HELP!! A gift for my girlfriend

[[email protected]]

Hi everyone,

In advance, thanks for your help. I've been through the internet and at
the pet store and all I've gotten is more confused. Ideally, i've been
looking to get pet fish for my girlfriends apt. I don't want betas
because you can only have one in a tank, or goldfish because ive had a
bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer
suggestions? Also, i noticed alot of people talking about getting
snails that eat algae -- how expensive are these?

Overall, is this gift a bad idea, because I don't want it to be
something that is so difficult -- everyone keeps mentioning UGFs and
other acronyms, and diseases and tank shocks that i don't understand...
it's a bit overwhelming. If someone could just say get two of these
fish -- they look good and will be low maintenance and you'll need so
and so equipment and it should cost you X dollars I would go to the
store tomorrow and get it - I just don't want to get to the store and
be misled and ripped off because I honestly don't know what equipment
is better and how to get the best value for my money. I'm looking in
the range of less than $50.

Thanks again for any advice.

-Nik

[carlrs]

wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> In advance, thanks for your help. I've been through the internet and at
> the pet store and all I've gotten is more confused. Ideally, i've been
> looking to get pet fish for my girlfriends apt. I don't want betas
> because you can only have one in a tank, or goldfish because ive had a
> bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
> 2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
> I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer
> suggestions? Also, i noticed alot of people talking about getting
> snails that eat algae -- how expensive are these?
>
> Overall, is this gift a bad idea, because I don't want it to be
> something that is so difficult -- everyone keeps mentioning UGFs and
> other acronyms, and diseases and tank shocks that i don't understand...
> it's a bit overwhelming. If someone could just say get two of these
> fish -- they look good and will be low maintenance and you'll need so
> and so equipment and it should cost you X dollars I would go to the
> store tomorrow and get it - I just don't want to get to the store and
> be misled and ripped off because I honestly don't know what equipment
> is better and how to get the best value for my money. I'm looking in
> the range of less than $50.
>
> Thanks again for any advice.
>
> -Nik

I would really recommend at least a 10 gallon tank to start.
As for fish, I would recommend Zebra Danios, white clouds, cory catfish
(instead of snails), skirt tetras, maybe neon tetras, rosey barbs, just
to name a few.

I think the aquarium hobby is a great hobby, so I think an aquarium
makes a great gift.
Just make sure she has some time to invest in her aquarium upkeep.

Here is a site with alot of links to basic aquarium information:
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

Carl

[Lady Samsara]

Hello Nik,

I have a 5 gallon with 4 White Clouds and a Mystery Snail. You can
google the White Clouds, they are schooling fish, very pretty &
entertaining while being very easy to keep. The snails I just love
watching and they do a good job of cleaning up all the food waste that
falls to the gravel. Have you read or are you aware of the cycling of
the tank? I'd add the snail afterwards as they are sensistive to this
cycle. Other than that, I think you will enjoy this set up, the White
Clouds are peaceful and pretty and love lots of plants, it makes for a
pretty small tank set up!

Good luck and enjoy!


wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> In advance, thanks for your help. I've been through the internet and at
> the pet store and all I've gotten is more confused. Ideally, i've been
> looking to get pet fish for my girlfriends apt. I don't want betas
> because you can only have one in a tank, or goldfish because ive had a
> bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
> 2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
> I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer
> suggestions? Also, i noticed alot of people talking about getting
> snails that eat algae -- how expensive are these?
>
> Overall, is this gift a bad idea, because I don't want it to be
> something that is so difficult -- everyone keeps mentioning UGFs and
> other acronyms, and diseases and tank shocks that i don't understand...
> it's a bit overwhelming. If someone could just say get two of these
> fish -- they look good and will be low maintenance and you'll need so
> and so equipment and it should cost you X dollars I would go to the
> store tomorrow and get it - I just don't want to get to the store and
> be misled and ripped off because I honestly don't know what equipment
> is better and how to get the best value for my money. I'm looking in
> the range of less than $50.
>
> Thanks again for any advice.
>
> -Nik

[dc]

wrote in news:1153272019.706836.82680
@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

> bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
> 2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
> I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer

5 gallons is quite small. Three fish is probably ideal for that amount of
space for a beginner. I would recommend three dwarf honey gouramis, one
small catfish or a few kuhli loaches, and lots of live plants. If you care
for the plants and don't overfeed the fish the tank will almost take care
of itself.

