Is this overstocked??

[leigh]

Yah, come on, I mean what's with all the PC don't be too harsh stuff. I got flamed for adding a lawnmower blennie to my 2 month old understocked tank by a guy who said it looked "skinny" when I certainly have no problem with having enough algae to eat and my LFS guy has seen my tank in person and thinks the blennie looks great. But hey, that's a side gripe. This guy is OVERSTOCKED. Overstocked to a point where you do wonder if he's jerking our chains. Sorry bud, but you gotta take something back to your LFS or you're going to be out serious $$$ on livestock!

 

[drakken]

Originally posted by leigh
Yah, come on, I mean what's with all the PC don't be too harsh stuff.
I don't care if I get flamed. The one guy basically said "you're stupid" and offered no help. Most of the others pointed out what I did wrong so I have a chance to correct my mistakes.
Back to my mistakes...
Can I keep just the lionfish and take back the others? He's only about 3.5 inches long.

 

[leigh]

Personally if i were a lion-fish I don't think I'd be happy. But you see them in far worse at fish stores. Regardless though, if I were you, and if you're set on the lionfish, I'd suggest seeing if your LFS will hold onto it for you until your tank finishes cycling--say a month or so, then put it back in. That's not a cheap fish to potentially kill cycling...

 

[drakken]

Originally posted by leigh
Personally if i were a lion-fish I don't think I'd be happy.
Why?? Can you expand on this a little.
Thanks.

 

[leigh]

The hex setup doesn't give as much swimming space or water surface area. But this may just be my thing, I'm not a big fan of hex tanks due to the lack of surface area...I just think the oxygen exchange and everything detiorates, those fish inch per gallon rules of thumb are normally not accurate for hex tanks. What is more useful if fish inches per square inches of surface area and you get shafted on that with a hex tank. But I'm also an underbioload fan as it is...afterall, I won't keep a betta in anything less than 3 gallons My mindset is yeah, I could live in a 200 sq ft studio apartment and never go out. But would I be happy? No. Same with fish...if I'm going to take them out of the ocean I'm going to do my best to make their lives as happy as possible. Just my 2c.

 

[drakken]

Originally posted by leigh
But I'm also an underbioload fan as it is...afterall, I won't keep a betta in anything less than 3 gallons My mindset is yeah, I could live in a 200 sq ft studio apartment and never go out. But would I be happy? Just my 2c.
Ok, I see your point.
BTW, I have a Betta splendens too and he is by himself in a 10 gal standard. I also have a Lake Tanganyika tank with 8 dwarf species (biggest being no more than 2.5 inches) in a 28 bowfront.
I honestly thought that the fish I had were fine for the saltwater tank. I will take back the tang and lion and let the tank mature before doing anymore.
Thank you to those who offered good advice.

 

[leigh]

You're doing the right thing. That and at least now you have your future bigger tank planned out!

 

[spsfreak100]

I know this is a little off topic, but freshwater Betta's are naturally found in mud puddles, usually off the coast of Asia. They're naturally found in very small mud puddles, streams, and other places with extremely low oxygen exchange and water currents. They have a special feature which allows them to take oxygen from the surface of the water, which is why you usually see them swim up, take a gulp of air, and swim back down. They're extremely adapted to life in the harshest places. Frankly, they seem do better in bowls and small aquariums than they do in larger aquariums. The male betta's have been bred for longer and longer tails, which also affect their life in the aquarium world. They can't swim at faster rates, and often get tail infections...compare these with the pug-nosed short finned female betta's you usually see. Same often goes for those 'Fancy Guppies' which are now also being specially bred for their spectacular tail fins. This sometimes also leads to Tail infections
Graham

 

[leigh]

true, but most people neglect to notice that all gourami's have a labyrinth orgin as well and are equally adapted to live in murky swamps etc... gourami's are also more often seen breathing at the surface, but you would never, ever, see someone, let alone a fish store, keep a gourami in a cup. Just because the species is acclimated to live in a harsh environment doesn't mean they prefer it. And as you've said, bettas we see have been heavily bred away from their natural traits towards show-type traits. They are not the same bettas as those found in murky waters. The betta I had in my 55 certainly never complained of too much space