HELP!! A gift for my girlfriend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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 ~~~~ }((((({*

"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

"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 ~~~~ }((((({*