Goldfish / Tropical fish

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

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I've been thinking of getting a goldfish bowl / small aquarium to stick in the living room. I've been looking at this BiOrb 30 Aquarium...
http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/BiOrb_Aquariums_and_Kits.html

I think it would look quite well. I know nothing about goldfish or tropical fish so what sort of fish can I keep in that? I see it comes with an optional heater which allows it to hold tropical fish. What sorts are we talking about? Anyone got any pictures or examples?

If I decide to get one, where do I get the fish from? Is it a matter of finding the nearest aquarium suppliers?

As you have probably deduced, I'm a complete n00b. I want something low maintenance to store some nice looking fish. It's more of a display piece for the living room than anything.

Tell me everything.
 
iamdjdz said:
Go to 'Pet's R it' near Tesco in Lisburn. Really cheap fish.
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I'll check it out but this is going into my house in Windsor so I'll need somewhere over there. Can I get fish that are different to the standard goldfish, ones that are colourful and different looking?
 
i have the 30 litre - it's great for a n00b like me - simple to set up and maintain and it's pretty good quality.

watch out for where you get your fish from we brought some from pets at home, and some from a recommended garden centre - all the pets at home ones have died :(
 
jonno.co.uk said:
i have the 30 litre - it's great for a n00b like me - simple to set up and maintain and it's pretty good quality.

watch out for where you get your fish from we brought some from pets at home, and some from a recommended garden centre - all the pets at home ones have died :(
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D'oh!
What sort of fish do you have in it?
 
Scuzi said:
D'oh!
What sort of fish do you have in it?
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only had mine since november mind, but got some blue neon tetra, black neon tetra, some small precostamous's (bottom suckers) and some platti's (sp?). The 2 varieties of tetra hang around on sholes :)
 
had the biorb but quickly got another at it was a pain in the arse. You can only put certern fish in there. you also cant put bottom feeders in there as they use a dif kind of media and its a pain in the arse to clean as there is only a small hole to get your arm in. I went for the juwel 60 its just as cheap and comes with all the stuff needed. You can also put more fish in there aswell. The biorb is quite expensive as you have to get all the stuff in the biorb brand
 
Gold fish is easy to keep but not much you can do.....If i have to again, i would go down the tropical fish way instead. There is plenty of good looking fish other than the boring goldfish.
 
thelonecrouton said:
There's an awesome fish shop in Oxford: http://www.thegoldfishbowl.co.uk/

Very informative website, very knowledgeable staff. Windsor's only an hour or so away if you can't find a decent place any closer.
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Thanks for that, I may well have to check them out.

DEL 707 said:
Get a proper tank with a decent filter imo.
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I don't have the room or the money to get a 'proper' tank. I'm not getting this as a hobby, it's more for decoration than anything.
 
Aquarium screensaver tbh. :p

Anyway, I think you can keep any tropical fish in the biorb tank but obviously fish that are not too big. Also, you'll have to check if the fish you are getting mix well (if they're different types of fish).
 
We kept Goldfish in a locker before in school. They lasted ages. All you need is to feed them once every couple of days, not more. And clean them ut every 5-7 and voila you have healthy goldfish. They er didn't like Christmas holidays though hehe...
 
Theres also a good place in Bourne End. However, all my current fish were from Pets at Home Slough and have been with me for around a year now - they even survived moving house! I have some neon tetras, some orange tetras, a betta (man they are so friendly), a couple of sucking loaches, a red finned shark and another little black fish I forgot what the name is. They all get on very well, although the betta does chase the shark sometimes!

There is a really good aquarium bloke in Pets at Home Slough, who will even test your water for you free of charge.
 
Wicksta said:
Theres also a good place in Bourne End. However, all my current fish were from Pets at Home Slough and have been with me for around a year now - they even survived moving house! I have some neon tetras, some orange tetras, a betta (man they are so friendly), a couple of sucking loaches, a red finned shark and another little black fish I forgot what the name is. They all get on very well, although the betta does chase the shark sometimes!

There is a really good aquarium bloke in Pets at Home Slough, who will even test your water for you free of charge.
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I've just had a look, it's only a few miles up the road. I think I'll take a spin up after the traffic dies down a bit :D
 
Goldfish make for dirtier water than tropical.
Goldfish are also fugly :p
NO personality either.
EWWW i say.

Go for tropicals, you can get more fish in the same space, of a wider assortment of shapes, sizes and colours!

several shoals of tetra (different varieties) make for a great display in a smaller tank, with some random larger fish. A red tailed black shark is pretty common as a centerpiece - theyre fantastic, exactly what the name says, about 4-6" long, friendly as anything :)

As for maintenance, you can buy battery vacuum cleaner thingies which suck up any surface mess whilst leaving the water in the tank, easiest way to do it - or use a tube, mavity and a bucket.

Replace a small amount of water regularly, and your tank will stay clean.

Some varieties of fish help to keep it clean too, Ottocinclus for example eat algae - and theyre tiny! for the win! :)

When you first get the tank the filter needs to establish some friendly bacteria - which means running it with a low count of hardy fish (or fish waste/synthesised waste from a bottle added regularly to the water) for a few weeks before gradually increasing the stock :)

Fish rock. enjoy!
 
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