community fish questions

[Dahlia]

Here are some questions regarding community fish I haven't much experience with. Rather than post a bunch of different threads I put it all in one, sorry for so many questions at once! Most of these questions are in regard to making decisions on what fish to put in my daughter's 150 gallon community tank she is getting for Christmas. So any fish recommendations not listed here that you would like to make are welcome as well!

Do cherry barbs have a reputation for nipping fins, or is that just tiger barbs?

Does anyone have recommendations of small loaches (not clowns) that are good in community tanks? I was considering kuhli, angelicus, yo-yo, etc. Are black kuhlis much different than regular? Are any of these listed not good in community tanks? I'm not too sure on the kuhlis.

Do panda corydoras have a reputation for needing more specific water conditions than other corys? What about adolfoi corys?

Has anyone kept the hairy tiger pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1033) (4"), the candy stripe pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1040) (4"), the mega clown peckoltia (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=998) (4 1/2"), or the net pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1000) (4 1/2"). Do they really get to the size this website states for them? Are they good in a community aquarium? Are any of these more shy than normal for plecos? Do you recommend any other small-sized plecos for community aquariums? I don't care about their algae eating abilities, I just like the way plecos look. Incidentally, if I could afford it, this zebra pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1136) sure is pretty!

I have seen people say they keep white cloud minnows with tropical fish. I understand they are coldwater fish, though? Are they really okay in tropical tanks?

Is this turquoise danio (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=948) a dyed fish or are they really that color naturally?

Are dwarf gouramis (Colisa lalia, Colisa sorta) very aggressive in a community tank if kept as a single specimen? Are they happy as a single specimen? Are honey gouramis more docile than blue ones?

Are killiefish such as Aphyosemion australe okay in a community tank? Most the info I see on them is in regards to breeding them. How long is their lifespan normally?

Are swordtails mostly aggressive among their own kind or do they nip fins and harass other fish?

Are Celebes or Threadfin rainbowfish any more difficult than other rainbows?

Thanks for any info here!

As a side note, has anyone kept the royal farlowella catfish (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=940) before? Does it really only reach 8"? Is it a fragile fish? It's quite beautiful so I'm considering it for another tank (but not this community one).

[TKOS]

Khulies would be a great loach choice. Just make sure to keep them in larger groups. In a tank your size 4-5 minimum would be great. They can be a bit on the shy side so the larger the group the more you will probably see them.

From what I understand all barbs can be a bit of a nipper group. Just keep them in groups of 5 or more and they should keep it in the family.

[Captain Hook]

I think you shouldn't have a problem with cherry barbs, I have a trio of rosy's and they are fine. As far as I know it is mainly tigers that are nippers.

Kuhlis would a be a good choice and I would say get at least 5. I don't think pandas cories need any different conditions either. Dwarf gouramies will be fine in a 150 gallon and shouldn't be very aggressive. I have 2 in a 35 gallon and they are territorial toward each other but otherwise peaceful. One is a fire and one is a neon blue dwarf.

Killiefish are ok in a community tank as long as you are not planning on keeping a male betta. They may attack the killie. Also, killies have a very short life span, under a year I believe.

[PumaWard]

A. australes (Cape Lopez Lyretail/ Lyretail Killie) live about 3 years.

[Leopardess]

Cherry barbs aren't nippy, in my experience. they also do not need to be kept in groups because they are comfortable by themselves; that is, groups are fine, but not necessary. (ive got one)

I'd go with yoyo loaches...beautiful and great fish. (ive got one - best kept in at least pairs if you have the room)

Pandas aren't any more sensitive than other pandas, as far as I'm aware. (ive got two)

Turquoise danios, i've heard them called blue danios...I always assumed they were that way naturally...Don't know though.

Dwarf gouramis are fine in community tanks. One fish would be perfectly happier...maybe even more happy. I have one neon blue dwarf in my 55 community..he loves it in there. I also have two males together in a 10g with no problems. Not sure that honeys are noticeably more docile.

I've heard killies can be very aggressive.

Celebes and threadfins are a little more sensitive, yes, becuase of their size. They do not generally tolerate nitrate over 20 ppm either and like good, clean water, ie frequent water changes. ( I have four (3m/1f) in my 55...BEAUTIFUL FISH)

[PumaWard]

The lyretail killies aren't agressive. Many Notho's (Like the Rachoviis) are agressive to an extent.

Lyretails are very peaceful and on the shy side so they need to be kept with equally peaceful fishes.

On the flip side, they are excellant beginner killies as they are one of the longer lived species.

I recently bought some, so far they are doing well and seem to like the company of my guppies.

[Captain Hook]

Originally posted by PumaWard
A. australes (Cape Lopez Lyretail/ Lyretail Killie) live about 3 years.

I have personally never kept them, but quoting from my book, The Complete Aquarium Encyclopedia of tropical freshwater fish in captivity "most live only up to 8 months". They also need a PH of 6-6.5 and prefer acidic water.

I was also considering buying some of the orange australes but after reading this I have reconsidered.

[PumaWard]

A. australe is not one of those species.

Those species are consider seasonal and only live about 9 months.

http://aquaworld.netfirms.com/Cyprinodontidae/Aphyosemium/Aphyosemion_australe.htm gives a detailed profile...

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gaustrale.html says also the same life span.


Aquaworld is the site I go to fish when referencing a fish as his profiles seem, IME, some of the most accurate.


I also recently bought a pair of these guys. They have adapted to my water conditions of 7.8 ph and 10dh and have spawned once though I wasn't ready for it. I do agree, however, that most should be kept in soft acidic water because that is what they were raised in.

[Captain Hook]

Thanks for clearing that up PumaWard, it looks like you are right. Do you keep them in a community setting? You have made me want to get them again! Think they would be ok in a community tank with rainbowfish, 2 dwarf gouramies and small tetras?

[PumaWard]

My pair are very shy, but I hope that will eventually change, as I only got them a week ago. They are also just babies though.

My dwarf gourami chases them a little, but I think it has something to do with them being little small.

The only problem I could forsee are the rainbow fish, as I have heard they are quite active fish (though I haven't ever owned them so I can't say for sure).

However, they can be kept in a 10g so you could set one up for like 2 males and 4 females, or with guppies and other small fish.

[Captain Hook]

Thanks puma if I can still find them I am going to give them a try. I think they may be one of the most unique looking fish I have ever kept.

[MrGoodbytes]

I'm pretty sure the danios are that way naturally. The species is Brachydanio kerri, while Zebra Danios are Brachydanio rerio.

Pearl Danios are just a variant of Zebra Danios.

Graeme

[Leopardess]

Puma, are you referring to keeping rainbows in a 10g? I wouldn't suggest this as they are BIG on swimming space. A 20g is probably the smallest id' feel comfortable putting them in. rainbowfish really like their space.:)

[Captain Hook]

No he is referring to the killiefish.

[Leopardess]

Well now, I guess if I were literate I would have realized that lol. Please disregard my nonsense...but do pay attention to not keeping rainbows in a 10;)

[Dahlia]

Thanks for the info so far!

Has anyone kept any of the small plecos that they recommend? Not just the ones listed up top. Any more info on the other fish mentioned is also appreciated, thanks!

[beviking]

Not a big pleco fan,sorry. I would recommend the Zebra loach (boita striata). Very friendly and gets along great with yo-yo loaches IME.
Honey gouramis are more docile.
True >1 dwarf gourami (male) may not be friendly to each other, but in a tank that size you shouldn't have much trouble with 3 or so.