Sal Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 (edited) I never understood why so many people keep cardinal tetras. Don't come for me, but I always thought they were kind of overrated, and so many people seemed to LOVE them, I just didn't "get it." Then my LFS added a school of them to one of their community showcase tanks, and it changed my perspective completely... Now I've got a small school (25ish) in my 120 and I am completely obsessed with them. It was the little splash of color and activity that I was missing all along. Do you have a fish that grew on you?? What is it? Edited April 29, 2021 by Sal 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cys aquatics Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Hi @Sal i love cardinal tetras to, they just add a splash of color to everything, they work very good in a planted tank. The fish that grew on me are bristlenose plecos, please dont hate me but at first i thought they were ugly but when i got some for myself i soon grew to love them. now i have a pair in every tank that i own! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I don't keep any Cardinal Tetras yet. They have been on my to do list most of my life. There just seems to be something mesmerizing about a planted tank and a large school of Cardinal or Neon tetras. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JStrutt Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 For me, when I first started keeping fish, I swore I would never keep guppies. They just seemed too common (a laughable thing considering the first fish I kept were neon tetras and a betta). Then I got a trio as a classroom "experiment" to see if they would breed. That first group of fry had me hooked. When I brought some home, my wife fell in love, too. We now have three (small) tanks dedicated to guppies, and I am trying to convince her we need some outside. Needless to say, I'm hooked. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 For me it was my bristlenose pleco. I like some plecos, with the splashier patterns, but I was pretty meh about bristlenoses. I ended up needing some help with algae in my 75, and a bristlenose was really my best option - I have some challenges with fish compatibility and so often my choices are limited. So I got a super red, and I do enjoy the color. When I see it out and about I find myself watching. The sucker mouth creeps me out a bit though, lol! It's still growing out - needs a few more inches before I can add it to the 75. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Angelfish. What I didn't like was the pointy shape and black lines. I prefer softer shapes and I really dislike black of any form in aquariums. But then I found a solid peach angel, shiny all over, with translucent blue dangly fins. I've had him 4 years and still call him things like "handsome boy," "shiny boy," and "pretty fishy." 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 (edited) Small Gourami's. Absolutely fell in love with their behavior. I wish I could have more! Edited May 3, 2021 by Mmiller2001 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalita Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 (edited) Angelfish for me... never got what was so special about them. I haven't kept any but I found myself considering doing so - that's a big change! Edited April 29, 2021 by Kalita 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Otocinclus and corydoras. I thought they were dull in stores...no colors, and you need so many, they take space from more colorful fish...but they are so hilariously fun to watch!! Their personalities are just charming, I could just keep them alone and be happy. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 pandagarra. that little snake face was a turn off, but they are so cool, ive learned to overlook the beady little eyes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I didn’t really have any interest in Cardinals either, until I saw a big display tank full of them at the ADA store. There’s something about a school of blue fish floating above a lush aquascape that’s pretty magical 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I am a new fish keeper and love all fish. When people would tell me about plecos and Oto's and that I should get them I went to the LFS and felt MEH... until I saw 2 little oto's all alone. I got them. LOVE them, they zoom around, are very active. Then I got a clown pleco. Well, its cute when I see it.. which is rare. This week I ordered a super red long fin pleco. its in my QT tank and he is a total trip. he is VERY active. I have a cave, he won't go in. he swims around and is so cute!! I am glad I gave them a chance. I plan to get 20 cardinal tetra's for my 40 G .. I love them. I liked neon's initially till I saw a school of cardinals... total game changer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 15 minutes ago, Sandra the fish rookie said: ...until I saw 2 little oto's all alone. I got them. LOVE them... I love this little story! Compassion led to joy for the compassionate person. Perfect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamitha Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Rainbows. I just couldn't understand the attraction until I finally saw some at my lfs that seemed a perfect fit for one of my tanks. After speaking with the store owner at length I went for it. They've quickly become one of my favorite fish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiclid addict Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 6 hours ago, Sal said: I never understood why so many people keep cardinal tetras. Don't come for me, but I always thought they were kind of overrated, and so many people seemed to LOVE them, I just didn't "get it." Then my LFS added a school of them to one of their community showcase tanks, and it changed my perspective completely... Now I've got a small school (25ish) in my 120 and I am completely obsessed with them. It was the little splash of color and activity that I was missing all along. Do you have a fish that grew on you?? What is it? For me it’s bettas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWilson Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I admit I do also have a bit of "meh" response to neon tetras that should be corrected - though part of it is my impression that the ones often sold in stores are weak/poorly kept and so would just die on me. The turnaround I have made recently is on bristlenose plecos. I was never interested enough to look into them at all, but my partner got enamored with longfin albino bristlenose plecos at the store and took two home. Now I'm obsessed and have taken over their feeding and care and have spent most days since we got them researching plecos of all types. This is potentially the beginnin of a very long (and expensive) rabbit hole. lol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I have around 25 in my 120 - i'm mixed - they just sit there and look pretty - to be honest now that i'm up to 8 or 9 angels they ahve gotten a bit more skittish - when i had only 3 angels they were less shy. After i move they will be put in the ram tank and i'll find a larger tetra for the angel tank - maybe lemon or black neon. - Anyway i think people like them because they sit there an look pretty - not too many fishes with such a brilliant reflective blue/red in the freshwater world - lots in the salt water world but then all my plants would die: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan F Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 For me, it was Betta's I never really had an interest because they were always portrayed as a lone fish that stayed in a little bowl. That could not be housed with other fish because they would fight. I wanted lots of fish. Then I walked into a Petco and saw they have bettas in their display tanks with other fish. I was shocked. I talked one of the employees and she explained that Bettas can coexist with other fish. I spent the next few weeks reading up and seeing if they were a match for my neons and corys. They were and now I have my blue boo'berry (purchased on Halloween) Who I enjoy immensely. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate s Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 I have had angels and really never thought they were that great until I started getting into live plants. Having a pair in my 75 planted with a school of 15 red eye tetras going In and out of the Val and the large centerpiece angels just slowly swimming around, it’s very peaceful to watch. Also in that community are some apistos that appear and disappear in the crypts and swords 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 On 4/29/2021 at 1:56 PM, Sandra the fish rookie said: ... until I saw 2 little oto's all alone. I got them. LOVE them, they zoom around, are very active. I felt the same way about the Siamese Algae Eaters in my cleanup crew. It was like going to a play and realizing that the stage hands were more interesting than the actors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 On 4/29/2021 at 10:58 AM, Brandy said: Otocinclus and corydoras. I thought they were dull in stores...no colors, and you need so many, they take space from more colorful fish...but they are so hilariously fun to watch!! Their personalities are just charming, I could just keep them alone and be happy. There are at least 19 different species of Otocinclus and most of them with the exception of the endangered Zebra Otocinclus end up in the trade under the catch all Otocinclus affinis. Of the nine in my tank at least 2 are Otocinclus arnoldi, although I rarely get to see them in my tank with all the crypts, and roots. Finding Otos is like an advanced level version of "Where is Waldo?" with them attached to crypt leaves, however when I do water changes they all hang out together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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