some new questions...

[Gelo_USA]

ok I have some questions to ask again....

first.... I was thinking about adding 2 red tail sharks to my tank.. do u guys think I would have any problems?? I have 3 black tetras 4 tiger barbs one marbled angel 2 cory cats and 3 platys wich I will probably return to the petshop anyways....

second.... I have a fake wood log tht was used on my hamsters tank for about 3 years... it died some time ago and I dnt want to get a new one so I washed the log and then boiled it... it got rid of the smell do u guys think its safe to have it in the tank??

third.... I m thinking about getting a pair of convict cichlids... is a 20 gallon tank enough for only both of them and maybe a catfish or 2 small catfish????

[Drumachine09]

I would say no to the red tails. They need 25-30 gallons a piece, not because they get big (they stay relatively small), but because they are extremely territorial. What size tank do you have again? is it 40?

[Gelo_USA]

yea its a 40g... thts what I was thinking... because they are a little agressive so I was concerned.... I want to add some more fish but I have no ideia what to add... and I liked the red tails but I guess not for this time then.. I saw some black sharks too but they get up to a foot so I already gave up on them too...

[Drumachine09]

What is it about the sharks that you like? Maybe i could suggest another fish? You could TRY the redtailed pair. if they are agressive, ship one off back to the LFS.

[Gelo_USA]

if I add only one u think I have a better chance at it?
I dnt knw I just like them... LOL
I wanted to get some green tiger barbs bt I cnt seem to find them around here...

[gm72]

The red tails as well as the rainbow shark will do best either alone or in a larger group, which would of course necessitate a much larger tank.

[Drumachine09]

Yea i understand. You would be much better off with just one, but you could give to a try. Just try to buy them when they are young, and introduce them at the same time, so they can stake out separate territories.

[gm72]

You could try that, but be ready to add another tank if they don't get along. Not sure that a 40 is large enough for two of them to have stable territories, they can get 6-8 inches or so.

[Drumachine09]

You could try that, but be ready to add another tank if they don't get along. Not sure that a 40 is large enough for two of them to have stable territories, they can get 6-8 inches or so.
Noooo. They only get 5-5.5 in the wild, and i have never seen one in a tank over 3.5 inches. The territories are usually small. One of the many sharks that i have had just chose a decoration, like a cave, where they could hide in that was their territory.

I dont even know why them call them sharks. After all, arent they a member of the minnow family?

[Gelo_USA]

I guess I will give it a try this weekend... I will get the smallest I can.... and let u guys knw how it went

what about the other 2 questions? in case u guys didnt read it

"second.... I have a fake wood log tht was used on my hamsters tank for about 3 years... it died some time ago and I dnt want to get a new one so I washed the log and then boiled it... it got rid of the smell do u guys think its safe to have it in the tank??

third.... I m thinking about getting a pair of convict cichlids... is a 20 gallon tank enough for only both of them and maybe a catfish or 2 small catfish????"

[Drumachine09]

I guess I will give it a try this weekend... I will get the smallest I can.... and let u guys knw how it went

what about the other 2 questions? in case u guys didnt read it

"second.... I have a fake wood log tht was used on my hamsters tank for about 3 years... it died some time ago and I dnt want to get a new one so I washed the log and then boiled it... it got rid of the smell do u guys think its safe to have it in the tank??

third.... I m thinking about getting a pair of convict cichlids... is a 20 gallon tank enough for only both of them and maybe a catfish or 2 small catfish????"


Id boil the wood once more, just to be sure. As for convicts, i dont know, sorry.:4:

[Glasstapper]

Convicts would be ok in a 20 gallon (20 gallon long is even better), but no other fish would be able to go in with them. They are sometimes kept with big and aggressive cichlids because they are quite aggressive, as well. You could TRY a pleco (a small one-not the common pleco) and see how it goes, but generally, a pair of cichlids will attack anything that goes in their tank, including your hand (no worries, it doesn't hurt).

What would be awesome and very fun for you would be to get a male convict, and a female convict. The males grow that nice hump on their forehead, and the femal is quite beautiful with her colorful belly. They are extremely hardy and make excellent parents. They will breed without any interference from you, and when the babies get big enough, you could just take out the babies and sell them or give them away or whatever. Also, you would get to see their breeding and parenting behavior, which is quite fascinating.

Happy hunting! :)

[Gelo_USA]

yeaa thts exaclty what I had in mind....
only the two convicts and maybe a pleco or other bottom fish just to help keep the tank clean....
and I wanted to have a female and a male but I also had another question...
I need to make sure they r not from the same "family" right? so they wont breed with a brother or sister cause tht can cause the babies to have defects right? or tht doenst affect fish?
and yea I will probably get a 20 long...