Stocking with glassfish and guppies   5/27/06
Hello, my name is Jean.
<<Hello, Jean. Mine's Tom.>>
Your site is a font of wonderful information! Keep up the good work!
<<Thank you kindly and I'll do my best for you.>>
I have a 20 gallon tall freshwater tank.
<<Okay. (I'll make a little "mental note" that it's "tall".>>
I currently have 3 guppies and 3 (formerly painted) glassfish in it. I know I should keep my glassfish in larger schools, so I do plan on getting more (unpainted!) glassfish soon. Additionally, I think all 3 of my guppies are males (I think what I see is a gonopodium on each, and no one has ever gotten pregnant), but they do not seem to be bothering each other too much, no nipping at all. I had another psycho guppy previously who was a killing machine, I returned him.
<<Hmmm...a psycho Guppy. I understand what you're saying but, you must admit, it sounds a little humorous.>>
My questions are: What additional fish can I add to this tank that will get along with my glassfish and guppies?
<<Provided you quarantine first, any of the smaller varieties of Tetras should be fine. Cardinals, Neons, Black Neons, et. al. A "tall" tank doesn't have the surface area for a great deal of gas/oxygen exchange so you're better off with small fish. I, additionally, would stress quarantine with the Neons. 'Neon Tetra Disease' isn't isolated to these fish only. There's no known treatment and it's virtually 100% fatal to any fish that contracts it. Bad news? I know of this first-hand. Good news? They were quarantined when it killed 11 out of 12 of my Black Neons. As you might surmise, I can't stress 'quarantine' enough.>>
Should I do anything about having all male guppies, if they seem to be doing alright?
<<If you don't see any problems arising I wouldn't worry.>>
I'm not itching for fry right now!
<<Understood.>>
I would like any additions to my tank to be peaceful, as I don't want another psycho killer fish.
<<I'll leave Piranhas out of the equation then... :)>>
Further, I add about 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons to my tank, for the sake of the glassfish and general health. The guppies don't mind. My hardness (gH) is a constant 120 ppm, and my pH is currently at 6.8. What other fish can I add considering the salt level?
<<Just about any.>>
I've considered mollies but can't they be aggressive, especially with the guppies?
<<Depends on the fish, Jean. I can't tell you that a lot of this isn't a 'crap shoot'. Mollies are great fish and typically mild-mannered and peaceful. Can you wind up with a "rogue"? Sure you can. I've heard of fish that should never get along becoming "buddies". We try to advise based on "likelihoods", not certainties. Anyone who tells you differently hasn't done his/her research.>>
Further, are there any bottom feeders that would be o.k. in this environment? (I love exotic little Plecos, like bristlenoses, but heard they can't stand the salt).
<<It's true that Catfish, generally, don't appreciate salt in the water but one tablespoon per five gallons isn't likely to be a problem at all. A lot of times, when salt 'treatment' is recommended - at much higher dosages than you have - we advise against such when Catfish are living in the aquarium. If I had one admonition here it would be to return back to the size of your tank. Bristlenose Plecos tend to stay small but get large enough that oxygenation might be an issue. If it were a long tank, with a larger "footprint", I'd tell you to go for it.>>
Thanks so much!
<<Hopefully, I've been of some help, Jean. Tom>>

