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gonna be gone, what to do?!?!

2K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  aunt kymmie 
#1 ·
So my tank finally finished cycling and I'm gonna be away from home for a week unfortunately. I have java fern, java moss, anubias nana, and anachris in my tank as well as some malaysian trumpet snails. I'd like to get possibly a couple fish before i leave because i think it will be easier to leave someone responsible for feeding the fish instead of dosing ammonia. I had planned on getting a couple of mollies because i was told they would eat baby snails so i figured that would be good crowd control while i'm gone. But i now i'm told they grow up to 6 inches and thats too big! what should i do?
 
#2 ·
I haven't heard of mollies getting to 6", I've heard 3.
 
#3 ·
I figured, but the store card thing said 6'' so who knows. I want to put in a black molly, zebra molly, RTS, Blue Ram, and then a group of neons and then maybe a Cherry Shrimp. What are your guys thoughts on that? Is 20g enough? I obviously wouldn't put them all in at the same time. More recently though i was thinking maybe keeping it less crowded and a little simpler would look better. Like the blue ram an RTS and then a school of maybe 5-6 neons as well as a shrimp. Idk, I'm new to all this and would just like to get something in there considering it finally is cycled after about a month.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I know I've read somewhere that sailfin mollys can reach 5".
What type of molly where you considering??

Ooops...you posted just as I was.
This is a 20gl tank you are stocking??
(Those store cards are nuts. Usually they underestimate)

I wouldn't keep a RTS in anything less than a 40g.
Blue rams are very sensitive fish and require stellar water parameters.
Soft acidic water with a PH of 6.5 for German Blues is my understanding based on all the info I've read.
 
#5 ·
I believe you would be ok w/ the mollies you are considering, I would also 100% agree w/ Aunt Kymmie on the fact that stores lie about the full grown size of fish. You will even find that semi-credible sights such as liveaquaria.com shorten the length or recommended size tank for some fish just to get a little more profit.

The only one you might want to do a little more research on is the RTS, there going to be recommended for 50g+ tanks not to say that you couldn't get away w/ it :p but they can be agressive to other fish and in a 20g...he could be a terror as he'll eventually set up boundaries.
 
#6 ·
Yeah i've read up on them being territorial. I was thinking most likely of getting the RTS last...in hopes of him being discouraged of trying to bully and take over the whole tank since there would already be other swimming about and hopefully have him keep to a corner or at the bottom or something. Idk, i think those guys are great looking fish and would love to get one. As for the mollies, I was thinking of maybe just getting a black mollie, idk the specifications of it....my gf just wants one cause she thinks it looks good. I also noticed cherry barbs are pretty nice looking as well. I'm really confused on what to get :( All i know for sure that i want is a blue ram and an RTS and most likely a small school of neons.
 
#7 ·
If I were you (and we both know that I'm not) and I wanted/insisted/had to have fish NOW the only thing I'd consider on your list would be a school of neons or cherry barbs. I neglected to ask what your water parameters are??
 
#9 ·
Then I guess to start with i'll go with a handful of cherry barbs. And then get the ram within a couple weeks. the RTS is dissapointing, i heard mixed reviews about whether or not it would be ok in a 20g. but i guess i'll have to pass. I guess i'll try and pick up a black molly too, other than that idk what to get! i was gonna get shrimp for the bottom,but i kinda want to look into a cory of some sort, idk.

Water params are ammonia 0 nitrite 0 both down from 1-2 twelve hours after dosing the ammonia up and its gone down to 0 3 days in a row now.
 
#11 ·
I'm leaving on monday and I'd be able to get the fish today. My grandfather will be at the house and he absolutely can't stand the smell of ammonia he says. So i figured id be better off leaving him with some hardy fish to feed a pinch in the morning and at night while i'm gone.
 
#12 ·
Just leave a couple days between when you put the fish in and when you leave just to make sure everything's going alright.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Yeah i would be going today this afternoon to get them. What do you guys think to start with...a group of neon tetras or cherry barbs. They both look good and i can't really decide. And how many should i get? If i'm not getting the RTS i know for sure i want one of those two schoolers and a blue ram is all. I'll decide from there what else to get.

Also my readings are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate is around 20ish. Should i do a water change and if so how big?
 
#14 ·
Based on what I've read the required minimums are for each of these species (and knowing I was going to be adding one ram at a later date) this what I'd do if it was my tank (and it's not!): I'd get either 10-12 neons or 7 cherrys.
 
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