, I know ... | |
| filter | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: Help. I have a 55 gallon tank with a Tetra Whisper Filter. It is toooo noisy. I can't stand the ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. Tetra filters, next to AquaClear, are probably the ... | |
| freshwater ich being hard to get rid pf | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: in my 45 gal i have a mix of cichlids. got a outbreak of ich a week ago almost overnight.. i ... A: You're going about the treatment the wrong way my friend. Along with the Quick Cure, you should add ... | |
| Danios Acting Strangely | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon aquarium, just set up at the start of the year. It has cycled, although it took ... A: If you maintain salt in your tank, then you should always replace the amount you remove with water ... | |
| egg-bound rosy barb? | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: My three-or-four-year old Rosy Barb looks like she's egg bound. She's fat as a house, but nothing ... A: If she is swimming and eating normally, then she is likely carrying eggs. The problem is, she is in ... | |
| Danios Acting Strangely | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon aquarium, just set up at the start of the year. It has cycled, although it took ... A: This is really hard to say. If one of them died, there is a problem somewhere. However, the Guppies ... | |
| white slimy stuff | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: We have about a 30 gallon tank, we have 2 blood goumius (<-- not sure how to spell), 5 black tetra, ... A: Well first, it is spelled Gouramis ;-) Your white slime is likely a mold or fungus growing on ... | |
| mollies compatibility question | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gallon (my first aquarium I've had for a year now) with mollies - 2 female adults, 1 ... A: 9 Mollies in a 10 gallon is over capacity for the 10 gallon. The fry maybe medium sized now, but ... | |
| Danios Acting Strangely | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 29 gallon aquarium, just set up at the start of the year. It has cycled, although it took ... A: The best way to sex Zebra Danios is that females are usually larger and have a rounded belly, and ... | |
| substrate | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I am currently getting ready to set up a 110 gallon tank in addition to my 20 gal. In it I plan on ... A: Well I hope you research the compatibility of these fish before placing them in a tank together. ... | |
| Aeration and air setup question | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about aeration setups for new tanks. I have a brand new 20 Gal. tank with a ... A: Well first, you really shouldn't drill holes in aquarium decorations. There could be some particles ... | |
| White thing on fish | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I work for a major pet retail outlet in the aquatics department. I had a customer that came ... A: Anchor worms are very rare in aquarium fish. They are a more common parasite in pond fish. They are ... | |
| Cloudy Water | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I bought a 6 gallon fresh water tank about a month ago. At first the water was very cloudy due to ... A: Well first, you severely overstocked your tank. A 6 gallon is large enough to house 2-3 very small ... | |
| Angel Fish | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: We have a 5 gallon tank and have 1 small angel fish in it. We want to get a placostamus to feed off ... A: Absolutely NOT! Your 5 gallon is waaaay too small for an Angel. You need a minimum of 25 gallons ... | |
| Angelfish | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: How many fresh water angelfish can I put in a 20 gal. tank w/ 1 male beta? ANSWER: Eileen ... A: The 20 gallon is an excellent choice for him. You don't want to take that space away from him and ... | |
| Community to Cichlid Tank | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: Alex, I was hoping you could provide me with some information on what steps to take to change my ... A: I pulled your question from our question pool. If you can provide me with the type of Cichlids you ... | |
| Lights,fish | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: On a 55.gal tank what type of lights would I need for live plants. I've heard I need just normal ... A: Oh for goodness sakes, QUIT listening to twits at the fish store. They need to sell things to pay ... | |
| Lights,fish | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: On a 55.gal tank what type of lights would I need for live plants. I've heard I need just normal ... A: In all of my tanks, I use Natural Daylight lighting. They are not only great for the plants, but ... | |
| mollie gave birth 2 | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: Hey Richard, I hope you remember the previous question i asked (2 dalmation mollies, a black ... A: Hey Tyler I absolutely remember you. A "rearing" tank is simply a fry tank, another 10 gallon tank ... | |
| Angelfish | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: How many fresh water angelfish can I put in a 20 gal. tank w/ 1 male beta? A: Eileen Angelfish cannot live with Bettas. The Betta will likely nip the Angels fins and/or kill ... | |
| Green Water | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a big problem involving green water. In the past two days, my tank WATER has turned totally ... A: First, you should never over fertilize your aquarium plants. Follow the directions exactly, they are ... | |
| Swordtail breeding | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have my pregnant swordtail in one of those plastic nursery boxes until she gives birth. Once she ... A: It's actually not a good idea to keep her in a breeding net or box. Those are more commonly used to ... | |
