what type of fish?

Question

i have just got a fish tank and was woundering what types of fish are the best and if its ok for me to vary the fish or will they like eat each other and what is the best thing to keep the tank clean and not get algee.

Answer 1

Without knowing the size of your tank, it's hard to tell you what would be good to put in it. Some fish look great in the store, but could quickly outgrow your tank. Find a reputable pet store, tell them the size of your tank, and talk to them about what you want. Something hardy would be best to start, something that didn't need live food, or special requirements. Danios, platys,mollies, and barbs are all good starters. Barbs and danios are schooling fish and need to be in groups of three or more, so if you have a very small tank, you may opt out on those. Mollies and platys are live bearers, so if you get a female and a male, you will probably end up with babies. ( Also, male mollies CAN become extremely Territorial and aggressive! I have seen it happen and have heard others stories about this too. )
Just find out the most you can about the different types of fish...will they all get along...will they all stay small..will they all eat primarily the same food..do they require the same type of care.
As for your algae..I wouldn't recommend a pleco unless you get a dwarf variety or your tank is big, as these can get really big. Chinese algae eaters stay fairly small, but can get a little aggressive when they are grown. An algae scraper is the best, IMO, you can get the algae off quick, with just a little effort. :-)

Answer 2

The information you are asking would fill a book. That said, it's best you buy a beginners book before you buy any fish. The tank needs planning. You can't just add water and plop fish in it. Do it right. Buy the book first. Read it. Then plan your aquarium.

Answer 3

To start with, keep a pair of goldfish. Note the fish may die initially and you need some experience, then all will be OK.

Once you are sure you can maintain it, try to keep a variety of community fish. (avoid barbs and chichlids-but angelfish is ok) There must be difference in colour and also the area of the aquarium they occupy. Example catfish occupy the bottom of the tank, angelfish the middle and gyppies the upper portion.

Use a scrubber with a handle to clean the tank of algae. Excessive light or direct sunlight causes algae.

Answer 4

Go to the pet store and ask the salesperson or read the fish tanks yourself. Most pet stores have the tanks marked as what kind of fish are community fish and what kind are semi-aggressive or aggressive. You don't want to put an aggressive fish in with a tank full of little community fish or he will eat all of them and waste all your money. Decide what kind of fish you want and get all of the same type i.e. community or aggressive.

Answer 5

I have found in my own tank, I have angel fish, bailiff sharks, algee eater, a snail, goldfish, but watch with the gold fish you don't get to many they make the tank get dirty fast, with all the waste they let off, neon's and terra's! Usually if you go to a pet store they will tell you what can be mixed together!

Answer 6

Go to Petsmart or Petco and look for fish that usually don't have problems with sharing territory. Some will eat others, so be careful. As for the algae either get the bacteria system running in it, or get a catfish or a shrimp.

Answer 7

An algae eater: Pictures included. See source.

Answer 8

A suckerfish will eat the algea but whatever you do dont get fish from walmart. They die quickly.

Answer 9

it is always better to start off with goldfish or guppies for practice then you can upgrade ..