Harpy Posted July 7, 2003 Report Share Posted July 7, 2003 So, I want to set up a tank, see. I want a glass one, with plants and fish and an ecology. I want bright colours, pretty shapes and no nasty floating fish. I like to fiddle water chemistry, I'm pretty excited about livebearers (finally, genetics experiments without the embarassing horde of mice to dispose of!), I'm cool with cleaning and maintenance. I don't do heaters (long story but it involves a six week vacation and cooked fish). Can anyone share their experience? What kind of fish would fit in a nice community tank that don't require heating? I want a nice range of fish and I think a little micro-ecology would be cool. Any help would be appreciated Harpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Danios , white cloud minnows , some varities of corydoras catfish , barbs , paradise fish and of coarse the many varies of godfish can all live happily in a coldwater aquarium . As for coldwater livebears i can only think of leopard fish which i know are availble though jansens . Somwthing else which could be interesting is that jansens are now selling some native freshwater fish . This has been done in cojuntion with HBA i the hawkes bay . In the warmer months i put a few of the tropical livebears in my pond where they bred and live quiet happily . I hope this gives you a bit of an idea . Vist hollywood 's down frost st , mt roskil and you will see what i am talking about . Hope this helps and welcome to the fishroom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Welcome to the fishroom harpy What temperature does your house get down to? This would have a bearing on what you could keep without heaters. Many egglayers like barbs can cope with cooler water and they come in a variety of colours. The paradise fish would certainly add colour. BTW: Those godfish dave mentioned - I think he meant goldfish :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 I am sure that some fishkeepers treat their fish like gods ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Don't most? I mean, we all put them on a pedestal(stand). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpy Posted July 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Thanks for the welcome! My house can get down to about 18 C. I thought guppies were fairly happy across a range of temps? Or is that lower number the point after which they die, finito benito. The NZ freshwater fish sound pretty cool. I had forgotten about Hollywood's. I visited once when I was a little girl and got the liver scared out of me when a (to me) giant fish tried to leap out of its tank and eat me! Harpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Good to see you recovered from your fright :lol: Guppies will live at 18C no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted July 12, 2003 Report Share Posted July 12, 2003 Welcome to the fishy forum :-) I used guppies when first settingup my tropical tank and needed some cheaper fish to get through the nitrogen cycle. Well they survived with only a small phase of ich which was easily cured. Then I just could not stop them breeding. There are some great books available re genetic testing for finnage and colour which may get you even more hooked. Fascinating fish. Just their life span is short. Welcome again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 12, 2003 Report Share Posted July 12, 2003 Hi there Harpy, Welcome to the forum. Paradise 'are' great fish, beaut colours, and fantastic to watch spawning, but they can also get pretty aggressive, and don't mind a guppy or two for lunch Great to have you here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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