Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm gonna start by saying I'm aware I've made a bit of a mistake. I'm looking for advice, so if you feel like pointing out my idiocy, I can take it.

I'd never had fish before, but I was browsing Ebay and this tank popped up. It was a full setup, including fish, and it said 'plug and play' - sounded easy enough. The tank's 4ftx2ftx2ft and it's come with loads of spare parts and food.

Here's the thing...

The tank came with:

4 x Frontosa's
1 x Pleco
1 x Pimelodus Picclytus

The largest one's 10 inches, two are 6-8 inches, and the smallest is about 5 inches. Two of the smaller ones and the smallest are kigoma's, and the largest is mpimbwe blue. They were all advertised as healthy and eating well.

I've been reading some posts on this forum and I've realised I should've done my research first. I had no idea Frontosa's aren't for beginners - I'd never even heard of them, or Pimelodus or Pleco for that matter. To be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing.

I want to learn, and I want to learn quickly. I don't want these fish to suffer because of my ignorance.

Can anyone help me out? I'd really appreciate some advice. Thanks.

Blimey, I've gotta say, that tank does look pretty sweet, I can see why you splurged on it. Sorry, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to cichlids - I'm assuming that's what they are, right? I'm sure someone with the know-how will chime in soon and offer some advice. Welcome to the forum, by the way.

I'd strongly advise against adding any more fish to that tank, your frontosas are already quite large and the pleco is only going to get bigger, potentially becoming a real handful.

The pictus catfish, being a South American species, isn't compatible with your frontosas due to their differing requirements, particularly when it comes to pH levels. If possible, I'd recommend rehoming the pictus, and keeping the frontosas and pleco together, without introducing any other species to the tank.

Also, I'm curious, what filter setup are you using on your tank? I've read that African cichlids need top-notch filtration and strong water flow, given how messy they are. I'd personally recommend a high-quality canister filter like the Fluval FX6.

For maintenance, I think it's essential to do regular, large water changes - a minimum of 60% each week is what I've come across.

Could you share more about your tap water? Is it hard or soft? What's the pH level? You can probably get this information from your water company. From what I've gathered, African cichlids thrive in hard water with a pH of at least 8.

The fish came with the tank, I'm assuming it's new as well. Either way, the tank's nowhere near big enough for those frontosas, let alone the pleco.

That's quite a score. The tank and the fish are stunning. I have to admit, I'm a bit worried about the space, though - it's going to get cramped in there pretty quickly. Hopefully, the experts will chime in and offer some valuable advice on how to move forward. I'm a total newbie when it comes to cichlids, my experience is limited to a 6-gallon with endlers and shrimp - not exactly comparable. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds, the tank does look amazing.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how you managed to snag a deal like that, but I have to ask, how much did you end up paying for the whole setup? Adult frontosas are notoriously pricey, and they require a ton of space - at least 90 gallons, but I'd say 120 gallons would be a safer bet for four of them. I did some research and found this link that might be helpful for you: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/c ... ontosa.php.

If you're dead set on keeping the frontosas, you're going to need a new tank, and I mean a big one. You'll have to cycle and filter that monster, and it's not going to be easy. Honestly, I think it would be better for everyone involved if you started looking for a local pet store or someone with a proper setup to take them in. You could put them up on eBay or Craigslist, and I'm sure you'd get a good price for four healthy adults. The pleco would be better off rehomed too - I'm willing to bet it's a common pleco, which can get just as massive as the frontosas and need just as much space.

As for the pictus catfish, it's not compatible with the frontosas, so it's best to find a different tank for it. If I were in your shoes and had the budget, I'd be tempted to upgrade to a 120 or even a 200-gallon tank and try my hand at breeding those fish - it's a lucrative hobby, and you'd get to keep some amazing creatures.

On a more pressing note, if you just set up the tank, it probably hasn't completed the nitrogen cycle yet, which means your fish are at risk of being poisoned by their own waste. You should look into that ASAP.