Here is yet another stocking plan to run by the AC community, hope you all don't mind taking a look and letting me know what you think. This is for a well-planted 30-gallon tank that I'm setting up:
- 6 Danios (3 zebras, 1 leopard, 2 pearls)
- 5 Julii Corydoras
- 5 Otos
- 2 Apistogramma borelli (dwarf cichlids, m/f pair)
- 1 Dwarf Gourami
I might also add some Amano shrimp or a true ramshorn snail at some point.
If I could start all over again, I would get all the same kind of danio, but I already have that motley crew of six in a 10G tank. I have been lucky that they get along quite well as a group, even schooling together when they get worried (if I'm changing around the aquascape, etc.). The pearls have even spawned a couple times. But this post isn't about the danios...
I intend to add the danios and otos first, then the cories, then the borellis, and finally the dwarf gourami. I only have one quarantine tank, so it'll be a slow process.
My major question is whether the gourami will get along with/leave alone the dwarf cichlids. If that would be a bad combo, any suggestions for something that might work better than a dwarf gourami? Or are there any other red flags re: compatibility of species?
My other concern is that I won't have enough activity at the various levels of the tank. Specifically if I'm overloaded on bottom-dwellers. Supposedly the otos, cories, and borellis are all bottom-dwellers, but I have read that otos go all over in a planted tank. And danios are supposed to be top-dwellers but IME they swim all over the tank, top to bottom. So I don't know how much to trust those preferred-tank-level "rules" (though I have no doubt on the cories, of course).
If you have a moment, let me know your thoughts, alternative suggestions, etc., and thanks in advance!
- 6 Danios (3 zebras, 1 leopard, 2 pearls)
- 5 Julii Corydoras
- 5 Otos
- 2 Apistogramma borelli (dwarf cichlids, m/f pair)
- 1 Dwarf Gourami
I might also add some Amano shrimp or a true ramshorn snail at some point.
If I could start all over again, I would get all the same kind of danio, but I already have that motley crew of six in a 10G tank. I have been lucky that they get along quite well as a group, even schooling together when they get worried (if I'm changing around the aquascape, etc.). The pearls have even spawned a couple times. But this post isn't about the danios...
I intend to add the danios and otos first, then the cories, then the borellis, and finally the dwarf gourami. I only have one quarantine tank, so it'll be a slow process.
My major question is whether the gourami will get along with/leave alone the dwarf cichlids. If that would be a bad combo, any suggestions for something that might work better than a dwarf gourami? Or are there any other red flags re: compatibility of species?
My other concern is that I won't have enough activity at the various levels of the tank. Specifically if I'm overloaded on bottom-dwellers. Supposedly the otos, cories, and borellis are all bottom-dwellers, but I have read that otos go all over in a planted tank. And danios are supposed to be top-dwellers but IME they swim all over the tank, top to bottom. So I don't know how much to trust those preferred-tank-level "rules" (though I have no doubt on the cories, of course).
If you have a moment, let me know your thoughts, alternative suggestions, etc., and thanks in advance!
