Fish to avoid as a newbie

My trusty LPS which shall remain anonymous received a batch of bala sharks and found among them a adult Wrestling Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla). It is now a store pet, hidden in a refugium of one of their sumps... ;-)

That being said, I don't see that species on the BL, yet I've heard that it's on there? Is it perhaps under another genus?

 

elephant nose

what do elephant noses eat. Lfs says flakes and tetra bits but ive never seen mine eat till dies after medicating tank...

 

from what I have read they prefer live and frozen worms and will only rarely convert to flakes and pellets.

 

@disco... they like meaty foods... bloodworm,eartworm etc... However,medications and Ellies dont mix well - suspect that your problem lay there... READ all medication labels before dosing in tanks containing Mormyrids,and loaches...

 

This was realy helpfull! thanks

 

Tiger shovel nose catfish - eats anything and everything also becomes HUGE! Rumer has it there is an 8ft one in Harties.

Plecos - just google their adult size, absolutely shocking.

Clown knife fish - isn't that bad, I have one for over 3 yrs they do have a nice personality but they get big...

Puffers - good at removing snails, great at removing silicon!! result is a leaking tank........

 

I had some of these fish when i started... lucky did not run into any problems.

 

Other fish that I don't recommend for a community aquarium :

Black/Albino Widows - Fin Nippers
Tiger Barbs - Fin Nippers and Bullies
Penguin Fish - Fin Nippers
Black & Red Phantom Tetras - Fin Nippers
Flame Tetras - Fin Nippers
Serpae Tetras - Fin Nippers
Red Eye Tetras - Fin Nippers and Bullies
Silver-tipped Tetras - Fin Nippers and Bullies
Any Synodontis (Upside down catfish) - They get too large for a regular aquarium
Most Cichlids - Species tanks only (except the Ram and Kribensis, they do ok in a community aquarium)
Angels - Get too big
Discus - Finicky and Get Large
Swords - Fin Nippers (My beautiful yellow delta guppy has a shredded tail from them)
Killifish - Finicky
Most Loaches - Aggressive, Bullies and tend to get too large for most aquariums (except the Coolie/Kuhli Loaches & Horse-Faced Loach)
Archer Fish - Get too big
Elephant Nose - Finicky and can be territorial - Special diet needed
Down Poker - Finicky and can be territorial - Special diet needed
Butterfly Fish - Special diet needed (I love them though)
Mono Angels - Can be Agressive and are Brack water fish
Scats - Brack water fish
Bumble Bee Gobies - Finicky, special diet needed and they are also brack water fish
Mud Skippers - Species Tank Only, Territorial!
Eels - Get too big for a community tank
Red Tailed Cat Fish - Get too big and agressive for a community tank
Knife Fish - Get too big for a community tank
Plecos - Most get too large to keep in a community tank.
"Algae Eaters" - Get big and become aggressive and damage the sides and such of other fish.
Cigar Sharks - Get too big to live in a community aquarium.
Torpedo Barbs - Get too big and boisterous(SP?) for a community tank.

These are some of the fish that I can think of off hand. Please note that some of these I've had personal experience with, but others have had no problems with them.

Just my 2c worth...
Kim

 

If I can throw my own thoughts on your list there, Skye:

The tetras:
A lot of these species are indeed known for some fin-nipping habits; however, I've found that this can be curbed by keeping them in large enough schools. I've found that small groups can be a problem, but larger groups keep to themselves.

Synodontis (Upside down catfish)
Not all get large, and this is a large and varied group. The 'regular' upside down cat, Synodontis nigriventris, remains quite small and is peaceful, and perfectly suited to a community tank. The same applies to quite a few others. Even some of the larger ones fit nicely into some community tanks.

Most Cichlids
This is a bit of a broad statement - cichlids are a massive and varied group! I'd say there are almost as many community-friendly cichlids as those that aren't.

Angels
Only a threat to very small fish - fish the size and shape of a neon, or smaller, are at risk. Easily worked around. Real problems arise when they get to breeding, where they can get a little territorial.

Most Loaches
Also quite general... there are some very nice loaches for the community aquarium! It's a few that ruin the name of loaches for this great group.

