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Freshwater aquarium fish that make poor choices for beginners. (to name a few)
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Tags: aquariums, freshwater fish, beginner, large fish
Popular freshwater fish that are often poor choices for beginners who are starting up their tank.
| | 1. Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) - Many are attracted to this species of South American cichlid because of it's personality, playfulness and appetite. However few are prepared for the amount of mainteince that is involved in keeping them healthy and content. Oscars are large fish (12-14in) that need large tanks - at least 55 gallons for one oscar and an additional 25 gallons for each oscar added in. If their sheer size and tank requirement doesn't deter you then the fact that oscars have teeth in their throats might; which they use to crush food and expel any excess from their gills. Their poor table manners means the pet owner will have to conduct frequent water changes in order to keep the tank's water from fouling; about 25-50% of the water must be changed (that means you'll be removing 100lbs to 200lbs of water on a weekly basis.) |
| | 2. Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) - Although many maybe enchanted by this barb's brilliant silver, crimson fins and constant movement it too is a poor choice for beginners. The tinfoil barb is a rapid growing (grows between 10-14 inches), plant destroying, small fish eating and fast moving monster that hails from the fast flowing rivers of South East Asia. This fish will sulk and become less active if not kept in large shoals containing other tinfoil barb. If the fish is kept in too small a tank it has the nasty habit of jumping out of the tank in search for larger water ways (much to it's dismay of landing your dry, fuzzy carpet.) A single tinfoil barb will do fine in a 75 gallon but a shoal will be happier in a 300 gallon tank or happiest in a very large 1,000 gallon, heated pond. |
| | 3. Pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) - You can find pet stores and aquatic dealerships selling pacus as small as 2-3 inches long but many fail to realize that a pacu will quickly accumulate to the size of 36-48 inches...fish growth is not inhibited by tank size, contrary to popular belief. Much like the previously mentioned tinfoil barb, the pacu will annihilate all plant life from your tank and is another large species of shoaling fish that does better in groups. |
| | 4. Tiger Barb (Puntius tetrazona) - A beautiful fish hailing from Sumatra, the tiger barb's appeal to beginners is it's bright reddish orange and black stripes. Yet beyond it's beauty the tiger barb is an aggressive fin nipper that will terrorize other fish if not kept in large schools that at least number to eight. Even then this may only reduce the amount of fin nipping as opposed to ending it. |
| | 5. Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus) - This fish is a shark in name only but is more closely related to goldfish (both belong in the carp family) as opposed to true sharks (which have nothing remotely in common with bala sharks.) Novices, seduced by it's shark-like appearance, will buy the fish not knowing this is another large species of schooling fish found in the same habitat as tinfoil barbs. And much like tinfoils they can easily jump out of tanks (if not more so) and grow to about similar size. |
| | 6. Suckermouth Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) - The most commonly sought after algae eating fish in the pet trade is also a poor choice for beginners. Not only does this animal grow far too large for even a standard 55 gallon tank (18-24 inches) but does more to make a small tank filthy as opposed to "cleaning it" and will not eat all species of algae. A full grown or sub-adult suckermouth will knock over decorations, destroy live plants and will create more waste (since big fish make big feces) that will fuel algae growth. However not to worry; their are tons of smaller algae eating fish readily available on the market that can fulfill the need for eating algae but make no mistake; there is no such thing of a fish that will "clean" your tank. That is your job. |
| | 7. Kissing Fish (Helostoma temminckii) - I will sum up this fish quickly; a large growing, territorial and aggressive gourami that gets as big as an oscar and needs about the same tank size. Just cause it "kisses" doesn't mean you need to buy it. |
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