Frequent Aquarium Questions

• I have 2 angelfish that hide whenever I turn my flourescent lights on. Is this normal?
  
  
• Do fish play?
  
  
• My goldfish has a trail of red string coming from out from her? What is this?
  
  
• I have a ghost shrimp that lives peacefully with my goldfish. The shrimp shed it's shell recently. Is it vulnerable in any way for any specified time?
  
  
• I was given an Oscar which fins that are thining and are fringe-like on the tips. Is there a way for me to help increase the thickness of his fins, such as special foods?
  
  
• Is it possible that 2 large fantails could be eating my smaller fish? I put my neon tetras and small corydoras in with them and they have all disappeared.
  
  
• I bought 4 plecostomus about a week ago and one died. I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 firemouth meekis, and 2 hi-fin bull sharks as well.
  
  
• I have a new 10 gal tank. I have purchased two Kuli Loaches as part of my starter fish set. The Kuli loaches will not come out of the cave. Are they nocturnal or just timid? I only have three flame tetras, and three pristella tetras in there with them. Thanks.
  
  
• How long does it take oscars to get full grown?
  
  
• Can I put betta fish in a tank with goldfish?
  
  

• I have 2 angelfish that hide whenever I turn my flourescent lights on. Is this normal?
  
  All fish spook to some degree-angelfish more than most. This is fairly common behavior. If your tank is not decorated properly with enough structure and has too many open areas, your fish will not feel secure. As long as the fish eventually come out, they should be fine.
  
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• Do fish play?
  
  Yes. Just don't confuse play with aggression.
  
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• My goldfish has a trail of red string coming from out from her? What is this?
  
  What you are seeing is fish excrement.
  
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• I have a ghost shrimp that lives peacefully with my goldfish. The shrimp shed it's shell recently. Is it vulnerable in any way for any specified time?
  
  Crustaceans are always vulnerable immediatley after molting. Unfortunately, ghost shrimp are always susceptible to predation from fish since their shells are not hard like crabs.
  
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• I was given an Oscar which fins that are thining and are fringe-like on the tips. Is there a way for me to help increase the thickness of his fins, such as special foods?
  
  The best thing you can for the fish is to feed a balanced variety of food and perform regular maintenance on the tank.
  
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• Is it possible that 2 large fantails could be eating my smaller fish? I put my neon tetras and small corydoras in with them and they have all disappeared.
  
  It is always a possibility that your fish were eaten if the tetras were small enough to fit inside the mouths of your goldfish.
  
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• I bought 4 plecostomus about a week ago and one died. I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 firemouth meekis, and 2 hi-fin bull sharks as well.
  
  There is a chance that your plecos and bull sharks are exhibiting aggression towards each other. They are, after all, both types of catfish.
  
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• I have a new 10 gal tank. I have purchased two Kuli Loaches as part of my starter fish set. The Kuli loaches will not come out of the cave. Are they nocturnal or just timid? I only have three flame tetras, and three pristella tetras in there with them. Thanks.
  
  
  
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• How long does it take oscars to get full grown?
  
  
  
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• Can I put betta fish in a tank with goldfish?
  
  My answer would be no. As much as this would be a nice combination, the betta needs warm water and small territories. The goldfish however needs a colder climate and open spaces. Because of this one of the fishes would constantly be struggling to survive, and it would be difficult for them to breath.
  
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