I'm Such an Idiot!

Tabatha · 01-20-2008, 09:51 PM

Today my husband picked out 4 golden algae eaters. The sign on the tank indicated they were a community fish. After we returned home I googled them...

As I'm sure many of you already know, they become aggressive as they get older and loose interest in eating algae

Further, they'll grow to 10"!

Does anyone have first hand experience? Advice? Can we return them when they get older?

BTW, they'll going into a 90 gallon heavily planted tank with tetras, rasboras, tiger snails and Amano shrimp.

So my blunder of the day? Four cute little Bumblebee gobie. Newbie mistank right? "Oooo, they're so cute!" Oooo, I'm such an idiot!

Crystalview · 01-20-2008, 11:14 PM

Our store lets us take them back within 48hrs. You seem to like the tail biters. I looked at Gobies and they get to big for me let a lone aggressive. If your LFS doesn't give you your money back exchange them for Oto's.

crazie.eddie · 01-20-2008, 11:28 PM

Most LFS/LPS do not take returns back in exchange for money or credit, but majority of them will take them in for free.

Canoe2Can · 01-20-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tabatha

BTW, they'll going into a 90 gallon heavily planted tank with tetras, rasboras, tiger snails and Amano shrimp.

If they haven't already, I'd suggest they not go in. Otherwise you'll probably be the next one posting a thread entitled "How do I get these out of my heavily planted tank???"

bigtanklvr · 01-20-2008, 11:30 PM

Don't wait to return the algae eaters they said they were community fish and there not they should at least exchange them. Crystalview was right about oto's there great algae eaters, I have a few myself.

James From Cali · 01-21-2008, 12:10 AM

Tabatha it depends on your store. If you bought them at petsmart then return them now as you only have 2 weeks to return them. I would stick with Oto's for diatoms and some more Amano shrimp. Shoot you can have about 15 Otos(if you want) and like 25 Amano Shrimp just for algae maintnence. Dont add them to the tank though cause you wont get them out anytime soon.

rasetsu · 01-21-2008, 07:21 PM

I agree with the other posts. Return them now. Do not introduce them to your community tank.

Tabatha · 01-21-2008, 07:31 PM

I phoned BAs (Scarborough) today, they were happy to take the little buggers back either for cash or trade this week. I mentioned that I felt they were labeled incorrectly but BAs insisted they were community fish! I reiterated all I'd read about them. Nothing but a pregnant pause.

Thus far our experiences with BA has not been good, we are not impressed. It's a real shame as the Scarb. store is clean, the tanks are more/less spotless compared to other lfs and they have a great selection.

The Golden SAE? We have a friend with a 150 gallon tank who actually WANTS them, despite their reputation. He has been warned and is well aware. At least they'll have a home.

Thank you all for your recommendations. Next time I'll stick to my guns and NOT make impulse (fish) purchases!!! Lesson learned.

01-20-2008, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tabatha Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 87	I'm Such an Idiot! Today my husband picked out 4 golden algae eaters. The sign on the tank indicated they were a community fish. After we returned home I googled them... As I'm sure many of you already know, they become aggressive as they get older and loose interest in eating algae Further, they'll grow to 10"! Does anyone have first hand experience? Advice? Can we return them when they get older? BTW, they'll going into a 90 gallon heavily planted tank with tetras, rasboras, tiger snails and Amano shrimp. So my blunder of the day? Four cute little Bumblebee gobie. Newbie mistank right? "Oooo, they're so cute!" Oooo, I'm such an idiot! __________________ ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. I love Microgeophagus ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

01-20-2008, 11:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazie.eddie Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: May 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,683	Most LFS/LPS do not take returns back in exchange for money or credit, but majority of them will take them in for free. __________________ 125 gal (473 liter): Low Tech (1.5wpg PC for 10 hours, no CO2/ferts, gravel substrate), Equipment (72" Coralife PC, Eheim Pro II 2128 w/built in heater, FilStar XP3 w/Hydor ETH201 inline heater), Fish (6Discus, 2Angel, 5Clown loaches, 4L-018 Gold Nugget pleco, 1L-260 Queen Arabesque pleco, 7Cories, Farlowella cat)

01-21-2008, 12:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
James From Cali Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 2,871	Tabatha it depends on your store. If you bought them at petsmart then return them now as you only have 2 weeks to return them. I would stick with Oto's for diatoms and some more Amano shrimp. Shoot you can have about 15 Otos(if you want) and like 25 Amano Shrimp just for algae maintnence. Dont add them to the tank though cause you wont get them out anytime soon. __________________ Default: Angelfish named Angelo Pianto

01-21-2008, 07:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tabatha Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 87	Rehomed I phoned BAs (Scarborough) today, they were happy to take the little buggers back either for cash or trade this week. I mentioned that I felt they were labeled incorrectly but BAs insisted they were community fish! I reiterated all I'd read about them. Nothing but a pregnant pause. Thus far our experiences with BA has not been good, we are not impressed. It's a real shame as the Scarb. store is clean, the tanks are more/less spotless compared to other lfs and they have a great selection. The Golden SAE? We have a friend with a 150 gallon tank who actually WANTS them, despite their reputation. He has been warned and is well aware. At least they'll have a home. Thank you all for your recommendations. Next time I'll stick to my guns and NOT make impulse (fish) purchases!!! Lesson learned. __________________ ~.~.~.~.~.~.~. I love Microgeophagus ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

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01-20-2008, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Crystalview Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Sierra's CA Posts: 483	Our store lets us take them back within 48hrs. You seem to like the tail biters. I looked at Gobies and they get to big for me let a lone aggressive. If your LFS doesn't give you your money back exchange them for Oto's.

01-20-2008, 11:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigtanklvr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto,Canada Posts: 33	Don't wait to return the algae eaters they said they were community fish and there not they should at least exchange them. Crystalview was right about oto's there great algae eaters, I have a few myself.

01-21-2008, 07:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
rasetsu Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 271	I agree with the other posts. Return them now. Do not introduce them to your community tank.

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