Glassfish... not all brackish... Very useful input re husbandry of Ambassids/Chandids  - 2/11/2006
Dear Robert,
<Neale>
I hope you're keeping well.
<Trying... intermittently>
I wanted to drop you a line about glassfish. While the idea that these fish need salty water has been around for years (and I certainly
believed it to be true) this does seem to be a myth.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/glassfishes.htm
<Ah, yes>
Currently, there are at least 8 species traded more or less regularly in the UK, and I'd imagine this holds true for the United States as well.
<Most places, just two...>
The “dwarf” species sold as Indian or common glassfish are Parambassis ranga, Parambassis siamensis, and Parambassis lala, in that
order of frequency. They are quite tricky to distinguish when small, though as adults P. ranga at 7 cm is almost twice as big as the
smallest species, P. lala. Essentially, P. ranga has a vague dark spot behind the eye, P. lala has three vertical bands, and P. siamensis has
no markings at all. P. siamensis is also distinctly elongate compared with the others. Male P. ranga can have whitish edges to the pelvic
fins while P. lala have white-blue edges to the anal and dorsal fins. Two other species of Parambassis are traded, these are the “giant”
Glassfishes, P. wolffii and P. pulcinella. The later needs no description — its common name of hump-headed glassfish describes it
pretty well. The other species has only recently reappeared in the marketplace. The last time I saw them was twenty years ago. These are
large fish, around 20 cm long, and highly predatory, schooling predators.
One final glassfish that has also reappeared in UK shops is Gymnochanda filamentosa. This is a small species (4 cm at most) notable for the
greatly extended dorsal and anal fin rays on the males. According to Frank Schäfer in the recent Aqualog ‘Brackish Water
Fishes’ book, all species of Parambassis and Gymnochanda are found either primarily or exclusively in freshwater habitats.
<This is also stated on fishbase.org>
Of the list species mentioned above, the ones he says are sometimes found in slightly brackish water are P. ranga and P. lala. All the others, he
insists, are freshwater fish, some even from blackwater habits. For the last year I have been keeping P. ranga in a soft, acid aquarium (pH
6.5, DH < 7) with no problems at all. In fact, quite the reverse: these fish have grown very rapidly, and have proved to be aggressive at
feeding time and exceptionally hardy, in particular showing a marked resistance to whitespot.
<Well-stated>
In my brackish water book due out later this year, I say as much, and suggest that most glassfish are freshwater species and only some are
salt tolerant, and I have tried to clarify this issue in an article in Practical Fishkeeping (Crystal clear: keeping glassfish, February, 2006).
<Very good>
My experience with P. ranga also suggests that live foods are not required. Mine admittedly only show moderate interest in frozen
bloodworms, but they greedily take frozen lobster eggs and small pieces of cooking shrimps. The lobster eggs can be obtained from aquarium
stores dealing with marine invertebrates and make an excellent staple. Live foods such as Daphnia and mosquito larvae are, of course, very
readily eaten, and I would imagine that they would eat small livebearer fry, too.  These glassfish have proved to be robust community fish, and
have coexisted happily with Celebes halfbeaks, a South American puffer, cardinal tetras, and a variety of other small to medium sized fish.
They are exceptionally fast swimmers, and seem perfectly able to avoid trouble from things like territorial dwarf cichlids. One surprise has
been how readily they school with hatchetfish, and oddly enough, how happy the hatchetfish seem to be with glassfish. They make a nice combination.
Finally, Schäfer also suggests that the species of glassfish most commonly dyed is P. siamensis.
<I have/had thought they were P. ranga>
I cannot verify this: very few, if any, aquarium stores in England still offer painted glassfish.
<Good for them>
But certainly the image on your web site reminds me more of that species than P. ranga. To my eye at least, P. siamensis is about 3 times as long as it
is deep, while the other two dwarf glassfish are only 2 times as long as they are deep.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MiscFishPIX/Parambassis_rangaLymph.jpg
<I see>
It is, I suppose, possible that there are populations of P. ranga and P. lala that come from brackish water and need salt added to the
aquarium; all I can say is that adding salt should be thought of more as a supplement for glassfish that are obviously not healthy rather
than as a staple required by all of them.
I hope that this is useful, and wish you all the very best.
Sincerely,
Neale
  <Thank you for this valuable input Neale. Will post/share. Look forward to your new book. Bob Fenner>

Painted Glass[fish] AKA "Tetras" Parambassis (Chanda) ranga 5/23/03
WWM Crew,
<cheers, Andy>
As I have recently found out my Painted Glass Tetras are actually a type of perch - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7686.asp, I would like to know what kind of conditions are good for them and what other fish can I put with them?
<we have an FAQ page dedicated to them here, my friend:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/chandidfaqs.htm
and much more info on fishbase.org here:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=10130&genusname=Parambassis&speciesname=ranga
P.S. I would like to commend you on your website and the information it contains. I have learned quite a bit from reading your site and I have put it in my web browser favorites.
<thanks kindly! It is redeeming for us to hear. Best regards, Anthony>

Painted Glass tetras (Ambassids)
We recently purchased some Painted Glass Tetras. They look really nice. But when I was doing some research on them (something I will do BEFORE I buy anymore fish), I found that they may not be real tetras and their coloring is injected. Is this true? Andy Barnes
<Unfortunately this is true. The fish aren’t true “Tetras”, they are actually a member of the Perch family. And their bright colors are nothing more than a dye that is injected into them and it often leads to early deaths and illnesses. For more information there’s a good article at http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7686.asp Ronni>

Use of Glassfish images on/from WWM
Mr. Fenner,
Before the weekend i was contacted by the largest newspaper in Norway. They are doing an article on aquarium fish manipulated by man.
I have been asked to supply them with pictures of different fish and have found most of the pictures they need, but i have no good pictures of Chanda
ranga with colour injections.
I found pictures on
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/glassfishes.htm and i am now looking for the right man to ask for permission to use these pictures in the paper.
I would be happy if you could help me with this, and i must also  say that the reporter wanted the pictures "yesterday".
Please let me know if or if not you can help.
PC
<As the newspaper is borderline commercial/educational I'll side with allowing these images use. Are you able to use the size, resolution of the images on our site? Do you need larger scans?
Bob Fenner>
Per Christian Hasselgreen
Oslo Akvarieklub
Karl Staafs vei 1
0665  Oslo
Oslo, Norway
tlf +47 22 65 05 69
mob +47 98 61 05 82
pch@chello.no