| Bala Sharks | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 36 gallon tank and we recently purchased a couple of Bala Sharks which we had for about 3 ... A: Bala Sharks are easy to keep and good fish for beginners. They are also schooling fish that are best ... | |
| First fish tank, many questions | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: The biggest problem I have had in these two weeks is reading literally dozens of differing opinions ... A: No, I wasn't telling you to replace your current filter. Just giving you an fyi. Just make sure the ... | |
| mollie gave birth | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a ten gallon tank with two Dalmation Mollies a Black Mollie and an Orange Guppy. I also have ... A: I have not heard of the lettuce in a jar thing before nor could I find anything about it in my ... | |
| First fish tank, many questions | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: The biggest problem I have had in these two weeks is reading literally dozens of differing opinions ... A: Well first, sorry to tell you, but you don't have a very good power filter. In a 29 gallon, a ... | |
| new tank, old fish. | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: Hey, I recently moved my current goldfish into a ten gallon tank. He was in a five gallon tank and ... A: This is called "Cloudy Eye" usually caused by stress, malnutrition, old age, a hazy slime due to ... | |
| mysterious green fog | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 gal. with a few guppies. Two have died. One has remained sick with multiple symptoms. ... A: Although the bottles may say it is ok to use both Maracyn and Maracyn 2, it is not necessary or ... | |
| betta care | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: My betta's tail keeps getting tore up. At first I thought it was the filter because I saw him ... A: The filter is most likely not the cause of your Bettas tail being torn. If it is just his tail ... | |
| sex | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: How do I know the sex of Oscars.I have 2 but I can't tell the sex. I've got an alge eater also but ... A: Whew! I have to admit, I was a little nervous by the subject :-/ Visually sexing Oscars is ... | |
| cleaning a used 50 gallon bow front aquarium | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: i just purchased a used 50 gallon tank. the previous owner had salt water fish but i am thinking of ... A: Using the filter media and some of the substrate from an established tank will help in the cycle ... | |
| Cloudy water + bubbles | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I've had a 20 gal tank for about 2 years now, I have had the occasional problem with my water ... A: There are many, quality aquatic stores in every city with knowledgeable people who care and can ... | |
| Swollen Belly on Tetra | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a two year old Orange Tetra Glo-Fish. Normally he is a good eater, but yesterday morning I ... A: It sounds like he is constipated. Symptoms of constipation are reduced or loss of appetite, little ... | |
| cleaning a used 50 gallon bow front aquarium | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: i just purchased a used 50 gallon tank. the previous owner had salt water fish but i am thinking of ... A: You can use vinegar and water to scrub off the inside of the tank, or your local aquatic store ... | |
| fish compatability | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 gallon filtered octaganol tank with a happy betta. My husband has a 30 gallon with ... A: I pulled your question from our Question Pool. Your 5 gallon is the perfect size for Norman, but ... | |
| undergravel filters | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: can i cut my undergravel filter to fit my tank A: I just pulled your question from our question pool. I'm sorry for the lengthy delay in getting an ... | |
| Compatible fishes with Bala Sharks for New Tank | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I have purchased 48*15*15 fish tank and hope to add 6 bala sharks (4 inches). I need to know whether ... A: I pulled your question from our Question Pool, I apologize for the delay in getting an answer to ... | |
| Oscars dont eat | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: Hey Ive had 2 oscars together since september 08 and when i bought them they gave me dry shrimp or ... A: Oscars are in the Cichlid family. Most Cichlids will eat a variety of foods such as Cichlid Pellets, ... | |
| molly fish | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I don't have an extra fish tank to separate my pregnant molly's, my babies which are getting eaten ... A: I'll make this short so you can take action and save the babies. :-) You can one of three things, ... | |
| too many fish? | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: i currently have a 21 litre tank set up and i was just wondering if i have too many fish or if it is ... A: To properly cycle a new aquarium, follow these steps.... Make sure your power filter is the correct ... | |
| Filters for Tank and Pacu Dilemma | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: I am considering purchasing a 100 gallon tank from someone (I currently have 1 common goldie in a 20 ... A: Well let's tackle your filter question first..I prefer Bio Wheel filters in my aquariums. In my 90 ... | |
| Betta Fin turning colors | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a betta that is about 3-4 months old... He is a blue and green mixture, but his far back tail ... A: You should never use distilled water for any of your fish. Use Spring Water or Tap Water. And the ... | |
