Don't Get These Fish IF You Want PEACE!

[@duya605]

John, to answer to your question about flowerhorn, I will give you some imformations. In about 10th-11th century, China invaded many countries in Asia so some of their cultures affect the denpendent countries such as fairy tales, stories,... And in Chinese fairy tales, they have male faries who have bald and very big head or in Buddha, there are 18 arahat who were disciples of Buddha also have a round bump on their head to display their wisdom. So that is the reason why Asian breeder's first flowerhorn breeded to replicate their gods appeared in Campuchia, Taiwan,Thailand( denpend on where you read article)in order to wish household luck in life. However, flowerhorn fish trend also changes over time, first breeder focused on making their head as big as possible, then they stopped that and moved on making their black patern look like chinese word, and the latest trend is to make the white line on their body more and more shiny. And another question is why flowerhorns are so aggressive, well just simply think they are oversize bettas with a little bit more decor destruction, the female are quite docile you can keep them with other same size cichclids while the male ones are territorial, and that is also the breeder's fault, if you want to have a nice round big flowerhorn's head, you will have to making their territorial instinct always alerted by showing their reflection to produce hormone. Hope this help answering your questions (This comment may has many grammar error, if so I am sorry because English is not my first language)

[@leobuana7430]

So, it's truly nut sack

[@navneetwadhera3467]

I'm disappointed you didn't share your story with the Convicts and the Arowana

[@Whips_World]

Convicts get a bad wrap, and it's mostly deserved, but as you said, there are always contrairian opinions and experiences. I have not personally had an issue so far. I had 14 of them that survived as fry after my 210 blew up. I couldn't catch them all when I caught up the rest of the larger fish I was forced to rehome, so they got pulled after the immediate panic mode passed. Those fry were then placed in the new 210 and raised up with the new fish that came in roughly the same size and everyone grew up together (growing up together doesn't necessarily mean they'll get along long term, it just worked out for me this time). Then, when I rebooted a decade later, I bought two more Convicts. One died (or was killed) right away, but the remaining Convict is the same as the others I've had - not aggressive at all - and has been coexisting with the other cichlids and catfish for years. Also, and I'll say it to your face, Convicts are an absolutely stunning fish when they're full grown and not all tore up. Tell me I'm wrong. Go ahead. Say it... Say it

[@weasel9062]

I think their cousin the T-Bar is better looking full grown. But yeah they look okay. The pinkish ones are definitely attractive when larger. At keast attention grabbing.

[@mk-xh8rm]

You put a convict in a small box and they get violent, who'd a thunk it?!?😂

[@PlainsPup]

I like semi-aggressive fish. That is, they don’t dither about like most tetras and minnows, but they’re not super territorial, either. I’m talking about certain types of cichlids, anabantoids, and some others. For example: angelfish, festivum, severum, blue acara; blue gourami, pearl gourami, betta. Also: pictus catfish, shark minnows, etc. Fish like these have really interesting behaviors, but are still able to coexist with others pretty peacefully most of the time. That’s why I love ‘em.

[@NoahTempleton-zk2bc]

I'm looking at getting pictus catfish what other fish would you put in there with them

[@PlainsPup]

@NoahTempleton-zk2bc The would go well with everything in my list above, except for the betta (which they might eat once they’re big enough). If you have at least a 75g tank, the severum would be a good choice, as well as silver dollar characins.

[@TnTAquatics]

I subscribed just because you said flowerhorns are angry all the time because they have a nutsack on their head 😂😂😂 I'm dead

[@Jack_Splendens]

Nice informative video for every aquarist. I especially loved the betta part of it, because I made something lil bit similar on my hungarian fishkeeper channel and talked about how bettas cannot fit into community tanks at all and better kept alone. These are things that every aquarist should know, great job, I'm a huge fan of John's "I tell what I want and how I want" style, funny and stylish at same time. ❤❤

[@LazyRider987]

Hi Lisa and John! My betta, Delta, has made it absolutely crystal clear what he tolerates sharing his space with. Other fish? Nope, bullies them. Shrimp? Delicious, thank you! Mystery snail? Ok, you're cool, I guess. Delta is such a goober, I love him even though he doesn't play well with others... Aside from one mystery snail.

