55Gal need help picking fish

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Aug 12, 2009
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VA, USA
I just got a 55Gal tank and want to add some fish. These are the ones I would prefer but need help picking and more info about them and their needs; Angel Fish, Pleco, Coroydoras Catfish, Loach, Large Tetras, Rainbow Shark, Red Tailed Shark. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!!
 
with a rainbow shark or red tailed shark your choices would be limited and you wouldn't be able to have much else you want. my suggestion would be;

1 angelfish
6 corydoras of your choice [or can subsitute with kuhli loaches]
10 rummynose tetras
1 bristlenose pleco
1 opaline gourami

i added the opaline because they're a favorite gourami of mine and i think you'd need more mid level swimmers in there. you'd probably have room for the corys, loaches, and a pleco, but it'd be awfully cramped on the bottom so i suggest corys or loaches.

you could also do lemon tetras, bleeding heart tetras, or black neons, i just happen to prefer rummy nose. :)
 
I've opted out of the Angel fish. And I am looking for fish that live at the least 5yrs. Bright, different sized and interesting fish. What can go with either shark?
 
you could keep either shark with a large group of barbs of any variety or mixed. that would be a good combination imo.
 
Preferably something that does not occupy the lower portions of the tank...RTS especially tend to get aggressive to any fish that is found in "their turf"

But any of the larger barbs would work. As would larger gouramis such as blue/gold/opaline/moonlight (T. tirchopterus)

Rainbows are less of an issue though.
 
Most fishes if well taken cared of will live 5+ years.
Most of my tetras (till my disater this year) were close to 5 years.
 
I've opted out of the Red tailed shark. I don't want fish that are too small, but at least one fish that gets 5in or so would be nice. I haven't picked out what type of each fish I want for sure yet, that's what I will be doing today. Also, I'll start filling the tank and cycling it. Haven't bought any fish yet until thats done. I've heard plants need co2 and can be hard to keep alive if you don't have a machine to keep adding co2, is that true and if so, where do I buy one? I keep reading about fish that live 1-4 years, there were lots that I wanted instead, but opted out 'cus of the lifespan or aggression.
 
If you're not doing a RTS, you could do both cories and kuhli loaches. I have a school of each, in a 36 gallon and they get along fine, and everyone gets food.
 
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