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Potential Fish To Avoid for a Freshwater Newbie
12 years ago
There are a lot of attractive, interesting fish out there. But keep in mind that some of those fish just aren't suited for somebody that's new to the hobby, and some that just aren't suited for the hobby period. This journal is going to cover some of these fish.
German Blue Ram, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Also called butterfly rams, or just "rams", and can be found in a golden, lilac, and electric blue color morph.
Don't get me wrong, these fish are drop dead gorgeous, cheap, and easy to come by to boot. It may be too good to be true, and it usually is.
The main issues to keep in mind of German Blue Rams, is that they're naturally blackwater fish. This means they prefer to live in very soft, acidic water, with a pH below 6.5. They also like their water very warm, preferably 82-88F, which is in most cases 10 degrees warmer than common, hardy tropical fish. While they can tolerate and even breed in colder, harder water, their lifespans are usually cut in half, if not more by being kept that way.
Also keep in mind that they are rather aggressive for dwarf cichlids. While a lot of dwarves are rather peaceful, these guys can be bashful little monsters, sometimes chasing fish near twice their size. Keeping a breeding pair will become more of a hassle, as they're much more aggressive when babies become involved. When courting, the male will become very harsh toward the female as well, in smaller tanks, the female usually ends up battered or dead from the male's attempts to breed.
A better choice is their much more mellow and hardy cousin, the bolivian ram.
Large Cichlids Oscars, Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors, Red Devils, and Many More
Large cichlids have a lot of personality and are very attractive fish, but big fish need big tanks, and some of these guys get big.
While most larger cichlids tend to be pretty hardy, they are prone to suffering from bloat and hole in the head disease, so a proper, varied diet is essential to living healthy.
These fish grow fast, sometimes at rates of 2 inches a month or more, so a big tank is going to be needed from the get go, no "growing out" tanks.
These fish also have their own personalities and are hard to judge, sometimes taking up to 3 years to snap and start killing their tank mates, or staying mellow and docile their entire lifespan. Because of aggression and unpredictable nature, fish will often need to be removed or rehomed when keeping a big cichlid with other fish.
If you've got a large tank (75 gallons+, 225+ for larger species), feel free to give these brutes of the trade a try, but please avoid them otherwise.
There are plenty of smaller, more docile cichlids out there such as bolivian rams, apistogramma species, and kribensis species which can fit in tighter spaces.
Freshwater Eels Peacock, tyretrack, fire, and others.
Spiny eels are rather interesting, and hey, who doesn't wanna say "I have an eel!" when talking to their friends, but as most eels get at least a foot long, they're not suitable for small tanks.
Eels are also highly predatory, and in some cases, very hard to feed. Some of them will never grow onto prepared fish food, and will need a diet of live fish instead.
Also bear in mind that they tend to just bury themselves all the time, and it's rather boring. They're not very fun fish to watch in my opinion. Because of their burrowing habits, they do not do well in a gravel setup, and will usually die in a setup with an undergravel filter, due to bacterial infections. A sandy bottom tank is absolutely required to keep freshwater eels.
On a smaller scale, kuhli loaches are much more hardy and interesting to keep, and max out at merely 4 inches long.
Knifefish Ghost, Clown, African, and others.
Knifefish are beautiful, and are an instant turn on to new aquarists due to their oddball appearance.
The sad side to these fish is that they get very large, while African brown knives, may only get 8 inches long, Ghost and Clown knives can get 2-4 feet long, they're gigantic, clumsy, and predatory.
Knifefish can't see well, and tend to use electric impulses to see where they are, similar to how a bat uses echos to see around. This is why you see them often hanging out in a clear plastic tube without a care in the world, thinking they're hidden.
Also keep in mind that due to their lack of sight, nippy or aggressive fish will go at these fish incessantly. They just don't do well in many fish setups, and are better left to the experts.
Ghost catfish share a similar appearance and are much smaller, and while a little fragile, can easily be grasped given the right group and care.
