Help me choose some fish!

[yen]

I have a 55g tank with 2 small Angels, 3 Guppies, 1 Betta and 2 Black-fin Sharks. I'd like to add a large school of Harlequins and some Clown Loaches. How many of each could I add without it getting too crowded? Will the sharks and loaches get along?

I was also thinking about getting a pair of Kribs or maybe some kind of Gouramies. Would they get along with everybody? I'd like a couple colorful "centerpiece" fish, maybe some kind of small non-aggressive cichlid. Does anybody have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,
jen

[vaheelsfan]

Well, first off, I would have to say no clown loaches, as adding these would instantly make your tank more over crowded than it already is, as it is too small for black fin sharks. Loaches up to 6" and sharks to 12-16", depending on what you read. The sharks also will go crazy when they get older because they'll be looking for brackish water. Personally, I think that black fin sharks are one of the coolest looking fish, but I don't have room for any now, so I'll just have to wait. You should take the blackfins back and maybe trade them in for some pictus cats. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I THINK that two pictus should be alright in a 55. You should also add another angelfish, because if they become aggressive towards each other, this will spread it out more instead of the dominant one taking it all out on the other. With three angels getting around 5-6 inches and the pictus getting to around 6 as well, that might be all you want to add. Maybe a school of non-nippy tetras would be ok. Or you could add some more guppies, as the angels and pictus would probably enjoy some guppy fry as snacks.

[yen]

Originally posted by vaheelsfan
Personally, I think that black fin sharks are one of the coolest looking fish, but I don't have room for any now, so I'll just have to wait. You should take the blackfins back and maybe trade them in for some pictus cats. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I THINK that two pictus should be alright in a 55. You should also add another angelfish, because if they become aggressive towards each other, this will spread it out more instead of the dominant one taking it all out on the other. With three angels getting around 5-6 inches and the pictus getting to around 6 as well, that might be all you want to add. Maybe a school of non-nippy tetras would be ok. Or you could add some more guppies, as the angels and pictus would probably enjoy some guppy fry as snacks.

I totally agree with you about the blackfins. My boyfriend bought them on an impulse because they're so cool looking, but the more I read about them the more I wish he hadn't! If I take them back, can I get Clown Loaches or would it be better to just get a couple catfish, like the pictus you suggested? Pictus are cute, I'll have to do some reading on them.

[Rhys]

As much as i love my pictus i never see him and if your tank has drift wood and caves etc. You prob won't eiter. You should try some cories maybe 6 or 7 and a pair of 3 spot gouramis and a pair of kissing gouramis.

[PumaWard]

I wouldnt personally get the clown loaches, they can get 12'' or more long and get pretty bulky. You may want to look into some smaller species of loaches like yo-yo's or zipper loaches (a small shoal of 3 would be good). If you take the black-fine sharks back, I don't see why you couldn't add the loaches or the pictus and a shoal of say 6-10 harlequins.

[TKOS]

I would be careful about the betta. He may become a target. Or he may go after your guppies. Gouramis and bettas generally do not get along so if you really want gouramis then I would move the betta to his own tank. A small 2.5 - 5 gallon tank is nice in the bed room and since it doesn't need a filter it is very quiet. Buy a heater for it though and a few small plants (silk ones are fine). Without a filter a twice a week water change would be needed.

Do research on gouramis if you want to buy them. Some varieties like the kissers get to be huge. Dwarf gouramies are the best wat to go. Let the Angels be the big fish in the tank (and they do get big).

I too would avoid the clowns and go for a smaller loach like the golden or yo yo. They still get long but have very skinny bodies and are great at eating up snails that make it into the tank.

I might avoid harlequins. Angels can get very good at eating the small fish such as neon tetras and those harlequins doesn't get much bigger. Maybe a tetra like the silver tip would be a better school choice. Just a thought.

[yen]

Originally posted by TKOS
I would be careful about the betta. He may become a target. Or he may go after your guppies. Gouramis and bettas generally do not get along so if you really want gouramis then I would move the betta to his own tank. A small 2.5 - 5 gallon tank is nice in the bed room and since it doesn't need a filter it is very quiet.

Okay, I really like this idea. I don't want to see him get picked on, and it would be nice to have a small, pretty tank in the bedroom.


Originally posted by TKOS
Do research on gouramis if you want to buy them. Some varieties like the kissers get to be huge. Dwarf gouramies are the best wat to go. Let the Angels be the big fish in the tank (and they do get big).

Thanks, this is helpful advice too. Here is my new plan for the tank:

2-3 Angels
2 Dwarf Gouramies
3 Guppies
3 Yo Yo Loaches (or 2 pictus catfish, not quite sure yet)
8-10 Harlequins (or maybe a larger tetra)

What does everyone think? I really appreciate all the suggestions I've received so far, please keep them coming!

-jen

[snakeskinner]

when I was young we had a small tank and we had a small angel and a betta but the angel feasted on the betta's fins. As far as the Harlequins, mine are quite large. One is probably 2-3 times the size of a full grown neon but most stay fairly small. I've been tossing around different types of catfish for my 36 gallon and the Pictus cats seem to be more of a schooling fish. This may be why Rhys cat is always hiding. I couldn't see putting 3 or 4 4" pictus cats in my 36. Also, it seems they can be aggressive but each one is a little different in character. I've settled on a pair of upside down cats for my tank because all the others either get too big, too agressive or hide all the time. Kyle

[Dapple2]

Another good reason to go with the loaches is that then you will have all levels of the water coloumn covered, otherwise you won't have any fish in the bottom third of the tank. Careful with the gupsters, sometimes angles like to pick on those long fins. I'd second that suggestion with the silvertips, I have a big school of them and they look really awesome when they are all coloured up and they males are hilarious with their constant displaying. Another neat tet might be penguin fish (Thayeria boehlkei). They have interesting colouring combined with a unique swimming style.