Fish for a 55gal.

[SimonWoodstock]

Well, I have been reading some threads on here talking about 55gal. aquariums and would like some suggestions. It always gives me more confidence when I go to get a fish if someone that really knows gives me there opinion first. I hate losing fish.

Eventually, I will get a 55gal. (75 if im lucky, but i doubt it). I will tell you the kind of tank setup I am wanting, if you would give me any suggestions on fish that would be good occupants.

OK, even though I want a HUGE tank, I am probably going to have to settle w/ a 55gal. wal-mart special. I would like it to have live plants with a sand or small gravel substrate. I want predetory fish: I like oscars, but I have read live plants are doomed in an oscar tank. I like the knife fish..but I believe they will grow too large for a 55gal.

Peacefull fish have not been ruled out. I really like clown loaches, but will they grow too large for a 55gal.?

Basically: I would like the largest fish I can get at least 2 of, that is intersting to watch, you don't have to be an expert to keep alive and healthy, and will not shred plants to bits. I need a larger tank to eventually put my pleco in, so it shouldn't attack it. A community is not out either.

I know I always post huge stuff on here, but I do it because I am trying to describe what I'm thinking as much as possible so you can understand. It probably just confuses you more.:rolleyes: Oh well. Thanks!

[SimonWoodstock]

Oh yeah, it will be at least the summer before I get this tank. So any fish you suggest I will have plenty of time to research and ask more questions about before I buy em. In case that effects anything?

[stik6shift98]

get some kind of eel...

or get snakeheads
or knifefish

[smurphy]

what about jack dempesy's or convicts

[SimonWoodstock]

Ah, I forgot about Jack Dempseys. If I put 2 in there, would they kill each other? Will it kill a pleco.? I have read they grow attached to there owners similar to oscars...I kinda like that.

Does anyone know much about Leporinus? How many can I put in a 55, without cramping? Will they mess with a pleco? It says to put them in a tank w/ plants for them to nibble....is this another way of saying eat every green thing I have planted in the tank? I have a friend w/ one full grown oscar, and what i assume to be a full grown leporinus (has to be 10 in.) in a 125gal.

I'm not very interested in Eels or Convicts at the moment, but I am going to look into them. I have never seen a snakehead for sale anywhere around here, but I do like them(from the pics I have seen anyway).

Maybe I will make a seperate thread for Leporinus sometime.....Anyway, thanks for the help. Any more ideas are welcome!

[blitzen25bm]

i would get firemouths they look cool.

[blitzen25bm]

oh or jewels i like those too but if you want plants i just picked up a trio of pikes livebearers from another memeber on here, they are more like ambush predators and i just dump a dozen little feeders in there and wait till they swim into the plants and get attacked. mine are about 4.5 inches and are already eating 3 inch mosquito fish. other than the daily feeding they dont do too much though.

[SimonWoodstock]

Thats a very interesting fish, never heard of it before. I can't find much info. on them, but I did read they like slighty hard alkaline water, which I have. What is there max. size and do they have any special requirements?

[125gJoe]

It's good to hear you are getting a 55 gallon. Smaller tanks can actually be harder to care for with the smaller water columns they have. Water parameter changes are more dramatic with small tanks and can easily stress fish.

Many think good "starter" tanks are the 10 gallons, as I did once...

About the fish you would like to keep, it depends on what you want to do with the aquarium. If you want live plants -- that will limit some of the types of fish you can have..

[stik6shift98]

my snakeheads wil breed soon hopefully so im sure i could hook you up

[SimonWoodstock]

That's a thought. What kind do you have, and how many can I put in a 55gal.?

I am wanting to try and get the tank as soon as I can this summer. So if I do want some from you, it will be after my tank is cycled then.

I will start reading up on em tonight, or when I find out what kind you have.

[SimonWoodstock]

oh yeah, got any pics of them?

[fishdude]

you could always go with the dwarf gourami:D

[SimonWoodstock]

They are cool fish, I have to admit that. But, I already have one in my 20gal. (was 2 until one got beat up pretty bad and became sick). It kinda sucked because the most colorfull one got killed. I have really grown attached to the survivor, though. It seems like he recognizes me......it may be it just associates that huge creature outside the invisible walls with food.

Thanks for the idea though...I did notice someone's gourami tank and I liked it...so they are not ruled out totaly. You think I could put alot in there, and still have other fish with them like maybe a pair of rams or even silver dollars? Hmmm, so many choices......im glad I have all winter to decide.

*I just noticed you have 4 dwarfs in your 10, how do you keep them form fighting all the time?

[fishdude]

lots of plants and a cave for them to hide in

[stik6shift98]

they are comon snakeheads...i will get pics soon
after all this discus dying stuff is over....