This is a thread for those who have questions taking care of fish. I have been doing it for over 30 years and have been a successful breeder for four years.

Got unsolvable problems, ask me.

How big can you get a japanese fighting fish to grow?

fish

what's the best way to cook catfish ??

I like tatter tots

HELP! My fish hate cuddling with me!

Do you mean Siamese fighting fish? Betta splendens? If you have a male with fully developed fins, he's full grown.

I'm serious, I want to know if I get a big tank for them if they will grow like goldfish do.

What species of fish is this? ><>

thats what I thought, but one of mine doubbled in size when I put him in a big bowl, but the other is still in a smaler one.

Simaese fighting fish only get about three inches long. That is it. They can be kept with other fish. They prefer areas with generous plant cover and tend to prefer floating and surface plants.
Fancy tailed ones tend to get a tiny bit over three inches. They also are related to Gouramis, the most common one people are familiar with is the Pink Kissing Fish. Their native habitat is the area surrounding Viet Nam and south east Asia. Classic fighting fish actually are rather drab. The ones we are familiar with are actually the product of hundreds if not thousands of years of controlled breeding.

Andy do you know if the black Berlin or German strain of Swordtails is slower growing than more common strains? My fry are now 3 months old & half the size of my 1 month old Platies.

Personally I prefer breaded and deep fried but Blackened Catfish (CREOL STYLE NOT CAJUN) is also quite tasty!

thank you...

Not really. The matter you may have is whether you are using tap water or not. Tap water is very very HARD (meaning mineral rich) and has a drastic affect on fish. It is lethal to a lot of species actually and not because of Chloramine! African Chiclids prosper in tap water because they need it mineral hard.

Use filtered bottled water but the best water to use is Reverse Osmosis De Ionized water adjusted with the proper buffers.

Playtys, guppies, swordtails, and mollys are all part of the same family of fish and all come from central and south america. they prefer water that is low in mineral content, very slightly acidic (PH of 6.5 to 6.7 is optimal), and they need a lot of plant cover to be happy.
Any buffer that is for the PH I gave you and black water extract will help them out a lot. Also they do not do well in the presence of other species of fish depending on what you have them with. Barbs of any kind can be stressfull to Patys etc.

A Pointus Whichwayicus....

Nice

I used to have a fifty gallon tank with two males and four females in it along with a host of tetras and other fish. they add a nice touch of color in a community tank and do get along with other fish. They are not compatible with aggressive fin nippers. Thankfully those are a serious minority.

There is a tetra called Exadon Paradoxsis that are small but they act JUST like Piranha which they are related to. That is one fish I do not recommend for beginning aquariums under any circumstances. They ate goldfish like red belly Piranah swarming a cow in the water. It is the ONE tetra to stay away from unless you like watching other fish die. You cannot kiss them, they are metallic green with whitish bellies with a big black dot on their sides and red fins. they look innocent enough until you turn your back.

The reputation Siamese Fighting fish got is totally undeserved.

<--- thinks the words "wet spot and fish" should NEVER be used together

Much like Military and Intelligence?