Newbie Now Armed with Fish!!!

[Chef]

Here's what I've done oh wise ones. I've stocked my tank. I've got a 55g community tank and I really do mean community. I've got

6 Tiny Albino and Serbai Cory Cats
4 Red Platies
8 Assorted Mollies
6 Gouramis
3 Clown Loaches
2 Black Ghosts

I hope the co-existence continues. I've monitored their individual behavior and I've seen a few chases and peckings here and there but they seem to be "chillin". Should I expect to see any violent eruptions?

Vince

[mnemenoi]

Congrats on the new inhabitants, about the only thing I see is the pair of Black ghosts. In my experience they do well in groups (3-4+) or solitary. They do get very large over time as well (20") though it takes some time and yours should be fine for quite a bit. Their aggression is very hard to notice as they are mostly active at night. When I have observed it it does not *seem* very dangerous, but I would notice one becoming more stressed and eating less until they eventually succumbed. Just try and provide differing areas for both to escape to and be watchful. If one does seem the aggressor I'd consider returning one for store credit perhaps. With more they can spread the aggression amongst them.

With picking up a ghost be watchful about not placing any other electrical fish in the aquarium as they seem to single these fish out. (i.e. Morymids, other knifefish species, ect.)

[Dow]

In my experience, gouramis ate my tetras so I would watch out. Keep both eyes on them... I thought it was my little dinosaur fish but it wasn't!

CONGRATS on entering the hobby!

[wesleydnunder]

Did you get a good, reliable test kit, like the AP Freshwater Master kit? The reason I ask is that the tank may still be cycling and with it fully stocked ammonia can reach catastrophic levels quickly if it isn't fully cycled yet. I'd definitely keep an eye on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.

Mark

[Chef]

Thanks everyone for the great advice...I did all of checks for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels and they seem to be stable. Since this is a new tank, I'm checking every day for the week or 2. I've had some casualties already in the community. 3 spotted Cory Cats have died and one Silver Molly. I was hoping to attribute their early demise as just bad stock. I hope I haven't scewed up anything. I've been watching their behavior to see if I notice anything "strange". And the project continues...


Vince

[wesleydnunder]

Thanks everyone for the great advice...I did all of checks for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels and they seem to be stable. Since this is a new tank, I'm checking every day for the week or 2. I've had some casualties already in the community. 3 spotted Cory Cats have died and one Silver Molly. I was hoping to attribute their early demise as just bad stock. I hope I haven't scewed up anything. I've been watching their behavior to see if I notice anything "strange". And the project continues...


Vince

Ammonia and nitrite should be 0.

Mark

[Chef]

I can't seem to account for all my fish in the community tank. None are big enough to eat any of the other fish so where could they have gone? I didnt want to have to rearrange everyone to find my clown loach. I've been looking for a solid day now. I've lost 3 spotted cory's, 1 molly, and now a missing loach. Good thing I'm not dealing with pricey fish. But to answer everyone, I tested and retested the water and it's normal.

[mnemenoi]

Loaches are notorious at hiding, I have had a skunk loach I assumed to be dead reappear after almost 3 years. I would just give it some time and try coaching it out with some frozen bloodworms after turning the lights out.

[stevenallenbarnard]

Loaches are notorious at hiding, I have had a skunk loach I assumed to be dead reappear after almost 3 years. I would just give it some time and try coaching it out with some frozen bloodworms after turning the lights out.

+1
I have 18 and I never see more that 10 at any one time.

[Chef]

I've got a problem with my stock....grrrr! I've lost 3 dwarf gourami in 2 days now. I don't know why I'm losing my stock.