12 gallon perfect fish

[Mary]

OK - did that subject line make you wonder? :)

I've now taken my goldfish to the local fish store guy who was happy to save
his condemned life from a lonely, 12-gallon tank.

I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one. Preferably
adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail or frog of some
type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something like this. And I'd
like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?

What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do have need
to be small...

Thanks - I should have asked this to begin with:)

Mary

[Mary]

Forgot to mention! My tank stays pretty steady at 75 degrees.

[Chris Palma]

Hi Mary.

I have a big aquarium, but I decided to buy a bunch of pygmy & dwarf
varieties, and I'm very happy. If your tank is heated, I would recommend:

threadfin rainbows or maybe
pygmy corydoras

both prefer to have a decent sized group of companions, so I would
recommend if you get either of these, get 4-6 of them.

--chris


On Tue, 16 Mar 2004, Mary wrote:

> OK - did that subject line make you wonder? :)
>
> I've now taken my goldfish to the local fish store guy who was happy to save
> his condemned life from a lonely, 12-gallon tank.
>
> I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one. Preferably
> adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail or frog of some
> type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something like this. And I'd
> like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?
>
> What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do have need
> to be small...
>
> Thanks - I should have asked this to begin with:)
>
> Mary
>
>
>


NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me directly,
please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu

[Eric Schreiber]

Mary wrote:

> I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one.
> Preferably adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail
> or frog of some type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something
> like this. And I'd like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?

If you get oto cats, get several. Five or six would not be too much for
a twelve gallon tank, and they tenk to like to be in groups. Plus, they
have a high mortality rate (though I just discovered one in my planted
tank that's been there for 15 months).

Don't get a Siamese algae eater, as it will quickly outgrow a 12 gallon
tank. I have three that were the perfect size when I got them, but are
far too big for my 20 gallon now. Pity they grow so fast, because
they're great at algae control.

> What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do
> have need to be small...

Well, for small tanks, I'm very fond of bettas. Of course, you can only
have one male, which may or may not get along with other fish.

African dwarf frogs are neat looking, and considered good companions
for bettas. Make sure it/they has/have webbed, not clawed, feet.

A couple of mystery or apple snails would be good, so long as you
didn't have live plants - some species that are sold under this name
are voracious plant eaters while others ignore healthy plants, and
they're almost impossible to tell apart.

Also, poke around on this site: http://www.petfish.net/. They have some
useful articles and message bases that will give you other ideas.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

[Mary]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Mary wrote:
>
> > I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one.
> > Preferably adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail
> > or frog of some type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something
> > like this. And I'd like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?
>
> If you get oto cats, get several. Five or six would not be too much for
> a twelve gallon tank, and they tenk to like to be in groups. Plus, they
> have a high mortality rate (though I just discovered one in my planted
> tank that's been there for 15 months).
>
> Don't get a Siamese algae eater, as it will quickly outgrow a 12 gallon
> tank. I have three that were the perfect size when I got them, but are
> far too big for my 20 gallon now. Pity they grow so fast, because
> they're great at algae control.
>
> > What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do
> > have need to be small...
>
> Well, for small tanks, I'm very fond of bettas. Of course, you can only
> have one male, which may or may not get along with other fish.
>
> African dwarf frogs are neat looking, and considered good companions
> for bettas. Make sure it/they has/have webbed, not clawed, feet.
>
> A couple of mystery or apple snails would be good, so long as you
> didn't have live plants - some species that are sold under this name
> are voracious plant eaters while others ignore healthy plants, and
> they're almost impossible to tell apart.
>
> Also, poke around on this site: http://www.petfish.net/. They have some
> useful articles and message bases that will give you other ideas.
>
> --
> www.ericschreiber.com

Thanks, Eric, for the great advice. Exactly what I was looking for. I seem
to recall poking around your site a few months ago when I first got the
sudden idea to buy a fishtank;)

[Mary]

"Chris Palma" > wrote in message
ro.Virginia.EDU...
> Hi Mary.
>
> I have a big aquarium, but I decided to buy a bunch of pygmy & dwarf
> varieties, and I'm very happy. If your tank is heated, I would recommend:
>
> threadfin rainbows or maybe
> pygmy corydoras
>
> both prefer to have a decent sized group of companions, so I would
> recommend if you get either of these, get 4-6 of them.
>
> --chris
>
>
> On Tue, 16 Mar 2004, Mary wrote:
>
> > OK - did that subject line make you wonder? :)
> >
> > I've now taken my goldfish to the local fish store guy who was happy to
save
> > his condemned life from a lonely, 12-gallon tank.
> >
> > I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one.
Preferably
> > adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail or frog of
some
> > type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something like this. And I'd
> > like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?
> >
> > What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do have
need
> > to be small...
> >
> > Thanks - I should have asked this to begin with:)
> >
> > Mary
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> NB: This email address is dead. If you would like to email me directly,
> please use: cpalmaATSYMBOLastro.psu.edu

Wow - 4 to 6, huh? Sounds great after having just one fish for months!

