[Nari]

Kay. If you ever decide to get fish again, try this. Get the tank a month or so before you get the fish. While you do that, get some ammonia. It should be a liquid form. That'll start off the cycle. You'll also want to get a testing kit. Set up the tank, fill it up, and then put some of the ammonia in the water. Don't get a fish yet. Do daily water changes and testing to see where you're at. You'll know that it's starting to work when you start seeing Nitrites. Nitrites are the waste from beneficial bacteria in the filter when absorbing ammonia. After a week or so, the Nitrite levels will start to rise and the ammonia levels will start to go down. Then, eventually, you will start to see Nitrates, which is the final stage in the Nitrogen Cycle. At some point, the ammonia will go down to 0, and the nitrites will go down to 0. Then it is safe for your fish. Do one final water change. Along the way, pick up some water conditioner. Seachem Prime is brilliant. The purpose of the water cinditioner is to neutralize the harsh metals and chlorine that is often found in Tap water. Let it sit for 24 hours with a littlE bit of ammonia in it, and then, you can get your fish.

When you bring the fish home, keep the lights off in the tank, and then float the bag in the water for 20 minutes. After those 20 minutes are up, then open the bag and if it is a small fish, carefully collect it in a net, and deposit it into the tank water. Don't dump the water from the bag into the tank. Also, don't feed it that first couple of days. Fish can go a while without eating. And leave the tank light off. It helps keep their stress down. And then, I would test the water once a day for a couple of weeks and do 80% water changes every other day. After that, you should only have to test and change the water once a week.

It seems like a bit of a hassle at first, but I've had both of my fish for over a year, they're over twice their body length and they are super healthy.

[Glitch]

i'll probably wait awhile to try, i was pretty heartbroken.

My mom even tried to raise fancygoldfish and while htey lived for awhile they all slowly died. one of them because it got it's eyeball stuck in the filter. That was horrifying.

[Salone]

That...does sound horrifying.

I only ever really did betas, because I was in a small town and betas were the only thing that survived Wal Mart's horrifying fish practices. Even then, they went through some unfortunate events.

During the ice storms of 2000 (Oh my god I sound old), our power was out for weeks. We lived very far out in the country, so we were low priority. Everything was all electric, so no heat save for firewood. During this time, our poor betas were frozen in their bowls. I was heartbroken.

Once the power came back on, we put put them on the stove and thawed them so we could bury them. Didn't actually need to.

Little bastards lived for 3 more years.

[Nari]

Glitch// Yeah. I've lost fish. I know how it is. Mine are my babies.I wept when I lost one of the last January. It's what I get for allowing him to storm the castle until he got too big for it.

I'm actually raising two fancy goldfish right now!

They're the lightS of my life. I plan to keep them alive for their full lifespan. They can live over 20 years.

Salone// Bettas are tough little bastards! They can go for months without eating, don't need the water to be disturbed regularly because they can breathe air if needed in short bursts, and they kill each other. I much prefer goldfish.

[Glitch]

my mom bought a ton of them, had them shipped over from japan. And she killed all of them, oh it was horrible.

[Nari]

I only have two because I only have a 40 gallon aquarium. Goldfish, ALL goldfish, need a lot of space.

Those poor babies.

I rescued Skađi from Petco. She was in an aquarium with about 20 goldfish, and it wasuch too small. And Thor is from Petsmart. Their tanks are cleaner, but still not large enough.

[Glitch]

my mom bought 5 55 gallon tanks XD it was insane.

[Nari]

The hell? That's a tad crazy.

[Lucid:]

I don't even know where I would put that many big ol' tanks. @.@ Who has space for that??

[CupcakeDolly]

My roomate, my boyfriend, and I are all planning to have a goddamned zoo when we get a house of our own.
So far we plan to have:
A savannah cat, two chinchillas, two rats, two baby goats (which will inevitably grow into adorable adult goats), a skunk (with the glands removed, of course), a python of some sort, a giant dog we can ride into battle, our three asshole cats, AND a gigantic wall-sized tank full of tropical fish! =D

...That probably won't happen, but we would really like some tropical fish. <3

We have a betta at my work who was rescued from one of the motel rooms. He now lives at the front desk in a fancy little tank, and plays with anyone who touches the glass. I call him Mr. Herman.

[Nari]

Lucid// Right? I barely have room for my 40 gallon.

Cupcake// Wow. That is a zoo. I wouldn't put any rodent's near a savanna cat, though.

[Glitch]

My mom got rid of all of her furniture and put the fishtanks everywhere, then she got 30 chickens and 2 goats. Thankfuly she sold the goats. XD

My BF wants to raise wild cats when he is older, uggggg.

[Ireland]

*peeks in*

hello everyone.

[Jessibuns]

Hi there Ireland!

[Glitch]

hi!! spooky ghost! :O

bf is bringing me tacos~~~ so excited!

[littl3chocobo]

woohoo! tacos are always good XD