For equipment you could use: 1 small bio-wheel power filter; 1 good
fluorescent light; 1 heater if you can't maintain tropical temperatures
otherwise; and 1 small bag of plant substrate.

....add your plants, add one or your gouramis and a week or so later start
adding the rest of fish

[Nik929]

Thanks alot for your advice, I think the idea of a close to
self-sufficient tank is very appealing! If you have any other advice
please do let me know.
dc wrote:
> wrote in news:1153272019.706836.82680
> @h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
>
> > bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
> > 2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
> > I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer
>
> 5 gallons is quite small. Three fish is probably ideal for that amount of
> space for a beginner. I would recommend three dwarf honey gouramis, one
> small catfish or a few kuhli loaches, and lots of live plants. If you care
> for the plants and don't overfeed the fish the tank will almost take care
> of itself.
>
> For equipment you could use: 1 small bio-wheel power filter; 1 good
> fluorescent light; 1 heater if you can't maintain tropical temperatures
> otherwise; and 1 small bag of plant substrate.
>
> ...add your plants, add one or your gouramis and a week or so later start
> adding the rest of fish

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

Fish keeping is of course a great hobby..

Hmm.., is she at all interested in aquaria..?
And are you familiar with fish keeping..?

Might be a good idea telling her what the plan is..

In my mind giving animals is no good idea as long as there
is no will keeping them (well).

A credit note, some time for thinking about the idea of
fish keeping, an internet research and some basic questions
here or in TFA in advance and _then_ a common walk to a pet
store were possibly an alternative..

HTH..
--
cu
Marco

[Nikki]

Your right, Although fish keeping can be nice and a lot of people like it,
its also not for everyone, i know i would like to be aware if i was getting
a live gift just to make sure i wanted it in the first place.
maybe take her to the store and let her pick them out for her self.
Nik



"Marco Schwarz" > wrote in message
...
> Hi..
>
> Fish keeping is of course a great hobby..
>
> Hmm.., is she at all interested in aquaria..?
> And are you familiar with fish keeping..?
>
> Might be a good idea telling her what the plan is..
>
> In my mind giving animals is no good idea as long as there
> is no will keeping them (well).
>
> A credit note, some time for thinking about the idea of
> fish keeping, an internet research and some basic questions
> here or in TFA in advance and _then_ a common walk to a pet
> store were possibly an alternative..
>
> HTH..
> --
> cu
> Marco

[Köi-Lö]

"Nikki" > wrote in message
...
> Your right, Although fish keeping can be nice and a lot of people like it,
> its also not for everyone, i know i would like to be aware if i was
> getting a live gift just to make sure i wanted it in the first
> place..........
============
I remember when someone gave my son a pair of white mince for his birthday.
They never thought to ask us if it were ok. It wasn't ok but what can you
do after the fact? Fortunately I was able to talk him into swapping them
for a battery powered Robot he wanted - and took the mice back to the pet
store.

When it comes to live things I think you are correct in asking the person
first. Not everyone wants a live pet.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Nikki]

"Köi-Lö" <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in message
...
>
> "Nikki" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Your right, Although fish keeping can be nice and a lot of people like
>> it, its also not for everyone, i know i would like to be aware if i was
>> getting a live gift just to make sure i wanted it in the first
>> place..........
> ============
> I remember when someone gave my son a pair of white mince for his
> birthday. They never thought to ask us if it were ok. It wasn't ok but
> what can you do after the fact? Fortunately I was able to talk him into
> swapping them for a battery powered Robot he wanted - and took the mice
> back to the pet store.
>
> When it comes to live things I think you are correct in asking the person
> first. Not everyone wants a live pet.
> --
> KL....
> Aquariums since 1952.
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>
>
>
I guess we all run into that, a couple years ago my neighbor came down with
hamster in cage and knocked on my door, my six year old answered, she ask
for me "but" ask right in front of him....I was wondering if Luke would like
to have a hamster....ugh no he does not, yeah right ....Luke was by that
time on his 20th please mommy can I.....so i had no choice, the little (fill
in the blank) was mean and bit and i seen quickly why she did not want him,
a little fact she left out....he died after a year and a half and me getting
bit many of times.
I now have a bunny, two nice hamsters, my dog and fish, which is to much for
me but i can live with them.
nik

[Köi-Lö]

"Nikki" > wrote in message
...
......so i had no choice, the little (fill
> in the blank) was mean and bit and i seen quickly why she did not want
> him, a little fact she left out....he died after a year and a half and me
> getting bit many of times.