[@Static823]

omg that comment about flowerhorns having a giant "nut sack" on their heads made me lose it 🤣

[@TragedyGB]

🤣

[@sum1liteamatch]

I feel like even though you mentioned Bettas are related to gouramis, that gouramis need a spot on the list, especially when most pet stores encourage you to get groups of them. I've lost quite a few fish due to trusting the wrong people

[@mikek7702]

Great video John. It's good to educate newbies and even intermediate level! I will say, I'm however one of the exceptions. I have a 170G african cichlid tank with Peacocks, Haps, Mbunas and 2 really big Red Devils. All really peaceful for 2 years now! I have a small rock formation in center of tank so really no hiding place. Also, total number of Africans is 18 so I think the over stocking helps cut down on aggression.

[@annemarieacosta8775]

I prefer a peaceful tank with no bullies ! 😊 Thanks for the heads up !

[@DaGoonR]

I've kept most of those cichlids. Can vouch for the auratus being a jerk. My worst was a male Jack Dempsey that wouldn't even let the heater hang in the tank much less other fish.

[@markmeador1137]

I made the mistake of purchasing a small arawana. When it got bigger it did kill everything. It started destroying the tank when it ran out of fish. I had a under gravel system and it tore the tubes out. If I put my hand it the tank to fix it, I got bit. I have scars on my arms where that serial killer tried to remove flesh. I finally gave it to the aquarium at the Houston Zoo.

[@brettkirby4459]

I had Tiger Barbs in a 125 with a 3 foot African lungfish. The barbs annihilated the tentacles and dorsal before I even realized it. Fortunately after removing the barbs the lungfish made a full recovery.

[@Staci.Wilson]

Almost spit out my drink the first time John said "nut sack" when talking about Flowerhorns. 😆

[@Gyj-s1l9479]

New subscriber and wanted to say I really enjoy these videos. I used to have a community tank; love all aquatic and marine life but very green in keeping. Miss the beauty of the tank but not the maintenance or headaches. Probably in the future I will have a community tank, these videos have been very helpful

[@gouldschick101]

I've done most of the ranges currently I have a semi-aggression/mild aggression level community tank and it's quickly becoming my new favorite way of putting fish together in a large tank.

[@jburr2468]

You could add common pleco to just about any list you could ever think of. I had a 1ft pleco in a 39 gal(I didn't know any better) and he was vicious. I loved that fish.

[@NoahTempleton-zk2bc]

I have a bunch of bristlenose Plecos in my 4ft tank with my Oscars and I swear I never see them

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

This video in short: "Don't Get Cichlids IF You Want PEACE!". CIchlids are the two-faced Januses of fishkeeping: caring with partners and offspring, intelligent, personable, and yet territorial, aggressive, sometimes downright mean with everything else (fish, plants and even ornaments). I'd like trying them, maybe one pair of Kribs; but I'm in a busy period of life, and don't know if my Congo Tetras might be safe from them (expecially when breeding, which is an experience which should be made with Cichlids). Maybe in the future, for the moment by I'd prefer going safe.

[@BlackKoiRecords]

Sunday Funday! Waking up to a new fish video!

[@lexxwhite747]

Im amused by watching fish chase each other periodically, but not in a malicious way if that makes any sense. Sadly John, there are tons of people walking around with a nutsack on their foreheads 😂

[@itsgemshtone]

The 8 fish that you lost in the saltwater got my heart strings. I just lost a female betta. I have a sister of hers from the same clutch. Shes doing well

[@NatashaReeder]

John now you gotta do a list of the nicest fish …pretty please 😇

[@things_and_such8566]

Ive kept tiger barbs almost exclusively in one of my tanks for like 12 years, naturally ive gone through a few schools as generations have died out from age mostly. Ive literally never seen them be aggressive to anything, if you keep enough of them they'll form a pecking order amongst themselves and not bother other fish. In a 50g tank i have right this moment i have a school of 30 with angelfish and all my angels have perfect fins. The key is to keep enough, if you think you have enough, you need to add like 10-20 more normally. And a long tank for them to bomb back and forth is necessary.