| Betta Fin turning colors | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a betta that is about 3-4 months old... He is a blue and green mixture, but his far back tail ... A: Nothing to worry about, Bettas often change colors as they age. I've had and currently have many ... | |
| enough filtation for a 40 gal tank ? | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I need to know if a Aqua Clear 50 Power Filter, would be enough to filter a 40 gal planted tank? I ... A: The AquaClear 50 is actually for tanks up to 50 gallons, and should be fine for your 40 gallon. ... | |
| slime and bubbles | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I've had my tank(20 gal.) for several years now and have just now come up with a different water ... A: Yes, keep an eye on the Betta. I had one attack a Harlequin Rasbora once which isn't a bright ... | |
| slime and bubbles | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I've had my tank(20 gal.) for several years now and have just now come up with a different water ... A: I don't need my Crystal Ball here to see many problems. I'll detail them for you and what to do to ... | |
| gouramis | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: What does it mean when the dorsel fins are laying down? A: This is clamped fins which are a sign of stress, disease, poor water conditions or a combination of ... | |
| too many fish? | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: i currently have a 21 litre tank set up and i was just wondering if i have too many fish or if it is ... A: Danios like to swim in schools of 5 or more and are very active and often get into playful games of ... | |
| oscar fish and jack dempsey fish | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: i need some advice about my 5in tiger oscar and my 4in jack dempsey fish.I have them both in about ... A: Cichlids will be Cichlids, some more aggressive than others. Oscar tank mates are generally a hit ... | |
| My freashwater fish | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a few questions. My first is, I went to a pet store to get fish to fill my new 65 gal ... A: Well first, I would avoid making any further purchases from that pet store. The lady that assisted ... | |
| Dead fish | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 gallon tank which is about two months old. I had four male guppies, a small male molly, ... A: You asked for an answer, and you have a right to expect an answer, so I'll give you one, although ... | |
| Over Crowded? | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you think this would be overstocked for a 55 gal tank that I am going to start ... A: Yes, that would be an overstocked aquarium. Your Pearl Gouramis will each grow to 4" by themselves. ... | |
| Filter media | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I was hoping you could help me with deciding what media to use in my 55 gallon community tank.I have ... A: I just pulled your question from our question pool. I don't recommend using anything but the ... | |
| parrots color? | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: My 2 parrots are very pale in color. The front of their heads are orange, but the rest of them is ... A: Blood Parrots will generally do fine in water temps of 70-82°, but to be honest, lower temps is what ... | |
| Pearl Gouramis and Angels | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I've been thinking about ideas of what to put into my newly acquired 55 gallon tank setup. Two great ... A: Both the Angels and Gouramis can be aggressive. Angels are no angels and Gouramis will be Gouramis. ... | |
| Shy Angelfish | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought 2 new angelfish for my aquarium(2 days ago)Both are very small/young and only ... A: I don't have any information about your tank, the size it is, how old it is, other fish that are in ... | |
| Fish Jumped Out of Water | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: Richard, My husband and I went for an overnight trip, and when we returned, our betta was out of ... A: Bettas are jumpers and should always remain in a covered aquarium, not a small vase. Keeping a Betta ... | |
| Clown Loach | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in buying a Clown Loach for my 10 gallon tank. In my tank I currently have 2 dwarf ... A: your 10 gallon tank would not be suitable for a Clown Loach. They grow to a very large size and a ... | |
| Oscars in 55gl tank | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 oscars 1 small goldfish and sucker fish in a 55 gl tank. I cleaned it out an a week later ... A: Well first, Oscars and Goldfish are not a good mix. Goldfish are a cold water fish, and Oscars are a ... | |
| Cory Cats | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I recently became the owner of a cory cat. He is gray with black spots. I was wondering what kind ... A: Cory Cats are among my favorites of bottom feeders. They are very peaceful and go well in a wide ... | |
| Betta with sudden head swelling | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: Normally my fish is very active and loves exploring his (eclipse hex 5, planted) tank, and was doing ... A: I've said this many times on this forum....Shrimp, Snails and other such invertebrate creatures do ... | |
| FISH TANK CARE | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: Richard, Thank you for responding to my ? If you don't mind, I would like to ask some more ... A: I am absolutely familiar with the Fluval 205. But it is for tanks up to 40 gallons, not 55. With ... | |
| Mistake made with new aquarium | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I made the mistake of setting my aquarium up and stocking it too soon. The aquarium is a 30 gallon ... A: Many people make the same mistake you did. I had one tell me she put 50 guppies in a 20 gallon tank ... | |
