Help me stock my new tank - any suggestions welcome

J

jaarus

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Apr 24, 2005
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I have recently bought a rio 125 tank as an upgrade to my 5 gallon Hex!
I would really like some advice.

I would really like a community tank - but there is one small problem
...and his name is Chewie
Chewie is my beautiful blue/black crowntail Betta......he is usually pretty peaceful - but does seem to love chasing the "two fellas" (2 small cory cats) when he gets bored.
The fellas are faster than him but he has manged to nip them once or twice...but thats not too bad for a year of being in the same small tank in my opinion!

It has been suggested that I put Chewie up for adoption - but that is something I just couldnt do - cant believe how attached I have grown to this fish and his grumpy little smile


So, I am going to seed the tank and add these guys as soon as I think its safe for them.
But 3 tiny fish in a circa 30 gallon tank would frankly look ridiculas - so I would love some suggestions on what people think would make good tankmates.

I know its a bit hit and miss with a betta - but suggestions would be appreciated in any case.
No flowy tails or Chewie will be on them like a shot.
No 'nippy' fish - reverse situation of above (hehehe)

just harmless fish that keep to themselves

I have 3 LFS, one is ok but the other 2 are frankly useless at advice and their stock whilst plentiful in quantity is pretty limited in variety.
Hoping you guys could suggest something I havent thought of...


(Oh and the obvious - give Chewie the 5 gal hex to himself is a no go...he has to be in the big tank - small tank is going...unless I can twist my fiances arm, but asssume I cant lol)
 
Can you bring the 5 gallon to work or something? It does seem like its the best decision to leave him in the 5 and maybe plants or something.
 
I love your Bengal!!

Nice idea with taking it to work- but I think he would distract me a tad even if they said yes...which they wouldnt.


Just want to get the tank a couple more additions while Chewie is around (he is about 1-2 now so wont live forever) something that wont eat him :)
 
Take a look at my sig. I had a male betta in the 180 untill a few months ago. Pinky Tuskadero, the betta, was 3 yrs old and and did fine in the community tank. The barbs are very active, but Pinky never seemed to mind.
 
Wow- a 180 gallon is a little larger than my 30 gallon though, and you do have some large fish in there so perhaps your Betta rapidly learnt his place and just chilled out!

I can see I am going to have to suggest either a dull tank until Chewie dies or a snazzy tank and chewie stays in the 5 gallon.

But I think dull large tank may win - she wanted the big tank (first time she has shown any interest at all in them) so chewie would have more room to swim about - she really doesnt care about the two cory's at all.

As I know that is what will be decided upon - what species can I get for my new 'dull' tank hahaha
I will get some more cory cats (dwarfs I think they are) as I like them they are pretty quirky little guys. And I want to get a pleco (I think its called....its very dark, almost black it has a flat bottom side and a very streamlined topside - sorry about the awful description!!-with small silver spots along it, its what I will call a suckerfish as it seems to like the algea on the glass...is that a pleco?)

anything else thats harmless that I could stock up with?
 
You should reconsider the pleco. I have one, a common sailfin, and he is BIG! 16=inches and counting..... Plecos in general are big, lazy, eating machines, and poop monsters. And they don't do much in the way of controlling algae. As they grow older they need a protien diet. Even a bristlenose, which is a smaller variety, who be a hugh waste producer for a 30 gallon.


For algae control, try otos, or a siamese algeae eater (not chinese)
A few more corys for a total of 4-6.
Rummy nose tetra 6-10, or cardinal tetra 6-10
Sparkling gourami

Take a look at liveaquaria.com I think you could have a colorful 30 gallon with no problem.
 
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do a school of some kind if tetra(2" range) get like 12-14 of them (you'll love the larger school- I promise)

your school of cory should have like 6-8 do the higher if they're adult size is 2" or smaller

and chewie

i think that would be a great community tank and not boring at all!

(i'm reallt fond of glo-lite tetras at the moment, great color)

edit oh yeah, if you want a pleco make sure you get a small variety- bulldog pleco or bristle nosed check out fishprofiles.com
 
Maybe you’ve already thought of this, but oh well. Even if you no longer keep any fish in it try and store the 5gal in a closet or something. It could be a nice little hospital or Q tank in the future. Maybe even a good place for fry.
 
Lucky Chewie!

I moved Mark, our yellow betta, into my 36g community a couple of weeks ago and he is having a BALL in there! He keeps trying to chase the school of baby bronze cories I added. Of course they're too fast for him, but it's funny all the same :)

Just a thought -- whatever you do try not to overstock the tank. IME a betta in a 30g will get along well, but if the tank lacks for swimming space then someone might start nipping at the betta. Make sure he has a LOT of places to hide and many large spots with very low current. I've some huge rocks in my tank and it helps with the flow. I've strong current for the 6 juvie millenium rainbowfish and a large area of very low current for Mark.

Avoid fish like tiger barbs or any other known nipper.

Lately he's been spending all his time constantly swimming back and forth at the front of the tank following the cories. That's a lot of swimming for a betta fish, so he's keeping in shape!

Roan
 
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