[@ronaldpierce8135]

Love have a tank with fish that bring joy and happiness

[@benjamins15779]

Hi. I'm new in this hobby and I have a question. what are the things should I do if my cichlids are in the top of the tank and gasping for air? Thx

[@qweed54]

Check your tank chemistry and make sure ammonia & nitrites are at zero, and if you don’t have an air stone, add one

[@nelsonbenjamin-gomez7536]

@@qweed54 Don't know what to do. My cichlids are swimming on the top gasping for oxygen. I have an air stone and wave maker. Water test, amm-0, Nitrate-40, Nitrite-0,Hardness-25(very soft), Chlorine-0,Alkalinity-180,PH-7.8,Temp-82. Thx in advance. Did 25% water change...

[@adcooper17]

You are correct about Oscars I have one right now. He is 2 years old. He has gotten crazy all of a sudden. He attacks some tank mates and fellow Oscars. He push the medium size pebbles I have around and to the glass. Thankfully, the glass is 1/2 inch thick tempered. He is very much moody.

[@drewsta005]

I had just restarted my fish keeping hobby. Had a Dempsey (female), Texas Cishlid, and a female convict. I added a male convict and the two paired off immediately wreaked havoc. I had to rehome to my hospital tank, and they had babies within a month. 7 years later I have one baby from the initial brood. (I gave my LFS the rest of the babies)

[@tomp6685]

I think angelfish are another species that many people think are little "angels." I mean, they can be, but man, they can be horrible.

[@MountainFisher]

Julies' or Julidochromis African Cichlid is a beautiful fish, but you get a few and when two of them pair off it's easy to tell. You get 2 of them on one side of the tank while the others stay on the other side then remove the pair and put them in their own 20 gallon tank. You will soon be raising them, but they're mouth brooders.

[@dorothyh4119]

My community tank is VERY peaceful right now, rasboras Corys and peacock gudgeon. What are some cool additions that keep the peace?

[@rockyandmiles9889]

We Pomeranians just want to say; we may look so cute and fluffy 🥰 but can definitely have an attitude 👹 🤣🤣

[@SusanMonk-nx2qv]

I had a tiger Barb that mercilessly picked on my Cory catfish, constantly nipping at dorsal fins.

[@zeninsyt]

Lisa ! Love that NorthFin shirt ... I am sure Darius loves that you are wearing it too 😉

[@Jeswald1]

I had a tiger barb named Bruce. He was nipping the guppies, so he lived a long life in a goldfish bowl!

[@NEnigma777]

Hahaha I have an otocinclus named Bruce!

[@Jeswald1]

@@NEnigma777 LOL I was about 6 and don't know where I came up with "Bruce!" (Maybe Batman?) My mom bought him for me because she thought all fish would get along! Nope! But Bruce lived a long life in his little bowl!

[@brassbuckles]

I had a betta I kept with a big goldfish. He would chase the goldfish around. On the one hand, the goldfish ultimately outlived the betta and they never actually hurt one another. On the other, that poor goldfish was surely stressed out by it.

[@dixsigns1717]

I want a "Peaceful tank"! Well done, Red tail shark so cute as babies - were bad news for me.

[@harrytaylor8979]

The flower horn part had me laughing so hard I was crying

[@jordanlewis4950]

I think I just woke up everyone in my house when I got to the flower horn portion of the video literal tears!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@awartank]

My 7" blood parrot would kill anything in my 4' tank, but I love her. With cichlids every fish is unique.

