High level fish

UncaBret

UncaBret

Yummmm!
Nov 23, 2005
571
4
18
66
Normal,IL
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This has probably come up before, but, what are good choices for the top level of my soon to be realized (I hope) tank? I'll have rainbows for the mid level and red lipped botias and a small moosway for the bottom, but don't know what to get for the top.

Any suggestions?
 
I really love hatchet fish. I have a group of 6 silver hatchets that are always zipping around the surface.

They are sensitive fish though and you should expect (or at least not be surprised by) some losses when bringing some home.
 
Danios...there are some very nice varieties available. Just be aware of their adult size as some Danios grow up to 4-6" and need plenty of room. They're very active fish and stay at the top 99% of the time.
 
Welll, it started as a 33 long, but thats too long.
Then it was going to be a 30 breeder, but those are hard to find here.
Okay then, a 40 breeder.
But wait, the 50 has the same footprint as the 40 bdr.
But I can get a 65 for the same price as the 50 and its in stock.

So, I think a 65.

I have dwarf gouramis in my 20. I'm trying to get different fish in this one. So I don't want gouramis, otos, white clouds or kuhlis. But thanks for the suggestion.
 
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Hatchets are great.... with very good water quality.
I've posted it before, but for interest I like the African butterfly. Needs a little extra attention for feeding. http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gpantodon.html
The pearl gourami is great, and a bit different than your dwarfs.
IME the smaller danios spend more time up top but not strictly a surface fish. Certainly the easiest to keep of the fish mentioned so far.
 
I've had several types of gouramies and they always kept swimming on the top, until I moved them to a planted tank. Now they swim at every level between the leaves, but most of the time they stay on the top.

My neatest top swimmer is a barbeled leaf fish that stays on the top almost all the time but it requires a constatn supply of live fish to eat.

http://www.whozoo.org/Intro2000/vivo/Vi_leaf_fish.htm

The info on that page seems to be inaccurate, specially wheer it says spawning occurs at 80ºC (176ºF). Just use it for picture reference, please.
 
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My hatchets swim all over the tank, actually spending most of their time in the mid-level of the water column. The only fish that I've kept which really kept to the upper realms of a tank has been African Butterflies, but they'll also swallow anything that they can fit in their mouths and as such small fishes aren't good tankmates.
 
i had hatchets for the longest time, and was happy with them...until i found out about halfbeaks. they're great, always stay at the top. supposedly a brackish water fish, but mine are in a freshwater tank, and have grown up just fine. they aren't usually a stocked item in stores, but any good lfs can hook you up if you ask. last time i ordered 6 and they were cheaper than hatchets! anyways, check em out, something different!
 
Opps what was this post? I meant to quote myself, but I hit edit instead....something about the 65 being almost the same price as a 200 DIY or whatever oh well

Wait! The I said something about my hatchets venturing lower since I got tall plants and drift wood. close enough
 
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