55 gallon stocking plans, advice requested

[boojumsnark25]

OK, after good deal of research here is the lineup I came up with:

1 Half Black Angelfish - I knew that most angels get aggressive, but I've read that this is a peaceful kind and will not harm my other tank mates.

1 Pearl Gourami - I have him in another tank and love him to death. He's mature and full size.

6 Zebra Danios - I've kept these fish since I first started in the hobby, and they are one of my favorite fish. However, in the past I've never schooled them (silly, I know). I've always had ten gallons so I've never really had room for a school. I'm looking forward to it.

6 Gold Platys - Same story as the danios.

2 Marigold Swordtails - Also had these fish from day 1, absolutley love em

1 Black Ghost Knifefish - I know I'm going cause a lot of debate with this one. Everyone on the board here seems to think that a 55 is too small for a BGK. However, through research, I have read source after source after source saying they rarely grow past a foot in captivity, regardless of the tank size. Besides, if he gets too big for my tank, I can always find him a bigger home.

What do you guys think?

[dougie]

Most people would say that a Black ghost should be in a bigger tank, but I agree with you that 55 gallon is sufficient. Also, my experience with angels has shown that they in fact are not aggressive, especially in a 55 gallon. Otherwise sounds good.

[Aquaken]

As long as you are thinking ahead for your BGK it sounds good. I'd put rainbowfish instead of the platys but they are pretty too.

[Mgamer20o0]

1 Black Ghost Knifefish - I know I'm going cause a lot of debate with this one. Everyone on the board here seems to think that a 55 is too small for a BGK. However, through research, I have read source after source after source saying they rarely grow past a foot in captivity, regardless of the tank size. Besides, if he gets too big for my tank, I can always find him a bigger home.


a member on here has one 27 inch..... the reason why most dont get to their full potential is because they are placed in tanks to small.

[RiVerfishgirl]

1. I think a 55 is way too small for a BGK, but you've apparently done your research.

2. You do realize when the knife is older it might predate your smaller fish?

[Miguel]

I wonder about the Gourmie and the Angel. Some adult Gourmies are just as aggressive as some cichlids. There could be some fighting between the two. I had this problem with my 55g and the Gourmie ended up being moved to another tank.

[boofish2]

I agree, there is some risk involved but it also has to do with the fish itself. I've had gouramis that were quite peaceful and one in particular (a flame dwarf actually)I remember being a huge bully, even attacked an angel twice his size. Perhaps introducing the two simultaneously so as no one is invading anyone else's territory will reduce any possible aggression. Good luck.

[jm1212]

OK, after good deal of research here is the lineup I came up with:

1 Half Black Angelfish - I knew that most angels get aggressive, but I've read that this is a peaceful kind and will not harm my other tank mates.

1 Pearl Gourami - I have him in another tank and love him to death. He's mature and full size.

6 Zebra Danios - I've kept these fish since I first started in the hobby, and they are one of my favorite fish. However, in the past I've never schooled them (silly, I know). I've always had ten gallons so I've never really had room for a school. I'm looking forward to it.

6 Gold Platys - Same story as the danios.

2 Marigold Swordtails - Also had these fish from day 1, absolutley love em

1 Black Ghost Knifefish - I know I'm going cause a lot of debate with this one. Everyone on the board here seems to think that a 55 is too small for a BGK. However, through research, I have read source after source after source saying they rarely grow past a foot in captivity, regardless of the tank size. Besides, if he gets too big for my tank, I can always find him a bigger home.

What do you guys think?
1. angels are not aggressive unless they are breeding. half black anges are the same species as all other common angels you see at the everyday petstores except pterophylum altum, or Altum angel, or Deep Angelfish

2. pearl gouramis are very peacful and cool looking. they are one of the few gouramis that CAN be kept with angels.

3. zebra dainos may stress out the angel because they are so active. also, your angel may get big enough to gobble them up.

4. platies are also a good choice to have with angels and pearl gouramis, becuase they mind their own buisness and are very peacful, but they dont school

5. if you want to keep a BGK in a 55, it will work for say, about 2 months before you need to get him a bigger tank, say a 75. then that will work for a couple fo more months, and then you'll need to get a 100 gallon tank, and that will work for a couple of months, and so on and so forth until you have a profusion of tanks raging from 55 gallons to 200, with 200 being the only suitable home for a BGK. most people would rather have 2 tanks than 22. start with the minimum 200.
a BGK will also get big enough to eat your platies and your zebra danios before long, and will probably be able to eat the zebras soon after you put him in the tank, with the platies not being far behind on the list.

[boojumsnark25]

I have access to very large tanks for the BGK when he is adult.

I've heard lots of people that had danios and even neon tetras with a BGK and it left them all alone, as long as he was well fed...so i'm assuming that some BGKs are just more aggressive than others?

[cweber]

Im having some trouble with my gourami and angel fighting. The gourami will be going back the lfs saturday.

[boojumsnark25]

Im having some trouble with my gourami and angel fighting. The gourami will be going back the lfs saturday.

yeah, but is it a pearl? i've read/heard from people hear they are much calmer than other gouramis

[Daudzegier]

If you place the angel and the gourami in the tank at the same time, and aquascape so that the guarami and the angelfish each have a territory of about 2-3 square feet of aquarium space marked off by a predominent object such as a large rock or stump driftwood then you should be fine. It is also benificial to aquascape the tank so that there are lare plants, rocks, and/or driftwood blocking the line of sight between the two "territories". Each fish will figure out witch side of the tank is whos and they will stay on thier seperate sides. I've even seen this acomplished with two male Siam Fighters in a 250gallon.... but i wouldnt sugjest THAT kind of mixture.