[@skykn1ght78]

Meanest fish I ever had: Green Terrors when the pair spawned! Both the male and female went on the war path vs everything else even a big pelco.

[@shamensameera43]

I have 9 tiger barbs, one Britlenose Pleco, 4 cherry barbs, 4 bumblebee Goby, 2 Denison barbs, 2 balloon tetra and 2 spiny loaches and all get along well. Haven't had any fin nipping even this far. Am I just too lucky?

[@chrisc2683]

I’ve kept Convicts before and they weren’t a problem at all.

[@curtishall7231]

I have a hydra outbreak and I have fish and shrimp in the aquarium. What is the best way to get rid of them without harming the shrimp and fish plus plants?

[@Feesh195]

Ok its a problem now i cant stop watching u 0:05 my goldfish during feeding time

[@kinglyzard]

Whats the deal with flowerhorns, anyway? Is that thing on their head natural, or is it a result of our tinkering, like the wen on goldfish?

[@mickeysr5817]

Great video 😊 my 55 gallon convit tank has been running good for yrs

[@robclemons6308]

Just keep cichlids with I'm cichlids and overstock them with lots of structure and it usually ends great

[@Cherubim666999]

Yeah, I have managed to mixed african cichlids and as long as I have enough different "territories" that differ from one another seldom have had fights...they have from time to time but a couple every few months die but they reproduce so much that its not always a bad thing.

[@Crazyeddie44]

Thank you, i am one of those who was starting to prep a tank to get a few Betas, not anymore.

[@NEnigma777]

My bettas killed two otocinclus and I have to make sure my bettas are fed because the days I feed them less, they go nipping at the remaining otocinclus. At least my bettas get along well. They seem very bonded. I think they’re so bonded that I can’t add any more non bettas in my tank. They ate a snail that showed up from plants, so I just don’t think I can add any other fish or tank mates like shrimp and snails. I’m hoping my remaining otocinclus makes it 😳 By the way, my bettas aren’t psychopathic serial killers, I promise! They love to be pet by me and are very social with me so I don’t think they’re mean; they’re just territorial

[@alexrahardjazh]

Flower horn you can keep them with fishes as big as they are and living on huge tank. As long they are wll fed its ok Peacock bass,etc can live withthem so does redtail catfish

[@pelhamsaquatics]

Mu convicts and firemouths will flare at each other, kept together for years, now the Red Devils…. Yeah name applies there!

[@farley2408]

I have the one of the “exceptional” Betta.Did not get along with Pygmy Corycats. Moved the Corys to de stress the Betta.

[@PULAG]

Had a panda barb/melon barb, smallest fish in the tank, yet would terrorize everyone else to literal death. Most say those fish are peaceful lol.

[@johncameron4194]

Good video 👍

[@ulyssespeterson6821]

I've said it before and I'll die on this hill. When inexperienced people say they want piranhas, they actually want tiger barbs.

[@kinglyzard]

Cichlids like Oscars suddenly tearing up the tank sounds like sheer boredom to me, not different than a dog chewing up your new leather sofa, or an Orca suddenly turning on its trainer. Intelligent critters don't generally take to captivity well. Environment enrichment is vital.

[@Vincent-kx9ze]

THE best Superman! 😏😏😏

[@dorothyh4119]

I'm planning to upgrade my 10 gallon community to a 40 gallon tank that needs to occupy the same space and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed 😅 any tips?

[@HopeB555]

My convicts were little sweeties. Never bothered anyone. But I know my experience was not the norm. 😅

[@dennisaskeland7603]

Didn Duu fish

[@RiverRat1953]

I have 4 buenos ares tetras that are free to anyone who can catch them in my 55g community tank. I bought them without researching them and found out that they are not so friendly. My Bolivian rams are saints compared to them.

[@HopeB555]

@@RiverRat1953 I'd take them in a heartbeat. I've got a 37 that I need a schooling fish for

[@ShamuAquatics]

Rainbow sharks and redtail sharks : My all-time favorite fish but there’s a reason I stopped keeping them.

