Yet another noob needs help... fish identification...

[Mara_bird]

Hi guys. New here, only somewhat new to the whole aquarium business.

I've got a brand new 20 gallon with an orange and black Ranchu[Groucho], 2 Balloon Mollies one of which is VERY prego[Ricky(solid white with huge dorsal fin) and Lucy(light orange)], one Black Moor[Rorschach],one apple snail[noname] and here's the mystery.... one bottom feeding, glass sucking little rascal who's species I CAN'T for the life of me remember:hmm3grin2orange: ...[Nibbler]

I got him a petsupermarket... they only had a few types of bottom-feeders...
Not a pleco, Not a type of catfish[cory, spotted...]

he feeds like a pleco[sucky flat mouth on the bottom], he's small and wont get very big at all the guy said, he has a black stripe from head to tail and a spot at the base of his tailfin, he's a fairly quick mover and he also has very tiny eyes, lol. Any Ideas guys?

[fins_n_fur]

An oto? Otocinclus Affinis? Try here for a picture: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Mara_bird]

pretty close, I think. I just found it though, he's deffinately an oto cat.

funny, I didn't know he was a type of catfish. doesn't really look like it.
Kinda mad also cause the guy at the pet store sold me the WRONG type of fish.

I wanted a fish who was gonna clean up left over food, not one I was gonna have to get special food for. so much for people who are suposed to know what they're doing, guess the lesson her is, do your research... >.<

[Lab_Rat]

Otos are quite sensitive fish and do best in groups in a well established tank so they have algae to eat. How long has your tank been set up/is it cycled? If it's not been set up for long you probably want to return the little guy as they are sensitive and can starve to death if there is not enough algae.

As far as the leftover food thing, simply feeding less is the best way to deal with that issue.

[Lolita]

Did I read correctly that you have 3 goldfish in there with tropicals?

It's not wise to mix tropicals and goldfish in one tank. They have extremely different needs--plus 20 gallons is far too small for that many goldfish.

If I were you I'd return them and get some other tropical fish.

[Wild Turkey]

I agree that the black moor has to go back or you need a much larger tank. He can grow to the size of a football. Most Goldfish are fine with a variety of temps including 78 though. I dont see a problem with 2 mollies + 1 gf of appropriate type in a 20

Otos can be real hit or miss. Generally as mentioned above they do better in groups and planted tanks

[Mara_bird]

Did I read correctly that you have 3 goldfish in there with tropicals?

It's not wise to mix tropicals and goldfish in one tank. They have extremely different needs--plus 20 gallons is far too small for that many goldfish.

If I were you I'd return them and get some other tropical fish.

NO, 2 goldfish[1 moor and 1 ranchu], which require 8 gallons per fish, two balloon mollies wish require about a gallon and a half per fish and one oto which requires one gallon. I did my research and math.


and though goldfish like cool temps and tropicals like warmer temps the temps overlap in the middle. In fact Ranchus like warmer temps than most goldfish. up to 85 degrees f. Many are exported from Thailand and their water it rarely in the 70's. In fact in Phuket the water NEVER drops below 68 degrees f.

I keep my tank well aerated for the goldies with require more oxygen than other fish and well lit to encourage algae growth for the Oto and mollies[which also like algae]. and I'm growing Algae in a 1 gallon to supplement.

So far All's well. getting along wonderfully, the Male Molly has actually taken to the Ranchu and they swim together almost as much as the male molly swims with the female.

[Mara_bird]

the black moor isn't going anywhere, he's not the one I bought recently.
I rescued him from a friend who had him in a one gallon, where he contracted a fungus I had to battle to get rid of.

he's the 2nd moor I've keep. I know them well and it's rare and takes a LONG time for them to get that large except when keep in a pond. the average adult length is 4 inches.

the other guys are new and I'm gonna keep them, if need be Petsupermarket has some 55 gals on sale for $99. But they're doing great right now. my female molly is even pregnant. not sure if the fry are gonna be her color my male's color or one of the other colors because there were a lot of beautifully colored males in in the tank with them at the store.

[Lady Hobbs]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

There isn't a goldfish anywhere that would be happy in 8 gallons of water.

[Wild Turkey]

I think you should take some of your own advice and research those fish and what they need.

The requirements you listed for those fish, are completely wrong, and i dont use that word very often. No fish is okay with half a gallon, and goldfish need 20 gallons for the first goldfish, and ten gallons after (without considering a black moor is a large type and needs more than 20 gallons)

The fish arent growing because they arent in a big enough environment.
Fish do not grow to their environment, rather they're growth becomes stunted due to being housed in a small tank.

The size you think a fish will grow in a poind, is its max size and it will grow that large with the right size tank, good diet, and good water quality.

[Mara_bird]

I HAVE researched and found that goldfish need at least a 10 gallon tank but if they're in a larger tank they need at least 8 gallons to themselves. and was told that a good rule of thumb is a gallon of water for every inch of the adult size fish[for fish with normal levels of bio-waste.]

in high school I kept a moor, a feeder goldfish and a freshwater mussel in a five gallon for 3 years, and the moor grew to be average breed size[4'']. they were happy, healthy, friendly fish. Their downfall was my uneducated Mother, who, while I was living out of state, put a goldfish from the fair in with them in their new ten gallon, they all contracted Viral Sepsis and EVERYTHING in the tank died, starting with the contaminated fair fish. All the snails, the mussel, everything. by the time the LFS got back to her about what they had, they were dead.





AND BTW,
I NEVER said a half a gallon, so before you go getting all snippy you should RE-READ. Thanks.

I also never said that my fish weren't growing. My mollies are fully grown adults as is my oto cat, the moor has grown since I've had him and is considerably better health than before. the ranchu I've only had for about a week so it's hard to tell if he's growing but he's sure eating and swimming up a storm. And as far as I've heard mollies wont reproduce if conditions aren't idea and mine are. so where the problem here?


I really didn't ask for any of this advice, all I wanted to know was what type of fish my oto is, and I figured it out myself.

[octoxpuss]

I hate to jump in on this thread but i feel like it is getting a little out of control. Now listen, an inch per gallon of water is like an in per square feet of house. Hmm no if ur a 24 in and you are in a house of 24 sq. feet. i am sure u would feel cramped. U did not figure that out BY URSELF EITHER. Research on the AC Articles and then u will be on the right path my friend. But as for the attitude, i am pretty sure u r the snippy one, because u hate getting told NO. Ugh i have a cousin right like this. I know u feel as tho u r getting attacked but that is because it is over the internet and u can read the words in any tone of voice u like. So maybe u should RE-READ everything becasue apparently u took it the wrong way. And if u dont like the advice then leave the thread alone. God.

[fins_n_fur]

Time to close this one, I think...it's just ready to head in the wrong direction.