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1) i was looking at fish and the lady said that the "tropical" freshwater fish at the store had to have a heater on the tank for them. and she said all the fish there are pretty much tropical... is this true? i need to buy a heater for them?

2) i was also looking at the fish, and most all of them said they required salt water... so how would i make it so they could live in my tank? just put like salt in there? lol

3) im going to set up my tank tomorrow, and the lady said i should wait a week or two until i put any fish in there, and pretty much if i puit any in there soon theyd prretty muich die. i thought i could wait a couple of days?

2007-12-26 15:34:46 · 8 answers · asked by godworks700 4 in Pets Fish

8 answers

Your questions show that if you proceed without more information you will spend a whole bunch of money killing fish until you learn the right questions to ask. Buy a couple of good books and really study. You will save money and avoid torturing a bunch of poor fish to death.
1- Yes, almost all tropicals require a heater.
2- This question is so wrong that it really can not be answered nicely.
3- To properly cycle an aquarium takes several weeks. Please learn about this before you buy or kill some fish.

2007-12-26 15:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 2 1

1.) Yes, all tropical fish (INCLUDING BETTAS!) need a heater. They come from warm climates, and thus they're used to warmer water. Cold water will make them lethargic and weaken their immune systems, making them prone to diseases.

2.) There's a big difference between tropical fish and saltwater or marine fish. Tropical fish don't NEED salt in their water, although a little aquarium-specific salt is often used. Marine fish obviously do need salt water. There are also brackish fish, which also require a certain level of salinity. Read up on any fish you might want to buy and it will tell you what their salt requirement is.

2.) You need to cycle your tank before you put all your fish in there, or yes, they could all die. Here's a guide on cycling:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

I suggest you read that carefully, as it's very important. Cycling a tank is NOT setting up your tank and letting it run for a few weeks, since without an ammonia source, this accomplishes nothing at all.

2007-12-26 15:50:04 · answer #2 · answered by Chaos! 5 · 4 0

1) There are two sorts of freshwater fish: tropical and cold-water. To have heaters depend on where you live. If you live in areas where it is normally cold then you'll need heaters if you raise tropical fish. Tropical need temps from 70-80 and if the temperature of where you live are lower than that than get a heater. I live in the southwest so I definitely need a heater for my tropical fish in the winter but it is obsolete in summer or spring. The coldwater fishes don't need heaters because their temperature range is from 35-90 degrees. These fish include koi and goldfish. The healthy temp for these fish is from 60-70 degrees.

2) Freshwater fish can't live with salt so you must be looking at brackish or saltwater fishes. Brackish fish live with little salt mixed with freshwater and saltwater fishes need a lot of salt because they come from the ocean. Saltwater fish in general are more beautiful than freshwater but cost more because the fish are exotic and you must buy salt frequently. Don't use regular salt! Buy ocean salt.

3) You can wait several days but it would be better for a week or two. (If you want to raise the chance of your fish surviving) Waiting for the tank allows the tank to create bacteria the fish need to survive. This process is called cycling the tank. Also add conditioners to the water to de-toxify toxins from tap water.

If you need any other help, visit this site. I didn't use the site but you will find the same answers posted above from professionals.

http://www.aquariumfish.net/home.htm

2007-12-26 15:58:45 · answer #3 · answered by Hello(: 4 · 1 0

1. Most fish at stores are tropical and require a heater. Goldfish rosy reds and coi are the only off the top of my head that are cold.
2. The lady should have told you this. usually putting a small amount is sufficient. it will say on the back of any fish tank salt you find. I think its like a tablespoon though. Guess it depends on the size of the tank.
3. The reason youre supposed to wait is so the tank gets to room temp. and has time to filter out impurities that may be in the water. buying spring water is best unless you put that treatment drops into it. I'd wait a couple weeks AT LEAST.

by the way. when you get the fish home, let them float in the bag they are in, at the top of the tank for at least 30 min.

2007-12-26 15:46:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 4

1. Yes you need a heater for most tropical, the Betta is the only one that i can think of that does not need a heater other then gold fish.
2 you were not looking at the fresh water fish, a salt water tank takes a special type of salt and has a different type of Eco system.
3 it is best to wait for a week or so until your tank is stable and the p.h factors are correct, i usually wait for a month b-4 i put anything in a new tank.

2007-12-26 15:45:51 · answer #5 · answered by sheri t 1 · 0 3

there is alot of fish that will die if the water is to hot or to cold so yes you need a heater for alot of tropical fish

no go to the pet store and say you need amix made for XX gallon tank they will sell you a pre mixed gallon and no it isn't table salt but if you are looking at freshwater tropical fish why are you adding salt???

no hold off a few weeks before you put fish in a fresh new tank due to residue on items and to make sure all the equipment work properly and you get your water at the right temp for a few days you so want to hold off a few weeks

2007-12-26 16:51:58 · answer #6 · answered by rodeogirl 6 · 0 2

ok i dont u wont like this yet ur tank is a uncomplicated strategies to small, that comet goldfish is the white one that grows to twelve Inches massive, the black moore you have grows to love 6 or greater inches, you have guppies in there too? goldfish poop alot u choose stable filtration to maintain them alive and happy. the bubbles are through fact the water is kinda soapy and skummy so it makes bubbles on the appropriate. extremely u can flow to petco and get a 20 gallon or a 30 gallon tank for $20-35. Algea is by technique of the fact ur filter out isn't doing stable sufficient, u can attempt to scrub it out or get a clean one to function to the single thats in there and function 2. I even have 2 filter out working on my 100g and all my fish are happy. the stay flowers apparently like u have in there wreck aside and die and make the tank grimy, u can use a Siphon hose that u get at petco to scrub the rocks on the backside, and use a srubber to scrub the facets of the tank and enable the algea fall and clean it off. yet extremely greater suitable tank and new filtration will restore this challenge.

2016-10-20 00:46:38 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

1) Yes should. Bettas and guppies and goldfishes which i rear and suckerfishes doesn't have.
2) Aquarium salt only.
3) 1 week-2.

2007-12-26 15:47:44 · answer #8 · answered by J & E Goldfish N Guppy Aquariums 2 · 0 5

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