[@user-ec9ev5fz6r]

My mbunas killed my oscar and 1 parrot fish, and the other parrot stays always at the corner of the tank in fear. What should i do

[@Trouble_Bubble36]

Separate them

[@beccawilkins7350]

What are the best mates for geos. And blue acara ?

[@idealchanful]

Like for dogs, I like my fishes small, peaceful and innoffensive

[@scroobydoobie2432]

When u said fish breeding that lay eggs are very aggressive reminds me of Finding Nemo when Marlin the clown fish tried fighting the barracuda but sadly he lost that fight 😢

[@karenhann8956]

Flowerhorns ~ either you love em or you hate em. ❤

[@Heartshackles]

I love the look of tiger barbs but I think I will stick to the five stripe barb instead because I prefer peace :')

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

So true John. What works for some doesn’t always work for most !!! I’ve tried them all and had horrible luck with them all !! But even when the tank sizes are appropriate the fish will still feel the need to be mean and now I have 6 aquariums all with one fish because the tank mates thing Nvr worked !!

[@georgeford3687]

I started my 20 gallon tank with 6 tetras and 3 green tiger barbs and I took the barbs back because the stress lvl was too much for the tetras. Lesson learned but the salesperson should have warned me imo

[@scottgordin9709]

I 100% agree with John with the Flower Horn, it's a useless fish that can only be in the tank by itself. Convicts are the douchebag of the fish world, I had a 55 gal years ago and wanted to try my hand with "African Cichlids" so I bought about twenty all together of different kinds and two convicts, I didn't know then what I know now and the dude at the pet shop never said nothing. A year later I had no African Cichlids in the tank and literally about 70 Convicts and I couldn't give them away, finally I donated them all to the local chainstore pet shop, and I mean I had them all in two 5 gal buckets and left them at the register, never again will I own Convict Cichlids.

[@ashworld1016]

I have Gauramis, Discus, Iridescent sharks, tetras, pleco, Mono angel in a tank. Constant entertainment. 😂

[@aquatheorypena5608]

Flower horns are cool

[@soogymoogi]

I work in the fish dept at a petstore and I actually gave some free pest snails to a lady yesterday for her betta who eats them! He also beat up a nerite snail apparently... crazy 😂 We also tend to keep the tiger barbs on their own, though recently I've put them together with skunk loaches. Talk about a stalemate lol

[@dismalfist]

I think it really doesn't matter if someone keeps fish because they love having mean fish. I mean heck if you absolutely ADORE having a tank of piranha because they're mean and you feel amazing about that, and that leads you to take amazing care of them then who cares? The piranha you bought will lead excellent lives and live happily, whatever your motivations for keeping them and what I might or might not think about that.

[@matthewplowden8610]

Nutsack 😂😂😂😂

[@itzmeololz]

Third comment and 60th view im proud of myself

[@robclemons6308]

Oscars and bichirs do great with a bunch of mbuna as long as you have a rock structure

[@Minkkiiii]

Hey, i need anyones help. So about a month or two ago i got my first fishes 12 neon tetras. I also have those small plecos with them in that tank. So they have all been doing great, until today.. so basically the plecos are okay but the neon tetras are just staying still in the middle of the tank and sometimes they are in the top of the tank, head up just staying still opening their mouth a lot. I have no idea whats going on and i am really worried and scared. Someone please help im begging you.

[@aaronfrogboy2365]

That's because your aquarium is not cycled I think this channel has a video explaining it

[@ostravia]

The most aggressive fish I ever kept (30 years) was an Orange Tiger, Cichlasoma Urophthalmus, he was sent to a store with many females and himself on his own in the same container, because somebody wanted a single male. All the females dead in transit, and I knew the fish dealer well and he was only small 4 inches and they gave him for free because they could not put him in a tank with even much bigger fish. Psycopath. I put him in a 200 gallon and he got to 17 inches max size and lived very long. Gravel no good, decorations no good - fanned to my partner and very loving to me. He did not have a good start to life. Just wanted to tell you that.