Mice will bite also which was another reason I didn't want them around my
son and his friends. They also had a funky smell no matter how clean we
kept them. Not to mention we already had a cat and several dogs at the
time.

--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Nikki]

"Köi-Lö" <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in message
...
>
> "Nikki" > wrote in message
> ...
> .....so i had no choice, the little (fill
>> in the blank) was mean and bit and i seen quickly why she did not want
>> him, a little fact she left out....he died after a year and a half and me
>> getting bit many of times.
>
> Mice will bite also which was another reason I didn't want them around my
> son and his friends. They also had a funky smell no matter how clean we
> kept them. Not to mention we already had a cat and several dogs at the
> time.
>
> --
> KL....
> Aquariums since 1952.
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>
>
>
>
Yeah not fond of them myself, i dont mind the hamsters they dont bother me
much, kids put them in running balls and they will trip me from time to time
but i deal with it. The one likes to chase me if he sees me walking in the
kitchen.
Nik

[swarvegorilla]

Get some danio's
coldwater, always moving and easy peasy





> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> In advance, thanks for your help. I've been through the internet and at
> the pet store and all I've gotten is more confused. Ideally, i've been
> looking to get pet fish for my girlfriends apt. I don't want betas
> because you can only have one in a tank, or goldfish because ive had a
> bad experience with them. I wanted something where she could have maybe
> 2 or three fish that would interact well and would be low maintenance.
> I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon tank. If anyone can offer
> suggestions? Also, i noticed alot of people talking about getting
> snails that eat algae -- how expensive are these?
>
> Overall, is this gift a bad idea, because I don't want it to be
> something that is so difficult -- everyone keeps mentioning UGFs and
> other acronyms, and diseases and tank shocks that i don't understand...
> it's a bit overwhelming. If someone could just say get two of these
> fish -- they look good and will be low maintenance and you'll need so
> and so equipment and it should cost you X dollars I would go to the
> store tomorrow and get it - I just don't want to get to the store and
> be misled and ripped off because I honestly don't know what equipment
> is better and how to get the best value for my money. I'm looking in
> the range of less than $50.
>
> Thanks again for any advice.
>
> -Nik
>

[Tynk]

Köi-Lö wrote:

>
> Mice will bite also which was another reason I didn't want them around my
> son and his friends. They also had a funky smell no matter how clean we
> kept them. Not to mention we already had a cat and several dogs at the
> time.

Mice have a natural body odor that really smells nasty. No amount of
cleaning their cages can change that.

Now on the other hand, Hamsters have an enzyme in their spit that is a
deoderizer. Makes them smell as sweet as a kitty's fur.

[Tynk]

Nikki wrote:

> >
> Yeah not fond of them myself, i dont mind the hamsters they dont bother me
> much, kids put them in running balls and they will trip me from time to time
> but i deal with it. The one likes to chase me if he sees me walking in the
> kitchen.
> Nik

I know this is so off topic, but it reminded me of the last Hammy we
had.
He was the sweetest thing too. Would perch on my shoulder hanging out.
He always had his daily exercise time in his run about ball. Well I
quickly found out one day that our Rottie got the notion to *play ball*
with him. = O
She took her nose and gave him a whirl he'd never forget. Poor thing
was ok, but very dizzy. This was all in a few seconds before I went
running across the kitchen to save the poor little dude. I don't know
what made the dog decide to do this, as she had never done anything
like that before.
Needless to say, after that I blocked off the kitchen when the hammie
had run about time. I'm sure he did not want to go on that ride again!

[Nikki]

"Tynk" > wrote in message
oups.com...

Köi-Lö wrote:

>
> Mice will bite also which was another reason I didn't want them around my
> son and his friends. They also had a funky smell no matter how clean we
> kept them. Not to mention we already had a cat and several dogs at the
> time.

