Stocking 40 Gal Tank

[Mitchl17]

Hi,

I'm starting up my 40 gal tank again. The one fish that i want to get for sure is a red-tail black shark. I also want another type of schooling fish (tetras?) to keep in a group of 6+. Maybe some other fish if i have room in my tank. Any suggestions to what would be compatible would be appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[fishcatch22]

well, I suspect the shark is goping to pretty much rule the bottom half of the tank, so I wouldn't get any more bottom feeders.

I love congo tetras. big and beautiul. you could get a nice group of 6.

[H3D]

Zebra danios would work good.

[jm1212]

well, I suspect the shark is goping to pretty much rule the bottom half of the tank, so I wouldn't get any more bottom feeders.

I love congo tetras. big and beautiul. you could get a nice group of 6. not with a red tailed blck shark. they get aggressive toward all other fish in the tank, but mostly fish that swim around the bottom. congto tetras may be fast but they arent really tolerant of aggression. if you want to keep fish with a red tailed black shark you should get some fish that only stay around the top of the tank, like danios or hatchets.

[Mitchl17]

okay thanks, i read that pearl gouramis and three spot gouramis are also compatible with the shark, so if i get a red tailed black shark, a pearl or three spot gourami and some danios, would that be okay?

[H3D]

That would be fine IMO.

[Cory Lover]

Hi,

You could get a Red-Tailed Shark plus a school of about 15-20 Zebras Danios, and a Three-Spot Gourami.

Cory Lover

[fishcatch22]

yeah, blue gouramis and all their color morphs (opaline, gold, ect.) are big enough and tough enough to live with the shark.

you could also try tiger barbs.

[Mitchl17]

Would a pearl gourami be okay, because i think i prefer them to the three spot gourami (if i can find a pearl one). As for tiger barbs, i don't really want them at this point, maybe if i get another tank, i have never had a gourami and i like the way they look so... Also, how many gouramis should i get? just 1? Thx for all the help!

[fishcatch22]

they aren't as durable as three spots.

i'd do 1, but you could get away with a male and 2 females.

[Mitchl17]

but do you think it would be okay, or would it be out of the question to get a pearl gourami.

[Mitchl17]

okay, i think i've made my decision on the fish i want, but how many of each can i have? I'm thinking 1 red tailed black shark, 1 three spot gourami and ___ (you fill in the number) zebra danios.

[jm1212]

okay, i think i've made my decision on the fish i want, but how many of each can i have? I'm thinking 1 red tailed black shark, 1 three spot gourami and ___ (you fill in the number) zebra danios. a three spot gourami will harass the zebra dainos until they die. believe me, if they want to, they can be fast enough to catch them. the red tailed black shark and the three sopt are probably going to battle it out too, because the gourami goes through all of the levels of the tank, not just the top levels.

[Mitchl17]

hmmm, well looks like i'm back to square one. So, what fish do you think are compatible with red tailed black sharks...

[jm1212]

zebras and hatchets will work well

[Mitchl17]

to be completly honest, i don't really like the way hatchets look...are those the only two species that will do well? i find that kind of hard to believe...

[Cory Lover]

a three spot gourami will harass the zebra dainos until they die. believe me, if they want to, they can be fast enough to catch them. the red tailed black shark and the three sopt are probably going to battle it out too, because the gourami goes through all of the levels of the tank, not just the top levels.

Hi,

I have to disagree. I have five Zebra Danios and a mean (he loves fighting) Three-Spot Gourami. My Three-Spot sometimes chases the Zebras, but he has no chance to bite them, they are just too fast and agile for him. And after he chases them they look like nothing happened. I think they think its a game.

Cory Lover

[Mitchl17]

so in your opinion cory lover, the three spot gourami, the zebra danios and the red tailed black shark should be fine?

[Cory Lover]

so in your opinion cory lover, the three spot gourami, the zebra danios and the red tailed black shark should be fine?

Hi,

Yep, IMO I think it would work.

Cory Lover

[fishcatch22]

I still say congo tetras would be good, they are big and colorful and they can put up with aggressive fish well IME. i've seen them survive with red tailed sharks before.

[Mitchl17]

now fishcatch22, ur certain they'll be okay with the red tailed black sharks?

If they won't, how many zebra danios should i get...
if they will be okay, how many congo tetras can i get (cuz i like the way they look better than the danios :) )

[fishcatch22]

like I said, you should try it. they are very fast, and almost as big as the shark.

there is no guarantee anything will work with the shark, really. some of them are more aggressive than others.

[Mitchl17]

what order do you suggest i put my fish into the tank?

[fishcatch22]

i'd start with the shark. you can add whatever from there.