Getting a fish tank

Now that we've moved into our new apartment and plan to be here for a while I've been thinking of getting a fish tank. I previously had a 3 gallon tank. I'm thinking of getting at least at 10 gallon tank. My fiance said I should get a 20 gallon tank, but I'm not sure. Also, we were discussing what kind of fish to get. I want something pretty, but something that also lasts. He suggested guppies. Also, how many to put in a tank. A pet store clerk once told me 1 fish per gallon. I figured that I'd get 5 for a ten gallon, but my fiance seems to think that's too many. Any suggestions?

I did the 10 gallon route when I had a couple goldfish. Don't forget that water weighs 8 pounds a gallon! So, with water in it, even a 10 gallon tank weighs a zillion pounds (cleaning it can be obnoxious). I would try the 10 and get 3-5 fish myself. I only had 2 goldfish but one died. I also had a cat at the time and even with a screen over the top, the cat managed to pull down the framed picture I had on that wall and break it, etc. trying to get to the fish.

Do you know where you'll put it? That makes a difference. When we moved into our house, the only place I really had for the tank was in the basement! I thought that was dumb (even though it was a finished basement) since we didn't go down there very much. I couldn't see cleaning the tank and feeding, etc. when I wouldn't be enjoying them much. So, we took the remaining fish to a pond and "released" it into the wild. Fishing, I immediately caught a sunfish almost smaller than the goldfish I'd just released! I knew then that "DD" would be fine in the pond.

S/he'd come from a County fair, I had had my husband toss quarters into fish bowls to win it, it only cost $5 or so (much more than at the pet store :-) and since he'd won it for me (he didn't want fish because he didn't want filters or other "noisy" equipment in the living room of our apartment, he can't stand equipment noises like that) I asked him to name it. He told me "DD" and I asked why that name (thinking it was "Dee Dee" short for Denise or something) and he explained it stood for "Dead Duck" as his sons had had goldfish before and they'd always died immediately. Since I wasn't "allowed" a filter he figured this fish wouldn't make it either but I'd had goldfish before too and never had any problem with them. DD thrived and grew in the 3-5 years we had him/her. Was a very happy fish. That's why I got a silver and black goldfish-type (DD was just a regular orangish goldfish) whom I named "Blackie" but I think DD killed it. I don't know what happened.

But guppies and goldfish, etc. don't need filters or anything, maybe some plants and a snail or two (I never had any luck with the snails?) to help keep it clean and oxygenated? But I would go with a smaller tank first and see how that goes and then graduate up if you like that and get into it, etc. I think larger than about 10 you're going to want oxygenators, filters, heaters, and a whole lot more "hardware" and stuff and it will be harder to clean and you'll have to really be into it. But I just had the 3 gallon bowl with the 2 fish in it in the apartment to start with so I'm sure you can do 5-6 easy with the 10 gallon?

Previously I had a fan tail goldfish, a regular goldfish and a algea eatter... I went on vacation, put two of those feeder things in and when I came back my two goldfish were hiding in the corner of the tank and there was just BONES of the algea eatter! The other two fish died the next day and that was the end of my fish for a while.

And one still feels pretty bad when one's goldfish die! It's weird that one can get attached to fish.

It is terrible I agree, I lost two Gold fish and was really upset........

Lost a budgie too and was devastated.

Hi Spazz >> Not see ya in awhile > < You cool .

Any who ... Many dif things to think of : Maitenance is easy with a Fluval type cannister filter system . Google it as to 20 gal tank . Keeps constant bio world >>> Instructions explain how >>>> Extremely low maintenance .

Lava rock bottom cover is easily filtered ,, no need for underground filter stuff with peguin type airator . { cannister airator filter system very worth the cost .}

In so far as fish go Plecostamus get along with all community and semi - aggressive fish . Pleco is an algea eater type fishy .

Schooling fish are the coolest to watch and you can put many dif species as to community classification .

The 1 fisk per gallon ??? >>> I have a 55 gal and I would be reluctant to put 55 fish in there ... Most I have done was 30 fish . Schooling groups of 5 or 7 and sometimes if tetras >>> mix them up in 3 's .... Think color and know some will die and you can rotate as you see most suited .

I have had tanks of all sizes for years >>> mollys and swordtails are pretty too .

First think of maintenace and filtration system . And then You will figure out the rest in time ...

B T W >>> Google the filter systems I suggested Fluval type cannister type are awesome .

how big roughly is a 10 gallon tank?

10 gal tank >>>> 20 " across x 10 " deep ,, 12 " high .

thanks

i had 20 and 55 gallons...back when the filters were still in the dark ages....theyve come along way since then......schooling fish are the best in my opinion.....

i use to have fish and i named them all bubbles. they all died though..