Thanks:)

[lonerider]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Mary wrote:
>
> > I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one.
> > Preferably adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail
> > or frog of some type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something
> > like this. And I'd like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?
>
> If you get oto cats, get several. Five or six would not be too much for
> a twelve gallon tank, and they tenk to like to be in groups. Plus, they
> have a high mortality rate (though I just discovered one in my planted
> tank that's been there for 15 months).
>
> Don't get a Siamese algae eater, as it will quickly outgrow a 12 gallon
> tank. I have three that were the perfect size when I got them, but are
> far too big for my 20 gallon now. Pity they grow so fast, because
> they're great at algae control.
>
> > What would you all recommend? I know I can't have many & what I do
> > have need to be small...
>
> Well, for small tanks, I'm very fond of bettas. Of course, you can only
> have one male, which may or may not get along with other fish.
>
> African dwarf frogs are neat looking, and considered good companions
> for bettas. Make sure it/they has/have webbed, not clawed, feet.
>
> A couple of mystery or apple snails would be good, so long as you
> didn't have live plants - some species that are sold under this name
> are voracious plant eaters while others ignore healthy plants, and
> they're almost impossible to tell apart.
>
> Also, poke around on this site: http://www.petfish.net/. They have some
> useful articles and message bases that will give you other ideas.
>
> --
> www.ericschreiber.com
dwarf gouramis are nice looking fish and stay small. I have 2 in a 10 gallon
tank.

lonerider

[Elizabeth Naime]

Quoth "Mary" > on Tue, 16 Mar 2004
23:06:22 -0500,

>I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one. Preferably
>adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail or frog of some
>type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something like this. And I'd
>like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?

Otos are so tempting, but I have heard that they're rather delicate.
Most snails will eat algae off the sides of the tank, so maybe that
would be a better choice.

It all depends on what you and your son consider "interesting," doesn't
it? Me, I am fascinted by the roaming herds of corydoras catfish in the
stores. Some of them stay quite small and you ought to be able to get a
nice group (they are happier in groups, and I think more fun to watch)
into a smaller tank. Male bettas are dramatic, more traditionally
"pretty," and can be quite personable.

I don't know too much about frogs and such. If these interest you and
your son, maybe a non-fish setup would be appropriate. One or more frogs
that will stay quite small; are there any newts that remain small enough
for this tank? Perhaps some crustaceans, like freshwater shrimp and
crawfish (e.g. the blue "lobster"). I invite comment on this, I really
don't know what non-fish filtration needs are nor which non-fish will
get along with each other. And I'm pretty sure you don't want a
Gladiator Tank, whose occupants take turns killing each other, so
compatibility will be important!


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

[TYNK 7]

(snipped)

>Subject: Re: 12 gallon perfect fish
>From: "Eric Schreiber" ericat ericschreiber dot com
>Date: 3/17/2004 1:54 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >

>African dwarf frogs are neat looking, and considered good companions
>for bettas. Make sure it/they has/have webbed, not clawed, feet.

Actually, this may be a bit confusing to aperson who doesn't know better...
The Dwarf frogs also have a black claw on their hind feet..so it may confuse
somebody looking at a Dwarf..see the webbing, but also see a claw on the hind
feet.
It's simpler (is that even a real word =0 ), to just look at the front feet. If
there is webbing betweenthe toes..yes, it's a dwarf. If there is NO webbing in
between the from toes...it's a baby African Calwed Frog....very big no no.
They grow huge and love to eat fish. = )
The Dwarves stay small and are lovely. = )

[Eric Schreiber]

TYNK 7 wrote:

> It's simpler (is that even a real word =0 ), to just look at the
> front feet. If there is webbing betweenthe toes..yes, it's a dwarf.

Ah, that helps me too. I've come close to buying some several times,
and I didn't know to look primarily at the front feet. Thanks.


> The Dwarves stay small and are lovely. = )

Is it true that they are finicky eaters?


--
www.ericschreiber.com

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: 12 gallon perfect fish
>From: "Eric Schreiber" ericat ericschreiber dot com
>Date: 3/18/2004 1:29 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>TYNK 7 wrote:
>
>> It's simpler (is that even a real word =0 ), to just look at the
>> front feet. If there is webbing betweenthe toes..yes, it's a dwarf.
>
>Ah, that helps me too. I've come close to buying some several times,
>and I didn't know to look primarily at the front feet. Thanks.
>
>
>> The Dwarves stay small and are lovely. = )
>
>Is it true that they are finicky eaters?
>

Only when you try and feed them something other than frozen Bloodworms. = )~

[Eric Schreiber]

TYNK 7 wrote:

> > Is it true that they are finicky eaters?

> Only when you try and feed them something other than frozen
> Bloodworms. = )~

Swell :)

I've *finally* managed to get my Malabar puffer to eat freeze-dried
bloodworms, though he still prefers frozen. And even with freeze-dried,
I still have to feed him by hand. He doesn't seem to notice food if I
sprinkle it on top - only when my fingertips break the surface and hold
the food for him will he believe there is something to eat.

I'm not keen on getting another finicky eater like an ADF. What I need
is a lungfish that I can train to go get his own food out of the fridge.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: 12 gallon perfect fish
>From: "Eric Schreiber" ericat ericschreiber dot com
>Date: 3/18/2004 10:24 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>TYNK 7 wrote:
>
>> > Is it true that they are finicky eaters?
>
>> Only when you try and feed them something other than frozen
>> Bloodworms. = )~
>
>Swell :)
>
>I've *finally* managed to get my Malabar puffer to eat freeze-dried
>bloodworms, though he still prefers frozen. And even with freeze-dried,
>I still have to feed him by hand. He doesn't seem to notice food if I
>sprinkle it on top - only when my fingertips break the surface and hold
>the food for him will he believe there is something to eat.
>
>I'm not keen on getting another finicky eater like an ADF. What I need
>is a lungfish that I can train to go get his own food out of the fridge.

LOL...be careful what you wish for.
I can just picture it....kicking back on your couch...yells "beer me" as you
walk by.
= )~