55 gallon fish suggestions + compatibility

[Lupin]

Here are the more suitable alternatives.

Botia histrionica
Angelicus loach (Botia kubotai)
Dwarf chain loach (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki)-Keep 15-20 for a 55g
Ladder loach (Botia rostrata)
Queen loach (Botia dario)
Yoyo loach (Botia almorhae)
Zebra loach (Botia striata)

Avoid the skunk loaches (Yasuhikotakia morleti). These may be diminutive but can be rather feisty and very nasty.

 

[Hawaii Predator]

Here are the more suitable alternatives.

Botia histrionica
Angelicus loach (Botia kubotai)
Dwarf chain loach (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki)-Keep 15-20 for a 55g
Ladder loach (Botia rostrata)
Queen loach (Botia dario)
Yoyo loach (Botia almorhae)
Zebra loach (Botia striata)

Avoid the skunk loaches (Yasuhikotakia morleti). These may be diminutive but can be rather feisty and very nasty.

wow. thanks for the list of suggestions. i seen some zebras at stockleys, but the rest ive never even heard of, but ill definetley look them up and see if they are available except for the skunk loaches. (newbie to small fish). thanks for the suggestions guys. appreciate the help so far. keep em coming. and can anybody answer the question about the gouramis? and wil silver dollars and angel fish do fine in the tank also?



ill be sure to post pics of the tank when it is done. it currently has a slate rock cave, mixed brown, black and white gravel, a black background and some really big elodia plants that are growing at a rapid pace. im expecting a couple of bubble wands, a new biofilter, some bamboo, a buddha statue, temple ruins, and a jade buddha figure for the centerpeice of the tank.

 

[LeahK]

Hey, predator, they had yoyo loaches in the Petland at Kahala last time I was there.
But some of their fish in other tanks had ich. So make sure you check whatever you buy from them. Or be safe and quarantine for a few weeks.
I've also seen some different loach species at Coral Fish in Aiea, but I haven't been out there in a couple of months.

 

[Carla G]

wow. thanks for the list of suggestions. i seen some zebras at stockleys, but the rest ive never even heard of, but ill definetley look them up and see if they are available except for the skunk loaches. (newbie to small fish). thanks for the suggestions guys. appreciate the help so far. keep em coming. and can anybody answer the question about the gouramis? and wil silver dollars and angel fish do fine in the tank also?



ill be sure to post pics of the tank when it is done. it currently has a slate rock cave, mixed brown, black and white gravel, a black background and some really big elodia plants that are growing at a rapid pace. im expecting a couple of bubble wands, a new biofilter, some bamboo, a buddha statue, temple ruins, and a jade buddha figure for the centerpeice of the tank.

I've got a 50 gallon tank and I'm going for Dwarf Chain Loaches - Sids, because of their size. Even though Clown Loaches are my favorite fish I just can't be sure I'll be able to upgrade in time.

If your Clown Loaches are already 8 inches, they should be in the 200 gallon already. These guys need lots of space and lots of water circulation.

It is not advisable to mix gourami species. I'd go with 3 pearls, one M two F. Pearls are one of the more peaceful gouramis. Honey gouramis are also an option, again more females than males. You might get away with a couple of pairs with these.

You could have angelfish but they will eat your neons. You'll have to make a choice there. Swap the neons for some larger non nippy tetras and it would be fine. You can keep a single angelfish. If you want more you can have a half dozen juveniles but when two pair off they will become aggressive and need to be separated. If you want a breeding pair, start with 6 of the same type, otherwise the fry will be funny looking and unsaleable.

Silver dollars are beautiful and peaceful but they get big. They are vegetarian and will eat every plant in your tank except the java ferns. So not for a planted tank. If you are not that into plants, decorate with driftwood and heaps of java fern and go for the silver dollars. You should keep several together.

Plecos put a huge strain on your filter. I'd have a think about getting some Ottos or the REAL Siamese Algae Eaters if I were you.

 

[Hawaii Predator]

leahK - thanks for the advice, but i live on the big island so i cant get the fish
CarlaG - thanks for the advice too but i dont have any loaches in the 55 right now. they are in my planted 200 along with my CK and red aro. I have never seen angels eat neons before even when i have kept them together in a 20 gallon when i was about 10 years old. as for the pleco, im thinking about going with the bristle nose which stays relatively small for its whole life. im considering the algae eaters now though. as for the gouramis, ill probably get a female opaline and a female honey, so ill have only 1 male in the tank. i think ive seen a few samurai gouramis at the shop. are these fish campatible with the rest of the crew? they are pretty **** nice looking.

 

[LeahK]

leahK - thanks for the advice, but i live on the big island so i cant get the fish.

lol! when I read your last post, I was like "where's stockleys?" duh... :grinno:

 

[Rbishop]

I'd stay away from mixing the gouramis. Get the clowns and when they grow out add them to your 200 gal tank.

 

[Hawaii Predator]

I'd stay away from mixing the gouramis. Get the clowns and when they grow out add them to your 200 gal tank.

yeah that was the plan, but my house is about an hour and a half drive from my parents house and i dont really want to transport the loaches from waimea to kona. i got 7 already so i dont think im gonna add more in any time soon. there is just enough room for the 9 fish in there already. im thinking of upgrading to a 300 though.

oh yeah and what about some hillstream loaches? lupin? any other loach enthusiasts?

 

[Lupin]

oh yeah and what about some hillstream loaches? lupin? any other loach enthusiasts?

Hillies are coldwater species. Since most of your fish prefer warmer waters, no can do. Besides, hillstreams prefer some powerful currents in their environment whereas some of your fish will certainly not appreciate it at all.

 

[Hawaii Predator]

Hillies are coldwater species. Since most of your fish prefer warmer waters, no can do. Besides, hillstreams prefer some powerful currents in their environment whereas some of your fish will certainly not appreciate it at all.

too bad. they look like rays and corydoras put together, which i find pretty cool. i read that you can keep them in warmer water, just as long as it isnt too warm and it is well oxygenated. i guess not.
anywho, i was really favoring the zebra loach until i read that they can be somewhat aggressive towards other tankmates such as corydoras so theyre out of the picture. the rest seem like pretty good choices, but ill have to consider the fact that the LFS's around here only bring in common FW fish like corys, angels, tetras etc, so ill probably have to special order them through the stores dealers myself.