Hello. Newbie here

Subject: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 2:48 pm

Hello,

My name is Brandie. I have a small tank set up (for now). Just got back into having fish. We have a couple platys, a couple guppies, a swordtail, a tetra, an albino cory cat, a betta, and about 2-3 dozen baby platys as of now. (babies and betta are in different tanks). Eventually we will be getting bigger tanks. I just have to make the space and give hubby the puppy dog eyes until he caves. I look forward to chatting, and hopefully gaining some info on how to give these baby platys a good chance at life (they are 2 days old right now).

My goal is to eventually have a large set up for a couple oscars, a set up for cichlids, and a community tank. Probably will do a brackish water tank as well. (I have an eclectic taste).

Well, not sure what else to say. If you have any questions about me, I would be happy to answer them. Looking forward to chatting with others.

:)

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 3:09 pm

Welcome to the box!

Sounds like you have some really big plans always good to see haha. Plenty of people here are breeders and can give you insight on keeping platy babies.

People love their oscars and they are a really nice fish but for the flashy look cichlids are the way to go! I am partial to the community planted tanks to me they are very peaceful and everyone in there has some type of quip.

Welcome again everyone here is helpful and fun!

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 3:18 pm

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 3:20 pm

I prefer the "odd" fish, lol. I had blind cave tetras growing up, and an eel of some sort (cant remember what kind it was now). I had a plecostomus (Sp?) that I LOVED, and I was so mad when it died (got ick when I introduced a spotted pictus catfish. That one fish wiped out my whole tank.)

My last fish tank consisted of an Oscar, tho. Beautiful tiger. I LOVED him. Unfortunately his tank broke during a move, and the stores were closed. I had to put the poor thing in a one gallon that he couldnt move in. He died over night. That was 8 years ago, and I just now got back into fish tanks. Mostly on a whim (hubby wanted to get a fiddler crab, so we bought a small tank. Crab died, tho, cuz we didnt research how to take care of it, but that got the ball rolling.) The tank we have is "our kids tank" but I think I am enjoying it a little more, lol.

I am looking for more tanks on craigslist. I want a bigger tank. But havent found one in my price range yet.

I do like cichlids, too, tho. So I will have a tank with several of them. Possibly a breeder tank for feeders.

If I get my way, I will have my own fish store by the time I am done, LOL.

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 3:22 pm

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 5:44 pm

Welcome!

i keep alot of live bearers so ill throw in some advice for your baby platys, try feeding them frozen brine shrimp just cut a littlechunk off put it in a coffee cup or some other cup with some warm water to thaw in a few minutes dump it in with them and they will love it. Some people beleive that brine shrimp makes them grow faster. You can also feed finally crushed fish flakes :) Keep their area tank clean and its advised to do a 25% water change weekly. they either need lots of plants to hide in or keep them in a breeder box or they will get ate. not sure of what all you already know about them so sorry if i repeat already known info :)

I hope to see pics of your fish soon! i live in NW arkansas close to Joplin MO and i can keep a look out in my CL for you if you think the drive would be worth a good deal. Feel free to PM anytime!

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 5:53 pm

Keelo, thanks for the advice. Im feeding flakes right now (i crushed them up in a baggie. They seem to be able to handle it pretty well). I would get the brine shrimp, but money is uber tight right now, which is also why I am not able to get any more tanks (I saw an AWESOME deal on 8 tanks and a couple stands that I would kill to be able to buy).

As of right now, the babies are in a separate tank all together. Im going to talk to my neighbor at some point and see if she will let me borrow her unused tank (if it has the filter) to give the babies more room. I will be giving her some, and might try to sell the rest on craigslist (we will keep at least one, unless my neighbor gives us the tank she has, then I will keep more).

I just hope for the sake of my kids that at least one baby survives. They are so excited about the babies. But, if not, I know my 2 platies will have more babies in a few weeks.

We already lost a whole batch because I didnt realize she was that close to giving birth (she hid in one of the caves for a little while, then the other fish went exploring and I noticed she was a lot skinnier, which prompted me to move the other momma to the tank the betta was in, and she had the babies the next day.)

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 5:56 pm

Oh, and I will show off some pics in a bit. They arent very good, tho. I cant get my camera to cooperate with me and take a decent pic.

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 6:04 pm

Welcome to the box!
welcome

red_dragon_girl_69 wrote:: Oh, and I will show off some pics in a bit. They arent very good, tho. I cant get my camera to cooperate with me and take a decent pic.

I have that same problem with the camera not cooperating with me. There is a thread here on tips for taking pics of fish, but cant seem to find it..

chin

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 6:06 pm

3de,

I will look around for that thread. I have tried macro, flash, no flash, right on the glass, back a little further away and zoomed in, etc. It just comes out blurry, and my fish have not yet learned to stay, so there are plenty of pics of blurry fish as they swim away, lol.

Subject: Re: Hello. Newbie here 2/19/2011, 6:11 pm

I have had the best luck with flash, about 2-3 feet back, no zoom and at a slight angle from above and a little left/right angle to loose the flash reflection from the glass..