Frequent Aquarium Questions

• I am a beginning with all fish and have 2 platys and 2 neon tetras in a 2 gallon tank. I am going to get a larger one soon but my platys are black and orange, I was just reading about painted fish and I was worrided that my platys could be painted? What are the usual colors and also, could my platys possibly breed in that small of a tank?
  
  
• Are parrot cichlids, discus, and goldfish compatible?
  
  
• Can I put a female betta fish in a tank with goldfish?
  
  
• I have a green terror that I thought was a male until I came home one night and find her laying eggs all over the tank. What do I do?
  
  
• Hi I live in Cape Town South Africa. It is quite warm here during summer. My pond gets upto 27 degrees Celcius during the day and 20 degrees C. at night. Do you think some tropical fish would be able to live in my pond?
  
  
• Can a Betta and an algae eater be placed in the same aquarium?
  
  
• I'm trying to find a clear, concise description how to care for my Betta. Please help.
  
  
• Can I put my Betta in the tank with my 2 clown fish (not clown loaches)?
  
  
• Can I keep any fancy goldfish in the same tank as a Betta.
  
  
• I was wondering if i could add a frontosa to my tank. I have a 75 gallon with some hiding places. I have 5 parrots, silver dollar, angel, pleco, longfin danios, and rainbows.
  
  

• I am a beginning with all fish and have 2 platys and 2 neon tetras in a 2 gallon tank. I am going to get a larger one soon but my platys are black and orange, I was just reading about painted fish and I was worrided that my platys could be painted? What are the usual colors and also, could my platys possibly breed in that small of a tank?
  
  Your platies are not "painted". Orange and black are perfectly normal colors for platies. Red, yellow, and metallic blue are also common. Most artificially colored fish are injected with obviously unnatural colors like hot pink, bright blue, or neon yellow. These colors seem to be harmless, and will fade after about six months.
  
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• Are parrot cichlids, discus, and goldfish compatible?
  
  Absolutely not! Discus require specialized care and a lot of attention to keep them healthy. They require soft water with a low pH, warm temperatures, and are often finicky eaters. Goldfish, on the other hand, require cooler temperatures than either of the other fish will tolerate, and do not do well at tropical temperatures. They are also very messy, and will cause water conditions to deteriorate much faster than the discus could cope with. Parrot cichlids can become quite aggressive as they mature, and will undoubtedly bully and eventually kill the two other species you mentioned.
  
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• Can I put a female betta fish in a tank with goldfish?
  
  This is not advisable. Bettas have a reputation for nipping at slow moving fish like goldfish, especially if they have long fins. Typically, you will end up with shredded fins on your goldfish if you attempt this.
  
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• I have a green terror that I thought was a male until I came home one night and find her laying eggs all over the tank. What do I do?
  
  Without a male, you do nothing. The eggs will be infertile and will die. If you get a male, please make sure it is larger than the female. The males have pointed dorsal and anal fins.
  
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• Hi I live in Cape Town South Africa. It is quite warm here during summer. My pond gets upto 27 degrees Celcius during the day and 20 degrees C. at night. Do you think some tropical fish would be able to live in my pond?
  
  That is a drastic temperature change for most tropical fish. While tropical fish do hail from warmer climates, they usually come from large rivers or lakes where the temperature remains more stable from day to night. Have you considered keeping native S. African pond fish in your pond?
  
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• Can a Betta and an algae eater be placed in the same aquarium?
  
  That should not be a problem.
  
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• I'm trying to find a clear, concise description how to care for my Betta. Please help.
  
  One of the best books available is "Bettas" by Ostrow, published by Tropical Fish Hobbyist publications. It will answer all your questions.
  
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• Can I put my Betta in the tank with my 2 clown fish (not clown loaches)?
  
  Clownfish are saltwater fish and Bettas are freshwater fish. So if you have a saltwater tank, the answer is no. However, if what you have are Clown Barbs or another freshwater fish, you should proceed with caution as many freshwater fish will nip at the fins of the Betta.
  
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• Can I keep any fancy goldfish in the same tank as a Betta.
  
  No, that is not a good idea. Bettas may attack the fins of the goldfish and the goldfish may also bother the Betta.
  
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• I was wondering if i could add a frontosa to my tank. I have a 75 gallon with some hiding places. I have 5 parrots, silver dollar, angel, pleco, longfin danios, and rainbows.
  
  We normally do not recommend adding an African Cichlid to a community aquarium like the one you have. However, if you are going to do it, Cyphotilapia frontosa is one of the best candidates as they are usually fairly peaceful. It may get large enough to eventually eat your Danios.
  
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