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Tips
for Choosing Fresh Water Fish That Will Get Along
(and Avoid Buying Fish That Will Prey on
Each Other)
The compatibility
of the fish and the water requirements will determine which of these groups
can safely be housed together. Here are some shortcuts to finding out
which fish can live together.
Community
Dwarf, chuna, sparkling, croaking, sometimes pearl gourami. White clouds,
rasboras, tetras, dwarf cichlids, are most peaceful.
Large Community
Adult tetras, angels, blue, gold pearl, giant gouramies, danios, bala
sharks, rainbows, (except barbs and angels together, avoid long fins with
barbs).
Livebearer - Higher
pH, Alkaline Water
Most require some extra rock salt, a TABLESPOON per 5 gal min. Mollies
tend to pick at stationary fish like flounders or frogs, so beware. Good
combos, are rainbows, loaches, (with minimal salt), most gouramies, Lg.
tetras, i.e. (Congo), etc.
Goldfish - Neutral
to 7.5 pH
Need more plant protein than meat. Too much high protein can cause liver
damage as fish gets older, Goldfish have no stomach, but just one big
long intestine and need to snack all day. That's why they need live plants
in the tank to munch on, or algae supplements. Preventing problems with
the swim bladder caused by the wrong diet is much easier than trying to
treat it. It usually causes permanent damage. They produce more slime
and mess than tropicals and are best with same swimming type, i.e., no
comets with bubble eyes; the normal type will outmaneuver the mutants
and grow much faster. Sometimes smaller ones will chew the fins off a
larger, slow moving fantail. Dojos are good companions as they can handle
cool water. If the tank is kept heated at least 70 degrees, plecos are
okay. A dwarf is best. Big ones will suck the slime off of goldfish. Chinese
algae eaters will suck on any fish that will stand still for it. Snails
are okay for algae, but are very sensitive to fluoride. Aged water is
best.
South American
Cichlids - 6 to 7.2 pH Soft Water
Dwarfs are okay in some tanks, the rest have varying degrees of aggressiveness.
We can't guarantee that one fish won't kill another, it happens when you
least expect it, so tell them to watch for signs. A fish that suddenly
hangs out at the surface in the corner is asking to be rescued from a
bully. The stress from a bully will be enough to cause death, or at least
illness. But generally, the size of the tank is the determining factor
of aggressiveness. Nothing will get along with a jack Dempsey in a 20
gallon tank if it is already 4 inches long, in most cases, anyway!
African Cichlids
- 7 to 8.2 pH African Cichlid Salts
Most are raised or held in water similar to ours, so acclimation is not
a problem. If you have an established African tank with salt and a high
pH, be sure to acclimate the fish for at least an hour. Add a little water
every few minutes, not just an hour in the bag. Rearranging the tank is
a must for new fish. Watch for signs of severe bullying; we cannot promise
that fish won't be killed, so make sure to keep an eye on the tank. African
Cichlids are generally very aggressive and territorial
Brackish - 7 to
8 pH, Marine or Rock Salt
Some, like monos, can actually be acclimated to saltwater. Most are very
adaptable, but require at least 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons. One tablespoon
per gallon is real brackish, 1.010. Most fish are comfortable anywhere
in between. Most are nippy, puffers especially. Monos and scats do best
singly or in groups. Watch for adult size, most grow quite large.
Food
Dry food works fine but most fish benefit from being fed a mix of foods.
Remember, the goal is to help your fish thrive in their new home.
You’ll find
everything you need in our on-line store or stop
into our Issaquah, Washington store.
Next, follow these
Ten Easy Steps to Successful Freshwater Aquarium
Installation to get your tank setup and ready for fish
.[Ten
Easy Steps to a Successful Aquarium Installation] [Tips
for Adding Fish to Your New Aquarium]
[New Tank Water Change Schedule]
[Getting Started Checklist]
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