Frequent Aquarium Questions

• I have two Silver Dollars and want to buy a discus. Are they compatible?
  
  
• Are my platies males,females,or both? i cant tell. i have a red one with a black fin, and an all yellow one.
  
  
• Can I put guppies in with my goldfish?
  
  
• I have fancy guppies. I have seen a black string come out of the bottom of one and this is the second time I have seen it. It came out the bottom and towards the back of him/her. What is this?
  
  
• I have my various Platy species at a temperature ranging between 70-74 degrees. I also have White Clouds that can't stand temps higher than 75, otherwise I would raise it a bit in the tank. Is this still warm enough for productive breeding?
  
  
• Hi I have a Red Tail black shark and like tiger barbs. Can I add 4 or 6 tiger barbs?
  
  
• Can I put a Parrot Cichlid in a 30 gallon aquarium with other fish?
  
  
• I bought a Gold Channel Catfish and all it does is sit in the corners. Is this normal for a fish that I added 4 hours ago?
  
  
• Why do my Oscars get white lines down the side of them for a second?
  
  
• What is the life span of a Betta?
  
  

• I have two Silver Dollars and want to buy a discus. Are they compatible?
  
  They should work fine, provided you have a 40 gallon tank or larger. Silver Dollars and Discus both grow fairly large.
  
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• Are my platies males,females,or both? i cant tell. i have a red one with a black fin, and an all yellow one.
  
  
  
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• Can I put guppies in with my goldfish?
  
  Not a good idea. Tropical fish and goldfish require different water conditions and goldfish need more space.
  
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• I have fancy guppies. I have seen a black string come out of the bottom of one and this is the second time I have seen it. It came out the bottom and towards the back of him/her. What is this?
  
  To be polite: Fish Poop. Fecal Matter. Solid Waste. Fishy Number Two. Piscine Bowel Movement. Take your pick. Remember that fish do not require toilet paper.
  
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• I have my various Platy species at a temperature ranging between 70-74 degrees. I also have White Clouds that can't stand temps higher than 75, otherwise I would raise it a bit in the tank. Is this still warm enough for productive breeding?
  
  Yes it is as Platys are inter-coastal fish, but White Clouds can do well in temperatures of up to 78 degrees F.
  
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• Hi I have a Red Tail black shark and like tiger barbs. Can I add 4 or 6 tiger barbs?
  
  Yes, those are compatible.
  
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• Can I put a Parrot Cichlid in a 30 gallon aquarium with other fish?
  
  Parrot Cichlids will work with other semi-peaceful and peaceful community fish. They will not work with aggressive Cichlidsor other aggressive fish.
  
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• I bought a Gold Channel Catfish and all it does is sit in the corners. Is this normal for a fish that I added 4 hours ago?
  
  Yes, that could be normal for any fish you added a few hours ago. As Channel Catfish are nocturnal, don't be surprised if it is inactive during the day.
  
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• Why do my Oscars get white lines down the side of them for a second?
  
  All fish have cells in their skin called chromatophores which expand and contract to allow the fish to change color. They may change color to display protective and breeding colors or they may change colors to attract a mate.
  
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• What is the life span of a Betta?
  
  One to two years, but they have been known to live to three or more years.
  
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