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  • howdy

    I'm glad to find this forum.

    As you can tell from my name, I'm a fan of orandas. I have a red and black oranda (Yiorgos) and a red cap (Maddie). Their newest aquarium mate is a black moor (Mary Tyler - snicker snicker). They are my babies. They currently live in a 20 gallon tank, but though they're small now, I'm upgrading them to a 32 gallon hex when I get it out of layaway, along with their apple snail, Old Mr. Grace. After, I'm getting a panda oranda to put in the 20 gallon with a new snail. In a 10 gallon, I have eight neon tetras, four head and tail light tetras, three zebra danios (okay, I admit it - they're Glofish), and a smaller apple snail, Young Mr. Grace. My first aquarium was a gift and is 2.65 gallons - falsely advertised as being a goldfish kit. After studying more about the care of fish, I got the 20 gallon for my first oranda, the red and black. I'm considering a betta for that tank, but I have to wonder if that's really a good idea, despite what you see in pet stores. Any advice?

    Also on layaway is a 40 gallon tank. If all goes well, I will very carefully build my first saltwater tank. I'm planning that out even now, though it'll be months before I set it up. Eventually, I want to get one of those all-in-one cube tanks like the BioCube and make it into a reef tank. I've heard they're good for that. At some point, I'd also like to set up another 10 gallon for guppies and maybe one or two others that might be able to coexist with them (I know, at least two females for every male).

    The scary thing is that I'm not sure I'm going to stop there, lol.

    But I *will* stop here.
    Trogdor was a man. Or maybe he was a dragon man. Or maybe he was just a dragon. But he was still TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

    You know, fish are great. I love my fish. But what I really want is a monkey.

  • #2
    Welcome! I had an orange oranda, but he died a couple months ago. :( Bettas are a neat fish! You should get one! PhishPhreek is in Texas City and he breeds show winning bettas. He sells some of his bettas, too. Again, welcome!
    Fish are people too, they just have gills.

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    • #3
      Thank you for the welcome. :)

      I'm sorry about your oranda. My blossoming experience is showing me how lovable the darn things are.

      About bettas: I just wonder about the fact that people keep them in such small tanks. I understand they can live that way, but is my 2.65 gallons enough or should I go for 5? And if so, what should I do with that small one? I've heard from some sources that some bettas can make community fish. Is a betta actually happy in a small space, alone?

      I love the idea of fish shows. I'll keep an eye out for one. And I'd love to contact PhishPhreek with his permission, but I'm more interested in personality than visual perfection. I don't think I've ever seen an ugly betta, anyway.
      Trogdor was a man. Or maybe he was a dragon man. Or maybe he was just a dragon. But he was still TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

      You know, fish are great. I love my fish. But what I really want is a monkey.

      Comment


      • #4
        Welcome to the Box.
        So many things can be a mystery, when all we're seeking is freedom...

        Comment


        • #5
          Bettas are fine in small spaces. In the wild, they live in rice paddies which are only filled with a few inches of water, so a 2.5 gallon is way more than enough space! Male bettas will fight eachother to the death. So no, they aren't good community fish unless all you are putting together are females.
          Fish are people too, they just have gills.

          Comment


          • #6
            Howdy! Welcome to TheBox!

            I'm glad you like goldfish. I think they are super cute, too. My sister had two Orandas, Han and Chewie. I like that you are getting them a new tank but the 35 Hex will be too small. Each Oranda should have at least 30 gallons to themselves (so together 60 gallons) and the Black Moor will need it's own 20 gallons. And also with most fish and also with Goldfish, the length of the tank is more important than the height.

            So the 35 Hex would be okay for one of the orandas but only if the length was 24". That's the magic number for your Orandas. A tank of 30+ gallons and at least 24" long. If you wanted to keep the three fish together, a 75 gallon or 90 gallon would be a nice choice.

            I'm only telling you this because I don't want you to lose your babies. Because when a goldfish is in too small of a tank, their bone structure will stop growing but the rest won't and the fish will die. That's how my sister's Han and Chewie died. :(

            I hope I didn't come across the wrong way. I'm just trying to help. Do want you want with what I have said.
            -Laura-

            Comment


            • #7
              Thank you both. And thanks for the info, fishboyt.
              Trogdor was a man. Or maybe he was a dragon man. Or maybe he was just a dragon. But he was still TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

              You know, fish are great. I love my fish. But what I really want is a monkey.