Rift Valley Cichlids of Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria
mbuna, haps, peacocks, shelldwellers, and neolamprologus species (usually listed as african cichlids)
These fish are very interesting, intelligent, and colorful. Some find the young cichlids at the store irresistable, especially those of the pseudotropheus species, with the bright yellows, blues, and reds they come in.
However, the understanding of these fish required to raise them properly is going to be overwhelming on a newbie to the hobby. Tanganyikan fish love the pH of their water above 8.4, while malawis need it around 8.2 in order to thrive. Keep in mind most of these fish have a lifespan of 15 years or more, and usualy live less than 5 years when kept inadequately.
Do a lot of research on how to properly care for these fish before buying them. I researched for 3 months before feeling comfortable to setup my tanganyikan community.
The Big "Problem Species" or "Tank Busters"
Red Tailed Catfish, Shovelnose Catfish, Pangasius Catfish/Iridescent Sharks, Pacu, Giant Gouramis
All of these fish come into fish stores adorable and beautiful as young juveniles, but people often don't realize how big these fish get. They will often get 2-4 feet long, in some cases as long as 8 feet! They need a truly monstrous tank to live a happy, healthy life, and it is cruel to keep them in a tank much smaller than the back of a moving van. Take this into consideration before looking into these species.
Bala Sharks
These fish are attractive, especially with "shark" attached to their name, but they're hardly ferocious.
Actually being part of the minnow family, these fish not only get a good 1-1.5 feet long, but they're also very skittish schooling fish, needing to be kept in groups of 6 or more, and very prone to self injury due to their skittish nature and sprinting capabilities. They do best in tanks at least 8 feet long, but if you've got a monster tank like that, they're very easy to care for.
Brackish Water Fishes
monos, scats, archers, columbian sharks, halfbeaks, bumblebee gobies
many people bring these fish home not realizing they're truly brackish water fish, and will not live long in a freshwater tank. scats and monos also reach large proportions, often over a foot long.
Tinfoil Barbs
These are active and attractive schooling fish which you'll find in almost any freshwater store.
Unfortunately, they get large, usually around a foot and a half, and have a very long lifespan, sometimes over 20 years. They need a good sized tank, around 6 feet, preferably more, to live comfortably. With space provided, these fish are very simple to care for, though.
Dojo Loaches also called weather loaches, come in a golden variety
Dojo loaches are like kuhli loaches in general appearence, main difference being that they get 4 times larger than kuhli loaches, making out around a foot long.
They're also a more sub tropical fish, prefering much colder water than the average freshwater community. Like many loaches, they've very social and will not show heir true colors without a significant sized group of at least 5.
They're expert escape artists, and will jump the tank at any opportunity if given a reason. These fish tend to become very erratic in swimming patterns and activity before an incoming storm, hence the name "weather loach" but during this time, they're more susceptible to jumping the tank, which could lead to sickness or death.
Kuhli loaches show the same interesting behavior and are less prone to jumping the tank, as well as much smaller, and will work well in a common tropical community, and are a much better option.
Clown Loach
Clown loaches are gorgeous inside and out, very playful and sport wonderful colors similar to that of a tiger barb. Unfortunately, these fish get huge, around a foot and a half full grown. While they grow very slowly, a large tank is needed for a group of these.
Clown loaches are very social ad hierarchical, and will not fair well alone in a small group. They should be kept in groups of at least 10, preferably more, which calls for tanks of monstrous proportions. Since these fish are often wild caught, they should be kept in a group of as many as possible, many clown loach enthusiasts keep as many as 30 in a group.
Clown loaches are highly susceptible to ich when kept improperly or in bad water conditions, and treating it when they get it is tough, as they are very sensitive to medications and salt.
More may come soon
-onidrase
German Blue Ram, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Also called butterfly rams, or just "rams", and can be found in a golden, lilac, and electric blue color morph.