Use of Glassfish images on/from WWM
Hi,
I am very happy that you will let us use the photos. I agree that the newspaper is borderline, but it is after all the intention to bring light on
the problems in the aquarium hobby. Therefore I have not charged them for the other photos we have delivered.
<Ah, good>
I feel that it is important that we get this in the papers now that they are interested in us. Norway may actually get a change from the government
hearings that are happening right now. We (three aquarium organizations) were actually asked to have an extra meeting with the government committee
after the first hearing to discuss what measurements can be taken.
<Are Sven Fossa and Alf Nilsen involved? I do hope so... they are Norwegians and very much at the forefront of the (marine) aquarium interest. Are you, your organizations familiar with John Dawes? the OFI? I am cc'ing them here as an introduction.>
If you could please send the Fotos and name of who took it and granted permissions me I shall pass it on to the paper. I'll keep you posted on the
development.
<I am the photographer. What size, format are you looking for? We can (re)scan and send them to you over the Internet>
I am not the one to answer what resolution is needed in the paper, so i would be happy if I could have a picture with higher resolution to send to
the reporter so they can choose.
Gratefully,
PC Hasselgreen
<Tiff's? Of what output size? 300 dpi? Bob Fenner>

Re: SV: SV: Oslo, Norway
Hi Mr. Fenner,
As I said, i don't know what format or resolution is best for them. Cant we just give them a large tiff file and  then let them shrink it if they want?
<I will contact the person whose email you've sent along and ask specifically>
I think that it will be rather big in the paper, as she was most very keen on getting this picture. I really have no idea. The pictures go to the
Journalist called   line.dugstad@vg.no
Svein Fossa is the representative for "Norsk Zoobransje Forening" which is the organization for shops here in Norway. He was therefore involved in the
same hearing as us. He has contributed with some photos, too. Those were of colour-bathed fish. Alf Nilsen i must admit, i don't know, but then again I am not into salt water, except when diving, which is not often, as I live in cold, cold
Norway.
<Mmm, he is a partner in writing with Svein, both are very knowledgeable about issues in the hobby, trade, science of ornamental aquatics. Svein has contacted me re our correspondence. Bob Fenner>
PC

Re: SV: SV: Oslo, Norway
Mr. Fenner.
I am off to Sweden to buy some fish today. I'll be leaving in 20 minutes. I will not be able to use my phone after 2 hours from now, and of course
unable to read mail. If you are able to send the pictures today, please send them to line.dugstad@vg.no
She is the reporter who is covering this.
<No worries. I will wait on her response to re-scan, send>
Thank you very much for all your trouble so far,
Gratefully
PC
<Be chatting, Bob Fenner>

Re: SV: Oslo, Norway
Hi Bob,
<Hi Svein>
Thanks for Cc'ing me in on this. I am actually involved in both the parliament (and previously government) hearings on animal welfare, and the
newspaper article. The hearings is something I've been involved with for years as a consultant to the Norwegian Pet Trade Assoc. The newspaper issue
came about because P.C. Hasselgreen actually referred the journalist to me, referring to me as his "sharpest enemy" - no less! :-)
<Ah, good. Just wanted to make sure these folks were aware of you, your involvement, expertise>
As you may know, I will be addressing the Aquarama Conference in May on exactly the topic of "man made fish", so ethical dilemmas and controversies
surrounding these issues is a great concern to me.
<Yes>
Unfortunately, some people in the Norwegian hobbyist organizations have a tendency not to listen to reason (at least not when it comes from someone that is associated with the aquatic industry, like myself). I would wish they could tread carefully when it comes to aiming for negative publicity on aquarium keeping - but
they seem rather to want to create as much fuss as possible.
<Unfortunately... human nature dictates that some vocal minority will often look for "trouble", to draw attention to themselves more than seeking to understand...>
Getting media interest for any issue is always easier when they smell a scandal. I can only hope and pray that any positive effects of whatever the
newspaper decides to run, will be greater than the negative ones.
Regards,
Svein
<Agreed. See you in Singapore. Bob Fenner>

Re: glass fish
Hi Bob~
I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist", and it definitely influenced my decision to study Aquarium Science at Michigan State University next fall.  Thanks for all the great information that you have passed along both on the site and in your book.
<Glad to be a positive influence>
I was on the Wet Web Media site, and noticed that you have glassfish in the brackish section stating that they need both salt in the aquarium and live foods to survive.  I have had three of these fish for the past couple of years in my community tank with no salt, and only flake foods.  They are about 1 1/2 inches long currently, and I was wondering if I should make some changes to my tank or move these fish.  When I bought these fish, I was never told that they needed to be moved into brackish conditions.
<Interesting... Chanda ranga? Well, our experiences definitely differ here. This is a stock item (unfortunately "colored" too often) in the aquarium trade... and so have sold over many years time (in the past). Please see here for someone else's input: http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:OfDbbS4T-VsC:perso.club-internet.fr/vmillat/tropical fish/fish/chanda_ranga.htm+chanda+ranga
&hl=en&i.e=UTF-8
fishbase.org was running too slow...>
Any information that you could pass along I would greatly appreciate.
Thank you,
Melody Scott
<Thank you for the input. Bob Fenner>