              Comment


              • #8
                Hello there. I have goldfish in the tank I have at work. One common, two shubunkins, and lionhead who lost his eyes to an eye infection 8 years ago, but still gets along just fine. That last one is a bit of a conversation piece when clients arrive. "Oh my God, that goldfish does not have any eyes!" and I'll say, "He's been that way for eight years, gets along fine and does not miss any meals!" Their initial shock is turned to amazement.
                Last edited by Nickintex; 08-08-2009, 11:31 AM.
                PLECOS SUCK!

                https://www.facebook.com/NickInTex1970

                Comment


                • #9
                  You didn't come across wrong at all. You've given me plenty to think about. Most places where I've read suggest ten gallons each or twenty for the first and ten for each one after. But your way makes me think - better safe than sorry, after all. And I need to look more into the width vs. height thing. What you said about that makes a lot of sense.

                  I found out about the growth problem in too small of a tank. Normally, I research the hell out of something - especially a pet - before I jump in, but I got a little too excited. Fortunately, my goldfish were small when I got them (Mary Tyler is the smallest - about an inch and a half long), so no damage has yet been done (I think).

                  The only problem I've had happened the first time I used a gravel vacuum. When I read the instructions, I checked the internet to confirm and I still didn't like it. But against my better judgment, I went ahead and did as instructed. I'm sure you know that what I'm talking about is pumping the end in the water up and down until it starts. I tried it gently and it didn't work, so I increased the speed until it worked. My poor orandas were terrified (and I don't blame them). Their behavior for about three days after that (don't tell me goldfish don't have memory) was very worrying. Before they were always excited and happy to see me (that, or hopeful for some flakes), coming up to the side of the tank I was on and all that, but they ran from me then. I watched them very carefully. I read how stress affects their slime coating. My fears were not unfounded - I started noticing missing scales. I researched and bought three products to boost immune systems and the like and eventually their behavior improved immensely. I was relieved to see them happy again. But I swore I'd never use that stupid vacuum again. I went to Petsmart of all places and found a really cheap vacuum made out of less hardy materials, but had a squeeze pump that would start the siphon. I'm never changing unless I get that one mechanical one that cycles the water without dumping it out, as expensive as that is.

                  Fortunately, very slowly it appears their scales are growing back. And I'm sure there's some proper technique that most of you guys know that I didn't figure out that would have made the first vacuum less of a shock, but I ain't touching it even if I learn the technique.

                  Am I writing a novel here? Okay, I'm done.
                  Trogdor was a man. Or maybe he was a dragon man. Or maybe he was just a dragon. But he was still TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

                  You know, fish are great. I love my fish. But what I really want is a monkey.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hey, Nickintex. I'd love to see the brave little guy - do you have a picture of him here?

                    I'm guessing the lionhead and the shubunkins are some of the faster goldfish since you're keeping them with the comet, right? That is how it works, right?

                    I was careful when choosing Mary Tyler that she would be a type with double tail fins to keep speed from being a problem. Is it as much of a problem as I've heard?
                    Trogdor was a man. Or maybe he was a dragon man. Or maybe he was just a dragon. But he was still TROGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

                    You know, fish are great. I love my fish. But what I really want is a monkey.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I also have had issues with those vacuums. I would shake it till my arm fell off and nothing would happen. They are very finicky. The little piece in the middle (the base of the siphon cylinder that's attached to the tubing) will get caught sometimes. I have had to stick a pencil up there to loosen it. It will sometimes work better then. I've never seen one with a squeeze pump.

                      I think most fish are going to be scared of a siphon. I think the trick is to have one that starts quickly so that there is less stress. As for the slime coat and missing scales, regular water changes and Stress Coat can help, but I think you just have to give it time.

                      Lol! I write novels, too.
                      -Laura-

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by OrandaMan View Post
                        Thank you both. And thanks for the info, fishboyt.
                        Fish are people too, they just have gills.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Welcome to the Houston Fishbox :)

                          What fish do Jesper have
                          180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                          110
                          Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                          58 S. Decorus

                          "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

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                          • #14
                            Welcome to the box!!
                            Go to Heaven for the climate Hell for the company.

                            125g SA/CA
                            125g Red Jewels, and mbuna
                            90g Hex Angels, Tetras, and Cories
                            55g Low Tech Planted. Guppies, Neon Tetras, Red Cherry Shrimp
                            55g peacock pair
                            45g Fry tank
                            12g Hospital Tank
                            75g Coming soon....Geos?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by OrandaMan View Post
                              Hey, Nickintex. I'd love to see the brave little guy - do you have a picture of him here?

                              I'm guessing the lionhead and the shubunkins are some of the faster goldfish since you're keeping them with the comet, right? That is how it works, right?

                              I was careful when choosing Mary Tyler that she would be a type with double tail fins to keep speed from being a problem. Is it as much of a problem as I've heard?
                              Here's a pic from 2008 when he lived at home with me.
                              My coworkers call him "Blindey".



                              That's him between the two black saltys. Despite his round shape, he competes nicely with the other goldfish and gets his fair share of food.
                              PLECOS SUCK!

                              https://www.facebook.com/NickInTex1970

                              Comment

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