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here are some of my advice that havent been mentioned already in this post.

- take another look at your fish b4 taking it from the lfs. sometimes there are problems with the fish that you don't see at first. the clerks at the stores sometime even accidentaly injure ur fish.
- dont fuss with your tanks water to much.
- dont freak out when something goes wrong/bad.

Mine is on this thread ...

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Getting%20Started/52770.html?200501100809

Should keep most newcomers in bedtime reading for a month

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

dont compromise on cheaper equipment or under rated stuff for your tank size. If needed, wait for some time, save a few bugs and go for the right equipment.
last advise.. ask questions if you dont know something

Also clean your nets after every use. Many a time i have been caught with only a dirty net to use and it can be costly Clean your nets.

Again, research, research, research. go to your local fish store and see what you like. Don't Buy!!!!! Come home and start researching those fish. Ask in the forums about them, read the profiles, Search them out on the net.

Remember, there are all sorts of opinions out there, get a consensus and listen to what people are saying.



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If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Here's some:
Don't think that getting your new tank up and running is a one time shot, it DOES take a lot of work to keep it running well

Weekly water changes and gravel vacuuming are essential to a healthy tank.
Test the water, every day or so at first to get a feel for your water conditions and to learn what your nitrogen cycle is doing.
Remember that fish and plants need light, but not 24/7. Too much may cause an algae bloom.
Watch and enjoy your fish, that's why your getting them.
If you get livebearers, BE PREPARED FOR BABIES.

Be SURE that you put your tank where you want it and then DON'T move it. Make sure the stand (or whatever you will rest the tank on) will support the weight. Remember that water weighs just over 8 pounds per gallon, so a 10 gallon tank will weigh about 80 lbs. plus rocks, gravel, etc. They're HEAVY.

Oh, and remember that your fish are depending on you to provide them a safe and healthy home.

Don't forget to let your tank CYCLE!!!

If someone comes up to you in Wal-Mart or other type of store, and tries to give you advise, listen to them, don't just complain that they are nosy and idiots. (especially when they are trying to tell you not to put 5 "small" goldfish in a 1 gallon bowl)

Get a book to help you...one of my craziest favorites is Aquariums for Dummies Yes, it's crazy but it does have some basic stuff you can use, and need to know. I still refer back to mine *goes off to find it again*

And last but not least:

Don't be afraid to ask questions!!! The only stupid question is one that YOU don't ask

And have fun!!!

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

One thing I learned is that some adults still tap the glass.

One would think that they grow out of this - unfortunately not. <wish frowns>

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

I have a good one even though i been in fish keeping for a few months now.......

Gravel shouldnt be more than 1 1/2 inches high. Alot of thing not good for your fish stays in there and can be harmful after awhile so try not to put to much in there. If you have a good filter you really dont need alot of gravel.

...and on the same theme, have patience!

Let everything settle in for a while before changing things again. Don't constantly mess with your tank, just spend time watching it and getting to know your fish. Once you know what's 'normal' for your fish, you'll be able to spot potential problems much faster.

Hi friends, with christmas coming up we may have some newbies asking for tanks for Chrissy or researching it.

If you could give some kind advice to newbies what would it be?



I will start with a few;


The filter stays on 24 hours, don't switch it off at night. It should work to make your tank clean sparkle 24/7.



The light should be switched off at night so your fish can get some shut eye, not literally, they have no eyelids but they do sleep/rest.



Give plants a go but don't feel a failure if they fail to thrive at first, they are tricky.



That snail that appeared out of nowhere probably came on your plants.


now your turn ....



Last edited by wish-ga at 28-Nov-2004 21:19

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Thanks to everyone for posting here. Rasco extra kudos for your way kewl post. Great stuff.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

DO NOT IMPULSE BUY!!! Yes that fish is pretty, yes it is very active, no it may not fit in fine your tank.

Bigger is better Yes the 10 gallon is cheaper, but the 20 gallon will be better for a beginner, or even better yet, the 30 gallon (my personal best choice for a beginner). If you have never kept fish before, do NOT get those mini-bows. They are really harder than you think.