Mice have a natural body odor that really smells nasty. No amount of
cleaning their cages can change that.

Now on the other hand, Hamsters have an enzyme in their spit that is a
deoderizer. Makes them smell as sweet as a kitty's fur.
--------------------------------------

My dog will see them run by in the ball and he gets the funniest look on his
face, I think he has no clue why or what..
I have a teddy bear hamster and a reg hamster, both black and furry, so
sweet, they will play together but since they were not little mates and
lived alone for some time I have not put them together, plus they are
male/female.
They do play nice together which I am glad for.
Funny story about my dog, I have a hermit crab who has been pulling escapes
every night (I am making him a new home) he climbed onto my dog the other
night, and the only thing that went though my head was oh god don't let him
clamp on to Eddie, just as I went to grab the crab Eddie stood up and
noticed him fall off, he spent most of the day barking at the crab and
looking around for him whining...strange animals in this house, the crab has
also climbed into the bunny cage. (guess he is looking for friends)
Nik

[Köi-Lö]

"swarvegorilla" > wrote in message
u...
> Get some danio's
> coldwater, always moving and easy peasy
=====================
Cold-water danios? Rosy reds are like goldfish. No heater needed. Both
thrive outdoors as well as indoors. GF breed more readily and get larger
with better color outdoors. IN MY EXPERIENCE.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Nikki]

"Köi-Lö" <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in message
...
>
> "swarvegorilla" > wrote in message
> u...
>> Get some danio's
>> coldwater, always moving and easy peasy
> =====================
> Cold-water danios? Rosy reds are like goldfish. No heater needed. Both
> thrive outdoors as well as indoors. GF breed more readily and get larger
> with better color outdoors. IN MY EXPERIENCE.
> --
> KL....
> Aquariums since 1952.
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>
>
>
>
>
Yep, danio's are fine in cool water, I think they are one of those fish that
can live in cool or warm
Nik

[Köi-Lö]

"Nikki" > wrote in message
...
> Yep, danio's are fine in cool water, I think they are one of those fish
> that can live in cool or warm
> Nik
=================
That's good to know. Thanks.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[swarvegorilla]

rosy reds are called rosy barbs by most people.
just for info of others

[Köi-Lö]

"swarvegorilla" > wrote in message
u...
> rosy reds are called rosy barbs by most people.
> just for info of others
======================
And they're very cold hardy. Mine live outside over the winter with the GF.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Tynk]

<<
swarvegorilla wrote:
> rosy reds are called rosy barbs by most people.
> just for info of others>>

Rosy barbs are a different fish.
Koi-Lo was talking about Rosey Reds..aka Rosey Red Minnows.
The Barbs are Puntius conchonius, and come from parts in India,and the
Rosey Reds are Pimephales promelas and are native to the United States,
Canada and Mexico.

[Köi-Lö]

"swarvegorilla" > wrote in message
u...
> rosy reds are called rosy barbs by most people.
> just for info of others
===============
Oh, the locals call them bullheads for some reason and use them for bait.
:-( Another thing. Mine died out in tubs without water movement. I keep
a filter running in their 150g pond now. It appears they don't eat their
own eggs or fry either.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[swarvegorilla]

"Tynk" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> <<
> swarvegorilla wrote:
>> rosy reds are called rosy barbs by most people.
>> just for info of others>>
>
> Rosy barbs are a different fish.
> Koi-Lo was talking about Rosey Reds..aka Rosey Red Minnows.
> The Barbs are Puntius conchonius, and come from parts in India,and the
> Rosey Reds are Pimephales promelas and are native to the United States,
> Canada and Mexico.
>

cheers
over here they share the same common name as the neon rosy barbs
another warning on da dangers of common names I spose!
We have many many local coldwater fish over here that you guys would prob
never see.
Although maybe ya might get the odd empire gudgeon or crimson spotted
rainbow.
Shame too as most of the interesting behaviour is on the drab coloured fish!
But then it's always the way hey?

Golden medaka's, white clouds.... hell even the old glass blood fin tetra
can handle reasonably low temps.
For me though a paradise fish is the real perfect cheap and low maintence
fish.
Just be sure to settle for one and not give it stuff to kill.
heh heh