newbie here, I need help!

[rcl]

Hi I am new to this board and new to having fish as pets. I recently started fishing for catfish, and became very interesting in them. I think they look so cool! Anyway I was doing a report for one of my classes about catfish and I ended up on this site, and was extremely surprised to hear there were so many types of catfish that could be held as pets! I have only ever seen channel cats, and seen pictures of flatheads and blues. From this site I see there are *many* more species and I think that is so cool!

I am interested in suggestions for beginner species, I am interested in a species that is not extremely tiny, but obviously not very large either.

A friend said he would give me a 10 gallon tank (we think it is 18?x12x12, or close to it). I think about 2.5'x1'x1' is the absolute largest I could have anyhow due to space concerns, so I think this 10 gallon should be enough? Other than this, I have absolutely no idea for the costs or equipment that are required (filters, temperature control, ph control, anything)

I am also wondering about how much it costs to feed the fish, and also about how much these things COST. It seems like these exotic species might be very expensive or hard to find. I am in Northern Virginia (USA). I think that going online to buy fish would be REALLY expensive if not just because of shipping, plus I would like to see the fish in person to get a feel for if I like them or not if that is possible.

Any other concerns I should watch out for? Tips and stories about beginner mistakes gone wrong?

Looking forward to hearing from you pros!

Robert Lorentz

[Viking Bear]

You ask a lot questions with long answers?

First I would suggest that you do a web search on "how to set up a tank." You can then make your list of things that you want to have.

One point that I suggest for you to get the biggest tank that you can afford. I do not recommend that your first tank to be ten gallon set. A twenty or thrity would be better. A 55 gallon is better still. The true that larger tank go our of balance more slowly so you have to fix the problems if they happen.

Point two: do not overstock the tank.

Point three research fish before you buy them. Read artciles so you know what conditions the fish need to live. There are hundreds of species of fish available to people today. I like cory catfish. It is really your choicee. I would suggest go with less expensive fish at first. They tend to be tougher. It seems that the twenty dollar fish dies but $.99 lives forever.

good luck.

[Elle]

I'd say the same. Go with some corys. I have an Iredescant Shark myself. He is only 3, maybe 4 inches long now, but I found out that they get MUCH bigger (4ft+ bigger)!!!!! But right now he is just a few inches long. He is silver. I hope that helped!

-Elle

[S. Allen]

yeah, a 10 gallon's pretty limiting, and so is a budget... Cories are probably the best way to go, maybe a dwarf bristlenose or something if you find one cheap.

As for mistakes, cycling with fish was the biggest one I made.

And, before purchasing any fish, go online and spend a few minutes reading about what water paramaters it'll need, what it likes to eat, and what it's temperment is.