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Latest Animal Stories on Aquarium Tropical Fish (7342)

Alex - 2016-12-12
I just found out what my fish is finally. It is a gold severum. My problem is that it has been hitting the top of the tank for about a month. I have tried to see if it is jumping at something particular, but I have found nothing in or on top of the lid. Nothing has changed in it's environment. The only thing that I have changed is the food. I went from one pellet brand to another. But everything else is the same. It has been doing this for about three weeks now and started jumping more frequently. I have turned the lights out in the tank and still no change. I have changed the water and cleaned the water filter, still nothing. There are no obvious signs of disease. Nothing else unusual. Please help! I'm afraid that it is going to hurt itself. I have had it for about 2.5 years.

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Jim - 2020-01-31
Hiya I have two big Severums I think yours banging your lid to get snails or food that has splashed up and got stuck to it mine do it on the glass don’t worry they won’t do anything that will hurt them self’s, maybe once, but won’t anymore.
Hope this helps

Malcolm Nebel - 2020-01-30
I have a 15m X 3m swimming pool, it is 2 foot deep at one end and four foot deep at the other. It is stocked with dozen of the small mosquito eating fish and has a number of water plants About a six weeks ago I introduced six comet gold fish, all fine until a week ago when I saw them chasing each other around the pool, two days later one died. This has happened three times now, they chase each other around the pool next day one dead What is the cause, what am I doing wrong? Malcolm Nebel

mcpshort - 2012-05-13
I have a jack dempsey and a texas cichlid and I say their about an inch or so and they sit by each other and smack each other with their tails. Is this breeding?

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Wolfman🐺 - 2020-01-30
They might be. 😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

zach - 2011-07-14
i have an 8 almost 9 year old texas cichlid that's in a 4 foot 75 gallon tank, with 5 convicts, 4 zebra cichlids, 2 jd"s,and 1 pleco,

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Wolfman🐺 - 2020-01-30
As for me I will be getting a long long long long 40gallon tank with a pair of [SMALLMOUTH BASS],4 big male pumpkinseed sunfish,2 big clown loach catfish and 1 single male Rio grande texas cichlid. This will be the perfect COMMUNITY.😁😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

WJett - 2007-02-18
My Texas came from a Pet-CO "positive inventory reduction"--they give away fry. However after two years, mine has been nothing but trouble. He is VICIOUS. He nips me each time I put my hand in the tank! I've tried to feed him guppies, but he just kills them. He constantly arranges the ornamental plants, moves the gravel and air stone etc. My Jack Dempsey kept him busy for a while, but I opted for at least one clear-water tank. Simply, I've isolated him. Now he lives in a 20-gallon bath of slime. Not my fault either (unless it is a defense or a VICIOUS construct). Water polishing with a Diatom filter does not help. So there he waits, daring to bite the hand that feeds him. My Texas Cichlid is not pleasant, charming, or "pretty." He is the most aggressive fish that I have kept.

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Silvia - 2010-07-27
In your case remove the gravel as easier to keep clean and less trouble and mess and place a couple of clay pots as caves and ornaments as they need some type cover.

If unhappy with him than give him away.
Fred - 2010-08-01
Any cichlid would be mean if kept in a 20 gallon tank. These guys need at least 55 G, but preferably 75 G tanks--no exceptions. 20 G is equivalent to keeping a human in a closet and blaming him for an attitude. Moreover, the TX isn't "pretty" because the need to be happy for their colors to shine.
steve rogers - 2011-02-18
I am actually from the area in deep south texas on the mexican border where the roi grande perch, as we call 'em are native. As a kid I caught probably thousands of these guys. Our water here is slightly alkaline and high in turbidity, plenty of algae. These guys are omnivorous and like warm water but can survive until the water hits 50 degreees farenheit. If you don't like your fish moving the gravel around, they like to create spawning beds if the structure doesn't suit them, then put bigger gravel or rocks in your tank. With maybe one large stone that gives them a "castle". I remember one we had in the aquarium when I was a kid that tried to eat a channel catfish fry. Ooops, the catfish stuck out his pectoral fins and lodged in his throat so we netted him and pulled the cat out with some forceups. Perch lived. Really they do better outside if temps allow in a fishpond where they will pair up and defend their turf against interlopers. The pair will be great parents of the fry and are quit easy to hook on a bare hook or fly because they see a potential nest raider and will swim over grab the hook and swim off with it to deposit it away from the nest. Have never ate them, maybe it's cause the flesh is a light green color. The old males are quite striking in coloration and darken and gain contrast as spawning season approaches. That's usually as the water temp hits 80 degrees farenheit. The female always more diminutive will darken some too, but to a lesser degree. My fondest memory is of a morning in may when I was about 6 years old dangling a fishingline with a safety pin attached and a beetle for bait that was much too large but had about 50 rio grande perch captivated. This went on for several hours and not a single taker, except for some nibbles. Bent over the edge of the concrete like that staring into the water I got my first sunburn and blistered my back. Ouch, a lesson in common sense for a 6 year old country boy in edinburg texas.
Wolfman🐺 - 2020-01-29
Thats why I'm getting a pair of [SMALLMOUTH BASS], and citizen sunfish like 4 pumpkinseed sunfish,2 clown loach catfish and 1 single m!ale Rio grande texas cichlid. They will all be in a long long long long 40 gallon tank.😁😁😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Dana K - 2018-03-31
Can a golden severum that is in a 55 gal tank, approximately 2 years old and 4.5 inches in length have a new jack dempsey introduced into the tank? They would be the only two fish in the tank.

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Anonymous - 2020-01-07
no but once the severum gets much bigger the severum and the jack dempsey can be the only one in there because severums can get over 12 inches long.

Jessica Johnson - 2020-01-07
I have banjo eggs.....plz help. I don’t know what to do with them....I want them to hatch safely.

Anonymous - 2011-04-20
I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified.

Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.

Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?

Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!

Thanks in advance!

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Charlie Roche - 2011-04-20
You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Anonymous - 2011-04-20
Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it.
Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange.
Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Anonymous - 2011-04-21
Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!

Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
Dioafui - 2011-05-09
You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
nic - 2011-08-05
Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.

p.s get live plants like water sprites
brookes - 2013-03-17
thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Merida DunBroch - 2016-01-31
If the male molly is just chasing the female you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly normal.

Click For Replies (9)

Charlie Roche - 2011-04-20
You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Anonymous - 2011-04-20
Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it.
Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange.
Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Anonymous - 2011-04-21
Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!

Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
Dioafui - 2011-05-09
You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
nic - 2011-08-05
Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.

p.s get live plants like water sprites
brookes - 2013-03-17
thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Merida DunBroch - 2016-01-31
If the male molly is just chasing the female you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly normal.

Click For Replies (9)

Charlie Roche - 2011-04-20
You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Anonymous - 2011-04-20
Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it.
Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange.
Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Anonymous - 2011-04-21
Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!

Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21
I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
Dioafui - 2011-05-09
You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
nic - 2011-08-05
Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.

p.s get live plants like water sprites
brookes - 2013-03-17
thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Merida DunBroch - 2016-01-31
If the male molly is just chasing the female you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly normal.

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