Fish to avoid as a newbie

Discussion in 'Beginner Discussions' started by Henk Hugo, Oct 30, 2008.

  1. GaryG

    GaryG Fishohollic

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2013
    Messages:
    1,078
    Likes Received:
    914
    Location:
    Brits North west province
    I would like to add Hillstream loaches, only because of their requirements- highly aerated water, lower water temp etc.
    They're often sold as algae eaters for community tanks and don't survive long, labled borneo sucker or butterfly pleco.

    Had to learn the hard way:mad:!
     
    Ladysphinx likes this.
  2. Guest




  3. Razaaq

    Razaaq

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2015
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Skunk loaches, they are reasonably cheap and look interesting, but stay away please. Hides most of the time, but when it comes out it attacks all the other fish, ripping their fins to shreds and kills others, in particular your harmless catfish. Also these fish are not afraid of the bigger fish. Not advisable for a community tank.
     
    ancistrus and JHB_Aquarist like this.
  4. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    Messages:
    13,276
    Likes Received:
    3,688
    Location:
    UK
    I may have said it before.

    As long as beginners are given plenty of correct info, even a lot of the fish mentioned on this thread can be suuccessfully kept
     
    Innocent159 and Ladysphinx like this.
  5. Razaaq

    Razaaq

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2015
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Cape Town
    True @Reedfish, I'm still very much a novice, and I have successfully managed to keep German Blue rams in a community tank, even though many people said they are really difficult to keep and rather fussy.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  6. Caz

    Caz

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2015
    Messages:
    417
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Noordheuwel, Mogale City
    +1 @Reedfish, I also find that information is key in keeping any type of fish.
     
  7. Charine

    Charine

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    7
    Location:
    Vredendal
    I believe you can keep any fish, no matter how difficult they may be, if you READ UP on the fish before you purchase. WHich is something even experienced aquarists should do. You need to know their basic care, ideal water conditions, how aggressive they may be and how large they will get. I think a common problem is that your lfs will not advise you on the fish you are purchasing if you don't ask, and from my experience they will then probably give terrible advice. Most people who buy a new tank just pick pretty fish and take them home which can be a problem because with most species the males will be colourful and the females won't, leaving people buying many males while some may be very incompatible if you have more than one, gouramis for example, it is better to have one male to two females. You can keep them in that ratio and they will be fine depending on the tank size but buying two males could end up with one being dead.
     
    Lowflyer7 likes this.
  8. Titanreaper

    Titanreaper

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    KOSH area in the North West Province
  9. RobK

    RobK

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2018
    Messages:
    327
    Likes Received:
    76
    Location:
    PMB
    I was sold one of these at the LFS as a community fish to help with a snail problem in my guppie tank. He was removed the very next day into my Tilapia tank because he was shredding the guppies tails. He is happy in the new tank and even come out to speak to me when I'm throwing in some snails for him, but won't get another one.
     
  10. Deone

    Deone

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Pretoria
    I agree 100% with the elephant noses being on that list. While they are very beautiful and unique, they are easily stressed and need lots of space to hide. They are slow fish meaning that they are best kept in a tank on their own, other fish might nip their fins. I had 5 elephant noses that all died in a short time, despite the research I did before the time. But its definitely a fish to google!
     
  11. A new day

    A new day Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2019
    Messages:
    6,987
    Likes Received:
    5,958
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Fun and informative video “Can you guess what’s wrong with these aquariums?” by Prime Time Aquatics. 3 case studies looking at stocking choices, equipment etc.

     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Fish avoid newbie Forum Date
warning signs of when to avoid buying fish from a lfs General Discussions Aug 17, 2017
Freebie: Gold Fish looking for a Loving New Home Wanted/Swop/Freebies Nov 26, 2024
Wanted: Looking for local killi fish breeders Wanted/Swop/Freebies Oct 29, 2024
Fish Suggestions for tank fish please Species Tanks Oct 3, 2024
Wanted: Killifish Cape Town Wanted/Swop/Freebies Sep 11, 2024
Wanted: Planted Fish Tank Required Wanted/Swop/Freebies Sep 11, 2024
Wanted: Community fish and moss required Wanted/Swop/Freebies Aug 14, 2024

Share This Page