Do NOT overfeed Just because they act hungry, doesn't mean they really are. In the wild, fish don't eat food everyday, so they have a natural instinct to eat as much as they can when the opportunity arises, because this meal might be the last one for a while.

Clean your tank often I don't mean a 30 minute cleaning every day, I mean a 10 to 30 minutes cleaning every week or every other week. Numerous small cleanings are easier than doing LARGE cleanings less often. Plus its good for your fish.

RESEARCH I know its been said, but this is the most important thing to do. Just because its a little fish in the store, doesn't mean it stays little. Example, pacus, plecos, oscar, ARROWANA!!

Don't be afraid to ask questions What you might think is a stupid question, may be the most complex or important question there is. I work at a fish store, and I feel more comfortable selling a fish to someone who asks questions than someone who doesn't.

GET SECOND OPINIONS Sometimes someone may give you the wrong advice. When I do research for a fish the I don't know anything about, I go to multiple web sites. While fish profiles is my homepage, I don't entirely rely on it for all my information.

Make Mistakes Don't worry about this one, you will on your own, so don't try to make mistakes Everyone does. I bet when Amano, Wattley, Goldstein, and Axelrod first started keeping fish, they killed some. We all do. Sometimes its our fault, sometimes it isn't.

Have Fun Keeping fish is easy if you do it right. If you are pulling your hair out because of your fish, something is wrong (remember, this is for beginners, experts may be pulling your hair out for different reasons ). You got your fish tank to enjoy your fish, so do so.

Okay, first of all I think the 'Chinese Aglea eaters are not your friends' is more of a opinion then a fact. I have had one for quite some time and he is my BESTES friend (LoL...just kidding)

And actually, you can add all you fish at once IF you fishless cycle your tank. If you cycle with fish though, its a good idea to add 2-3 every 1 or 2 weeks.

I do agree with the NO PLECOS IN A 10 GALLON because my friend has one that is HUGE, like MONSTER HUGE so personaly I would not put one in a tank under 75 gallons. If its in the 10 gallon temp. while your setting up your other tank or something then it will be fine.

-don't put a common pleco in a 10 gallon tank
-chinese algea eaters are not your friends
-don't forget gravel vacs
-remember filters need "cleaned" every once in a while too
-don't put all your fish in at once
-if your fish do seem sick, find out the problem before dosing them with every kind of medication under the sun
-remember, EVERYONE makes mistakes when trying to start up a fish tank for the first time

How about;

Listen to the advice of others but don't get too freaked out if you are doing something different and your fish are thriving.

Also;

Take with a grain of salt some overzealous advice that could alarm you. People are only trying to help but sometimes they hit the panic button (happens on faceless mediums like forums )

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Wow I was just thinking of this the other day :%).

emmm simple

RESEARCH

Which of course isn't likely to happen...so the best thing we can do is be brushed up on everything and ready for the posts when they come.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

Most any new tank you buy will come with a book explaining such things as
1)How to set up your tank
2) How to properly care for your fish
3) and even the nitrogen cycle
IF your new to fish keeping this book READ IT! Don't just throw it to the side and assume you all ready know everything you need to know.

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 28-Nov-2004 22:32

i have a few

goldfish do not belong in fishbowls.

proper maintenance of a tank is important so be sure to do weekly changes of 20%.

try not to overfeed your fish, generally speaking they should be able to eat all the food in 3 minutes.

buy your fish from a respectable store, more then likely if you buy a fish from say "wal-mart" it has a high chance of being ick ridden or something to that extent.

another tip about buying fish tanks is to not buy the "value packs" in a box that says it has everything you need because its not really a better deal they just give you very basic stuff that usually isn't good enough to maintain a problem free tank.

i'm sure i can think of more as others post as well

good luck to anyone trying to get into the fish hobby but be warned it could be expensive and/or addicting

Test Kits are important

Dont buy all those chemicals for ph, kh, etc that the LFS guy is try to sell you. Instead pick fish that match your local water chemistry.

Research any fish before buying.

Avoid "Assorted Chichlid" tanks, unless you know exactly what your getting.

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.