New 40breeder tank! What should I put in it???

Loaches are schoolers and need a group of 4-6+.

I would not do bala's in that tank since they can hit a foot plus in length.

When I researched rainbows for my 40B, I saw that only the smallest species are suitable for a 40B - like praecox, celebes, and threadfin. Others are too active. Definitely research your selections as there are quite a few species not recommended for this size tank.

Also clown loaches are definitely not recommended for a 40B, they can get quite large and need a group. Redtail sharks are definitely on the edge, most sites recommend no less than a 55 G because they need the length for swimming.

For bright colors, have you thought about rams or kribensis? Both of those can go in a 40B, although I'm not sure if Kribensis are too hostile to go with gouramis (whiat kind do you want?) Also lots of nicely colored smaller fish you can have a decent school of, such as cardinals, glowlight tetras, etc. Some livebearers (guppies, swords, platies) can have pretty nice colors too, and all would be suitable for that size.

ETA - to answer your original question, I LOVE my current 40B (see sig for stocking) but if I did another I'd do a group of 3-4 Bolivian rams or german rams if I found good stock that could be sexed correctly, 6 "orange laser" cories, a school of 12 or so cardinals or maybe praecox rainbows, and maybe a pair of golden pheasant (not sure about the compatibility on the last but boy are they pretty!). I like angels too but would not use a 40B for them due to the short size - that would be my future 55 G or something

For a 40 gallon tank I would probably stick with tetras(12 neons or 5 serpea), maybe a ram(1 german blue) as centerpiece, and some cories(4-6) and ottos(2-3). I would plant the tank and go all out on filtration if I was going to have any kind of rainbowfish, as they get larger then most fish you would put in a 40gal.

I'm 99% done with my 40g breeder stocking.

2 Angelfish
German Blue Ram
12 Cardinal Tetras
4 Praecox Rainbows (I need one more)
6 Julii Cory
2 Albino Britslenose Plecos

I do think when the fish are full grown I'd be over stocked. Ideally I only wanted 1 Angelfish, but I bought 3 because I've always had bad luck when buying Angels at the small size I bought them at. One angel died within 3 days. I'll see how many make it. Only been 4 days.

I'd really suggest going with 1 or a pair of centerpiece fish, and one big school of another fish. I like all my fish, but honestly I've discovered that for me at least, one big school of fish is better then 2 smaller schools.

I'd suggest:

Angelfish
15 Rummynose or Cardinal Tetras
6 Juli Cory

If you like Plecos you can do one or two if you have good filtration (they are poop machines). And if you only do one Angelfish you add a Ram in there.

Anglefish would probably prefer a taller tank then a 40b, but they could work. Though they may make attempts at smaller tetras.

The kribs I have, while beautiful are very aggressive and beat up my gourami (with response to their unknown compatability) although were ok until breeding time.

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I'd get a group of cories and a school of black neons, and then a gourami. Then if you wanted to, you could probably add something else later on.


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ive got a 40 gallon breeder, I've got 7 Harley Rasboras, 6 Espei Rasboras, 6 Head and Tail light Tetras, 3 julii cory, 2 Sterbai Cory, 3 Spotted cory(Corydoras melanistius) and 1 German Blue Ram. I consider this pretty fully stocked, but I am over filtered and have lots of plants as well