| high nitrate level | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I hadn't cone a partial water change in about 1 1/2 months, and when I did a test on it the nitrate ... A: Well if you're going to have an aquarium, you're going to have to devote the time and patience it ... | |
| my green hair algae | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: ANSWER: Hi Akhil Algae is a problem in freshwater tanks. To keep it under control, do your weekly ... A: Well you have too many fish to add any more to the 15 gallon. Algae grows at different rates ... | |
| my green hair algae | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: hi i kind of need help with a green algae becuase i dont know anything about it like how long or ... A: Algae is a problem in freshwater tanks. To keep it under control, do your weekly tank maintenance. ... | |
| Fish compatibility | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 1 Albino Rainbow Shark, 1 gold gourami, 1 spotted catfish, 1 pleco, 1 bamboo shrimp, and 6 ... A: The only Cichlids you could keep with Neons are smaller non-aggressive Cichlids like the Kribensis, ... | |
| Aquarium Treatment | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I'd just like to ask if anyone has the Dosage guide for Interpet Fresh Start (Tap water conditioner) ... A: I'm sorry for the delay in answering your question, it was sent to our question pool. I've seen ... | |
| Red Tiger oscar with white spots | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a red tiger oscar which is about 2 in hlf inchs and i have Another red tiger oscar about 3 in ... A: Well first, Ich treatment takes 10-21 days and he wouldn't show signs of improvement overnight. I'm ... | |
| ph levels drops and white patch on new guppies | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5.5 gallon tank with two males fire guppies, ten cobra guppy babies( mother died) one ... A: You have way too many fish in the 5½ gallon tank. I keep one Betta in a 5 gallon tank. You're lucky ... | |
| New Tank Set-Up & Compatibility | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I just recently purchased a 10-gallon tank, decorations, filter, and a male Betta. The woman that ... A: Well first, you didn't need to purchase all of that separately. There are aquarium kits that come ... | |
| fish constipation | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I have two fish that are showing some funny behavior with no injuries and no sign of ... A: No need to apologize for questions, that's why I do this :) Taking gravel from your other tank ... | |
| How Many | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: How many cichlids can i fit in my 46 gallon bowfront aquarium? A: This depends greatly on the type of Cichlids you want to keep. The rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon ... | |
| fish constipation | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I have two fish that are showing some funny behavior with no injuries and no sign of ... A: This could be many things. A viral infection, parasite, perhaps they were picked on by another fish ... | |
| Red Tiger oscar with white spots | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a red tiger oscar which is about 2 in hlf inchs and i have Another red tiger oscar about 3 in ... A: Your white spots are most likely Ich or Ick. Fortunately, I've never had an Ich outbreak in any of ... | |
| Severum Question | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a question for you. I have a 300lt tank with to mature severum a parrot and a clown. My ... A: I apologize for the delay in getting an answer to you, your question was sent to our question pool ... | |
| fish constipation | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I have two fish that are showing some funny behavior with no injuries and no sign of ... A: The symptoms of constipation are a swollen body, especially around the abdomen and a loss of ... | |
| how long should i keep heater in tank | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: i used to keep fish 1o years ago. i had mirror carp that got to big .anyway i recently bought 3 ... A: Linda The treatment I gave you is for tropical fish. You have Goldfish which are cold water fish. I ... | |
| baby mollies | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: about 6 and a half months ago my black mollie had babies w/ my white mollie, but both of them died ... A: If your Mollies appear healthy, they probably are. Fish, even the same species, progress at ... | |
| Angels and Guppies | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I've been recently looking into getting some angels for my tank. I've done alot of looking into them ... A: First, I don't recommend putting Angels with Guppies. I think the people you know who have had ... | |
| Betta has dropsy | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: My betta fish has dropsy and I'm not sure what to do. He got a sick a few days ago from what i ... A: Sorry to hear your little guy is so sick. Unfortunately, fish are sometimes hard to diagnose. I'm ... | |
| Feeding whiteclouds | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a few whiteclouds in a four gallon biorb tank. My question is-is it ok to feed them only ... A: Bloodworms are more of a treat than a main diet. I feed my fish bloodworms once or twice a week. The ... | |
| Carl the Betta is Ill | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: Well this morning I west to feed Carl(my Betta fish) and noticed that he started bleeding from what ... A: I'm sorry to hear about Carl. This is probably gill disease. Test the water for ammonia or nitrates. ... | |
Freshwater Aquarium
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 community tank fish, semi-aggressive fish (Barbs, Tetras, etc), Angels, South American Cichlids and African Cichlids.
Education/Credentials
HSG 2010-2011 prof
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