[@AntonioCastro-ws8uk]

I kept flowerhorns with other fish I didn’t have to much trouble with them. The only fish I wouldn’t keep is red devils

[@rahulbarnwell1536]

I dont want piece, i want problems

[@Dave-hk3pv]

and i'm here wandering why danios breed and lay eggs more than guppys and plattys, i have 10 zebra danios and 6 celestial that breed non stop in my 45 gallon community tank, to the point i just got a 75 gallon breeder, with 6 breeding basket to have them there even though i wasn't intending on breeding them in the first place waiting for the cycle to stabilize before getting them there.

[@George-qk6hg]

Once i had congo tetras and when i added cardinal tetras the Congo tetras killed all the cardinal tetras.

[@forevergreat8398]

Every once in awhile u run into a Jeffery Dunham 😂😂😂 best analogy

[@prathviparihar7857]

My betta also eat ramhorns 🤣 And u forget putting jewel chiclid I had em and they where far meaner than convict They almost killed my green which is double there size

[@SavannahGeorge-mm4jd]

I think gouramis deserve a spot on here too

[@mondogeckosexoticsandoddit5866]

Not on your list, but I was just given a few kenyi mbunas, I had no idea how darn ruthless they are lmao

[@SolidSL510]

I’m a big fan of aggressive cichlids. I like the one that bite like Oscar’s and FH

[@weasel9062]

Barbs are the worst. You need a 40 gallon+ and a school of 10-20 minimum. No "school of 6" rule with these guys. I couldnt convince my GF not to try 3 in her 20 gallon, she wanted to argue I said "Okay do what you want." Meanwhile I have kept all sorts of cichlids and currently have some South Americans and Central Americans in a mixed 80 gallon tank with no major aggression. An hour after we got the barbs home, they were in separate tanks and the next day they were back at the fish store.

[@prolaysantra27]

Nope. I have a 1.5 feet arowana with guppies in a 6 feet paludarium. They live peacefully. Love from Kolkata, India.

[@kawaiipurplesaphire6163]

That is too small for a 1.5 feet arowana it literally only has 5 feet to swim like what-🕸💀

[@markfranklin8831]

Great video really liked it

[@briant.4618]

Went looking on the website, didn't find it, might be blind, but do you guys carry anything similar to Cobalt shrimp pellets? My cories go nuts over them

[@KGTropicals]

We sell Xtreme Shrimpy and Kats Aquatics but no Cobalt.

[@FishCapadesProductions]

Does the flowerhorns huge bump on their head even serve a practical purpose? 😅

[@karenhann8956]

Nope! 😉

[@sum1liteamatch]

To prevent me from getting one. I won't ever be tempted into a giant angry fish if it's that horrible to look at

[@ostravia]

They best way is to have mean and nasty fish that get along is know how to do and it is to understand them - and I have a big aquarium and my Jag, Parrot and Fire Eell and Royal - fully grown get along just great - because I introduced them properly, and it is fully decorated. You have to see them when they are young before they buy them and watch them - take them out and put them with more aggressive fish. You have to recognise a pacifist rather than a psycopath - and I have been able to do it until they die of old age. I agree with you and it it can be done though.

[@desmondxiii]

I hope I am your 500k sub! Love your vids keep it up folks.

[@denrenvavanaardt6989]

they really are a pain but i only keep aggressive/monster fish , besides 1 tank with cloud minnows, red devil . arowana, blue texas, green terror , assortment of catfish, cichlids you name it , peacefull fish dont really bring me joy

[@Shane-ps3rn]

What was johns other than site where he doing his house up?

[@richardmcgrew2167]

Good video

[@gregory7414]

I've had convicts in a community aquarium. Two of them. I never had an issue. Luckily. But I know some can be mean...

[@AntonioCastro-ws8uk]

Me too I like a safe tank