Regards

 

@SalmonAfrica What species of loaches will do well in a 30L community aquarium?

 

You need to find the smallest loach you can. Most probably a Khuli Loach... But 30L is tiny for a loach. I'd say smallest tank for Loaches is a 90cm tank. They are naturally schooling and social fish, and do best in bigger groups.

 

@SalmonAfrica, @Reedfish, Thanks for the imput...

The fish that I have listed are fish that are not recommended for newbies.

I agree that most Tetras are best if kept in a group, but how many times have you been to a LFS where they have actually told you that info....? A small shoal in my mind is about 5/6, but the quantity that I think need to be kept with these particular types is anything from 10 upwards? Not too many beginners are interested in having so many of 1 type of fish, or am I wrong.

Cichlids... The main types that are available from LFS are the ones meant more for species tanks, and the ones that I have seen that are great for community set ups are few and far between, unless you have a LFS that specialises in the more unique types of fish, or am I wrong.

Plecs... Another one that I agree there are some awesome smaller species available, but again how many LFS bring in anything other than the "common Plec"? These are just some fish that I'm not recommending for the beginner, because I'm sure most of us have already been down this street and found that it fairly rapidly outgrew our tanks?

Butterflies, yes they are awesome fish, and I love owning them, but again for a beginner, the specialised diet to start off with is more than a beginner knows about and I feel that a lot of these fish die due to ignorance...

Angels... Another fish that is sold in LFS without the sales people telling the new owner just how big they can get, so they land up putting a very cute baby angel into the wrong sized tank and when they grow in size the owner has no idea... Or am I wrong on this subject.

Loaches... Another one where there is just too little info supplied to the buyer by the LFS. Some, like the clown are all too cute when little, but as time passes they grow to huge sizes and the owner has no idea what to do with them... The other thing with the clown is that they need to be kept in a "shoal" which is also not told to the unknowing buyer. Other loaches are also very belligerent by way of the yo-yo and such, that the owners don't know what to do with them when they become a problem or when small fish start disappearing.

Guys I'm not fighting or causing a nonsense, but don't forget the title of this stream, these are mostly fish that I have picked up problems with and would only recommend them for a more advanced fish keeper who can better understand their needs.:worried:

Sorry but this is only my 2c worth... A moderator may remove this if they feel it is inappropriate, but I'm just trying to help out...:dontknow:

 

I agree with Silver Dollars. They are very hardy, eats normal flakes, get big (I don't think that's a con), but they much up all the plants and are fugly.

Are clown loaches easy for a newbie? I had one some time but dies quick. My dad had one for years...
And how about Cory's? They look nice and very a active. Do they get big or die easily?
Pearl Gourami's? They are beautiful and would like some. Do they get aggressive?

Which fish are the easiest to breed, except live-bearers like Platy's and Guppies?

 

@Razer2007

Clown loaches can be a nice fish, but need good conditions, otherwise they're vulnerable to disease such as white spot. They can also attain sizes of about 30cm, which isn't ideal for some beginners. Couple this with their schooling habits, and you need a lot of space.

Cories are perfect for beginners - small, attractive, hardy and usually cheap. Just keep them in schools and you'll be fine.

Pearl gouarmi males can be aggressive, both towards each other, and sometimes towards other male gouramis. However, a pair (MALE/FEMALE) is perfectly fine for a starter tank.

As for breeding, look into fish like danios. They breed regularly, scattering their eggs. Be advised, though, that they take no care of their eggs or fry, and these are at risk from being eaten by both the parents and other tank inhabitants.

 

Thanks SalmonAfrica, if I have a pair of Pearl Gourami's in a 100l tank, will they easily breed when on their own? How do they cope with a community tank, and will they breed in a comm. tank?

 

@Razer2007, the Pearl Gourami's are the most placid of all gourami's. A 45/60 L. tank will suffice as a breeding tank, for a pair.
Have some floating plants to help keep the bubble nest together. They need a planted, bare-bottom tank, for the female to hide.
Be aware though - they have 100's of eggs! That need microscopic food, when they hatch.
Very similar to Betta's.
Good luck.

 

Is the "bare bottom" tank a tank without any sand or gravel? Like just the glass?

 

yes!