Frequent Aquarium Questions

• Can a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp live in freshwater?
  
  
• Are angelfish and gold severum suitable? Are oscars and gold severum suitable? What plants would you recommend for oscars and gold severums?
  
  
• if you put guppies into the regular 20 gallon tank w/out the breeder will the other guppies eat them b/cause one of my guppies had babies and 4 escaped the breeder and the full sized guppies don't seem to mind them
  
  
• i have a silver arowana at home. just recently, i transfer it to a larger tank. during the process, it jump out of my hand and fall onto the floor. when i already transfer it to another tank, i discovered that one of its scales on its body had gone off. can it be regrowth by itself? or i have to do something about it? it now looks like a patch on its bofy without scales. thanks.
  
  
• I am moving and it will take over 48hours to get there. I am driving and need to know what the best way is to move with my fish and tank. I have one 20gal tank w/ a very large chillid.
  
  
• I was searching the internet and couldn't find a single page with information on a beta's lifespan. What is the life expectancy of a beta fish?
  
  
• I have a 120 above ground pond. I bought a blue channel cat for it and was told that I would have to bring it inside for the winter. He is in a 29 gallon tank and is rapidly growing!! Is this a truly tropical fish or could i have left him in the pond for the winter with the goldfish?
  
  
• What water conditions (temperature, pH, etc.) are optimum for goldfish?
  
  
• I plan on using aquarium salt in my guppy tank, and need to know if it will be safe for a bristlenose pleco.
  
  
• How long a betta's average life span?
  
  

• Can a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp live in freshwater?
  
  No, that is a saltwater shrimp and it will die in frsehwater.
  
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• Are angelfish and gold severum suitable? Are oscars and gold severum suitable? What plants would you recommend for oscars and gold severums?
  
  Angelfish and Severums will be compatible and so would Oscars and Severums, though it is quite possible that when the fish become sexually mature, they will fight if not kept in a large tank. There are no plants we can recommend for either severums or Osacrs. Both of these Cichlid species dig up and destroy plants.
  
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• if you put guppies into the regular 20 gallon tank w/out the breeder will the other guppies eat them b/cause one of my guppies had babies and 4 escaped the breeder and the full sized guppies don't seem to mind them
  
  In fact, the adults usually do eat the fry, as they are an excellent source of protein. However, they may just as likely avoid them, as they have done in your tank. If the adults let the fry get large enough so the fry cannot fit in the adults' mouths, they will all live peaceably together.
  
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• i have a silver arowana at home. just recently, i transfer it to a larger tank. during the process, it jump out of my hand and fall onto the floor. when i already transfer it to another tank, i discovered that one of its scales on its body had gone off. can it be regrowth by itself? or i have to do something about it? it now looks like a patch on its bofy without scales. thanks.
  
  In a healthy aquarium, fishes have little difficulty in regrowing scales. Having said that, the tussle the arrowana went through may have done damage to the fish beyond the scale loss. Damage to any venerable areas, like the eyes and gills, could lead to more serious problems. The most we might do is a prophylactic treatment of antibiotics to reduce the chances of secondary infection.
  
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• I am moving and it will take over 48hours to get there. I am driving and need to know what the best way is to move with my fish and tank. I have one 20gal tank w/ a very large chillid.
  
  If you go to your local pet store and tell them that you are moving, they can provide you with a styrofoam box and plastic bag large enough to house your cichid (at least three times the fish's length), and pack him under pure oxygen. Assuming you will be able to keep the temperature stable for the fish, he should have no problems making the trip. He won't need to eat, and when you get to your destination, make sure that the aquarium is one of the first things you set up. As for the aquarium itself, after bagging the fish, empty out the rest of the water and clean everything off with warm water (no soap!). Fill it up on the other end, dechlorinate the new water, make sure it is the correct temperature, and acclimate the fish as if you just got him at the store. Let him adjust for at least a few hours and try to feed a little. Good luck!
  
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• I was searching the internet and couldn't find a single page with information on a beta's lifespan. What is the life expectancy of a beta fish?
  
  Two to five years on average, while some specimens have lived much longer in captivity.
  
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• I have a 120 above ground pond. I bought a blue channel cat for it and was told that I would have to bring it inside for the winter. He is in a 29 gallon tank and is rapidly growing!! Is this a truly tropical fish or could i have left him in the pond for the winter with the goldfish?
  
  Channel cats are not tropical fish at all. They are native to North America, and can survive over winter if your pond is deep enough not to freeze solid. However, they need to be acclimated to such conditions very slowly, making it a bad idea to put the fish back outdoors until the spring since he will not be able to adapt. Your best option will be to find a larger aquarium for your channel cat until your pond warms up again.
  
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• What water conditions (temperature, pH, etc.) are optimum for goldfish?
  
  Goldfish are temperate ("cool water") fish, and require lower temperatures than tropical fish. They do best in water that is less than 75 degrees F, and are perfectly happy with any lower temperature that is above freezing. Water composition, such as pH and alkalinity are not critical.
  
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• I plan on using aquarium salt in my guppy tank, and need to know if it will be safe for a bristlenose pleco.
  
  Small amounts of aquarium salt shouldn't be a problem for your bristlenose. Just be careful not to overdose with it, as many catfish are sensitive to salt.
  
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• How long a betta's average life span?
  
  Average lifespan for a betta tends to be about three to five years if well maintained. It is possible for them to live much longer.
  
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