Don't get me wrong, these fish are drop dead gorgeous, cheap, and easy to come by to boot. It may be too good to be true, and it usually is.
The main issues to keep in mind of German Blue Rams, is that they're naturally blackwater fish. This means they prefer to live in very soft, acidic water, with a pH below 6.5. They also like their water very warm, preferably 82-88F, which is in most cases 10 degrees warmer than common, hardy tropical fish. While they can tolerate and even breed in colder, harder water, their lifespans are usually cut in half, if not more by being kept that way.
Also keep in mind that they are rather aggressive for dwarf cichlids. While a lot of dwarves are rather peaceful, these guys can be bashful little monsters, sometimes chasing fish near twice their size. Keeping a breeding pair will become more of a hassle, as they're much more aggressive when babies become involved. When courting, the male will become very harsh toward the female as well, in smaller tanks, the female usually ends up battered or dead from the male's attempts to breed.
A better choice is their much more mellow and hardy cousin, the bolivian ram.
Large Cichlids Oscars, Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors, Red Devils, and Many More
Large cichlids have a lot of personality and are very attractive fish, but big fish need big tanks, and some of these guys get big.
While most larger cichlids tend to be pretty hardy, they are prone to suffering from bloat and hole in the head disease, so a proper, varied diet is essential to living healthy.
These fish grow fast, sometimes at rates of 2 inches a month or more, so a big tank is going to be needed from the get go, no "growing out" tanks.
These fish also have their own personalities and are hard to judge, sometimes taking up to 3 years to snap and start killing their tank mates, or staying mellow and docile their entire lifespan. Because of aggression and unpredictable nature, fish will often need to be removed or rehomed when keeping a big cichlid with other fish.
If you've got a large tank (75 gallons+, 225+ for larger species), feel free to give these brutes of the trade a try, but please avoid them otherwise.
There are plenty of smaller, more docile cichlids out there such as bolivian rams, apistogramma species, and kribensis species which can fit in tighter spaces.
Freshwater Eels Peacock, tyretrack, fire, and others.
Spiny eels are rather interesting, and hey, who doesn't wanna say "I have an eel!" when talking to their friends, but as most eels get at least a foot long, they're not suitable for small tanks.
Eels are also highly predatory, and in some cases, very hard to feed. Some of them will never grow onto prepared fish food, and will need a diet of live fish instead.
Also bear in mind that they tend to just bury themselves all the time, and it's rather boring. They're not very fun fish to watch in my opinion. Because of their burrowing habits, they do not do well in a gravel setup, and will usually die in a setup with an undergravel filter, due to bacterial infections. A sandy bottom tank is absolutely required to keep freshwater eels.
On a smaller scale, kuhli loaches are much more hardy and interesting to keep, and max out at merely 4 inches long.
Knifefish Ghost, Clown, African, and others.
Knifefish are beautiful, and are an instant turn on to new aquarists due to their oddball appearance.
The sad side to these fish is that they get very large, while African brown knives, may only get 8 inches long, Ghost and Clown knives can get 2-4 feet long, they're gigantic, clumsy, and predatory.
Knifefish can't see well, and tend to use electric impulses to see where they are, similar to how a bat uses echos to see around. This is why you see them often hanging out in a clear plastic tube without a care in the world, thinking they're hidden.
Also keep in mind that due to their lack of sight, nippy or aggressive fish will go at these fish incessantly. They just don't do well in many fish setups, and are better left to the experts.
Ghost catfish share a similar appearance and are much smaller, and while a little fragile, can easily be grasped given the right group and care.
Rift Valley Cichlids of Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria
mbuna, haps, peacocks, shelldwellers, and neolamprologus species (usually listed as african cichlids)
These fish are very interesting, intelligent, and colorful. Some find the young cichlids at the store irresistable, especially those of the pseudotropheus species, with the bright yellows, blues, and reds they come in.
