help!!

[laura_2809]

i would appreciate any advice you could give me?
i have recently aquired and set up with freshwater a 2x1x1.5 foot tank which i intend to stock with some orandas, i wish to add some catfish/bottom feeders or loaches for practicality and interest, but i do not know which species would be a good idea?
any ideas?
*im not a complete beginner to aquaria, but i have been without one for a few years, so it'll take a while to get back into it!
thanks in advance
:-)
laura

[kveeti]

Some orandas? A 2x1x1.5 ft tank is about 22.5 gallons, which may be enough room for 1 oranda. I don't think you could/should even try to fit some catfish/bottom feeders in as well.

[MonoSebaelover]

Welcome to Aquaria Central. Completly agree with kveeti, plus goldfish are coldwater fish and all bottom dwellers are warm water. Goldfish as you probably know like it below 74 degrees while all other fish like it above 75. So just 1 Oranda in a 20g tank. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.

[AGGRO]

I agree with everyone else on the small tank size and orandas...but with VERY good filtration and regular water changes you could put a few SMALL ones (three or four 3inchers would be ok)...anyways to your question....Weather loaches (Misgurnus fossilis), do well in cold water tanks...even to the point of living in outdoor ponds. They seem to do very well with goldfish. Most of the other cats and loaches that are for sale though are tropical and wouldn't work with the cold water. Don't get Channel cats!!!..they are often sold as cold water catfish, which they are, but they're also very aggressive and wouldn't think twice about making a meal of you oranda's fins or the entire fish if it gets a chance.

[OrionGirl]

3-4 inch orandas turn into 5-6+ orandas quickly. Start with the number of fish you can maintain at the adult size!

While weather loaches will be okay in the cooler water, they will not eat algae, which I presume is what you're looking for. I wouldn't put one in a 20 anyway--they get to be fairly large and are very active swimmer, and prone to jumping if confined.