However, the understanding of these fish required to raise them properly is going to be overwhelming on a newbie to the hobby. Tanganyikan fish love the pH of their water above 8.4, while malawis need it around 8.2 in order to thrive. Keep in mind most of these fish have a lifespan of 15 years or more, and usualy live less than 5 years when kept inadequately.
Do a lot of research on how to properly care for these fish before buying them. I researched for 3 months before feeling comfortable to setup my tanganyikan community.
The Big "Problem Species" or "Tank Busters"
Red Tailed Catfish, Shovelnose Catfish, Pangasius Catfish/Iridescent Sharks, Pacu, Giant Gouramis
All of these fish come into fish stores adorable and beautiful as young juveniles, but people often don't realize how big these fish get. They will often get 2-4 feet long, in some cases as long as 8 feet! They need a truly monstrous tank to live a happy, healthy life, and it is cruel to keep them in a tank much smaller than the back of a moving van. Take this into consideration before looking into these species.
Bala Sharks
These fish are attractive, especially with "shark" attached to their name, but they're hardly ferocious.
Actually being part of the minnow family, these fish not only get a good 1-1.5 feet long, but they're also very skittish schooling fish, needing to be kept in groups of 6 or more, and very prone to self injury due to their skittish nature and sprinting capabilities. They do best in tanks at least 8 feet long, but if you've got a monster tank like that, they're very easy to care for.
Brackish Water Fishes
monos, scats, archers, columbian sharks, halfbeaks, bumblebee gobies
many people bring these fish home not realizing they're truly brackish water fish, and will not live long in a freshwater tank. scats and monos also reach large proportions, often over a foot long.
Tinfoil Barbs
These are active and attractive schooling fish which you'll find in almost any freshwater store.
Unfortunately, they get large, usually around a foot and a half, and have a very long lifespan, sometimes over 20 years. They need a good sized tank, around 6 feet, preferably more, to live comfortably. With space provided, these fish are very simple to care for, though.
Dojo Loaches also called weather loaches, come in a golden variety
Dojo loaches are like kuhli loaches in general appearence, main difference being that they get 4 times larger than kuhli loaches, making out around a foot long.
They're also a more sub tropical fish, prefering much colder water than the average freshwater community. Like many loaches, they've very social and will not show heir true colors without a significant sized group of at least 5.
They're expert escape artists, and will jump the tank at any opportunity if given a reason. These fish tend to become very erratic in swimming patterns and activity before an incoming storm, hence the name "weather loach" but during this time, they're more susceptible to jumping the tank, which could lead to sickness or death.
Kuhli loaches show the same interesting behavior and are less prone to jumping the tank, as well as much smaller, and will work well in a common tropical community, and are a much better option.
Clown Loach
Clown loaches are gorgeous inside and out, very playful and sport wonderful colors similar to that of a tiger barb. Unfortunately, these fish get huge, around a foot and a half full grown. While they grow very slowly, a large tank is needed for a group of these.
Clown loaches are very social ad hierarchical, and will not fair well alone in a small group. They should be kept in groups of at least 10, preferably more, which calls for tanks of monstrous proportions. Since these fish are often wild caught, they should be kept in a group of as many as possible, many clown loach enthusiasts keep as many as 30 in a group.
Clown loaches are highly susceptible to ich when kept improperly or in bad water conditions, and treating it when they get it is tough, as they are very sensitive to medications and salt.
More may come soon
-onidrase
Elephant noses are a pain in the ass in general, they're fickle about eating, easy to pick on, nearly blind very nervous, prone to jumping, and overall just do best in a species only heavily planted setup.
German rams, can be nasty indeed. In my bro's tank, the ram is the dominant fish. It attacks anything near what it considers to be its food. The angelfish are large sized and this little inch and a half fish chases them away effortlessly.
I've never had any issues with them eating other fish, but I've never mixed them with small fish before. Just wide bodied medium sized tetras and docile medium sized cichlids.