2-6 Big fish for a 55g?

[Lillyan]

What big fish, 5in or larger, can live their entire lives in a 55g tank?
I wanted to get at least two, since one is just so lonely looking and empty. But the max would have to be 6, if not less, like 4.
Something colorful or an unusual shade would be nice too.

 

[purplecandle]

I am a fan of puffers because of their intelligence and the fact that you don't need additional tankmates to make things interesting..

If you are willing to go brackish, you could get away with 2 green spotted puffers..they will grow to the size of a nerf football...but no other tank mates!

 

[BettaFishMommy]

i say bosemani rainbows! IMO, you could have up to 8 in a 55 gal. they don't get too big (i've seen them max out at about 5 inches), and add some cories or a couple of bristlenose plecos for bottom action.

 

[sCeRaXn]

Boesemani Rainbows are great fish, but i wouldnt put more than 5 in there. Thats how many i have, and sometimes i think thats too much even though they arent even fully grown yet. Theyre very hyper fish that are always on the move when theyre happy. You hardly ever see them in the same spot twice because theyre too busy flying around the tank. The males will get close to 5" while the females dont usually get any bigger than 4". They can be housed with most other community fish that arent scared by larger hyperactive fish like the Boesemani. They wont hurt other fish, but theyre fast and can easily spook some shy species. They would be good with most Tetra species as well as other little hardy guys like Rasboras and barbs.

 

[aXio]

I also vote for the rainbows! There beautiful fish! And you don't see many people with them in their tanks either.

 

[Lillyan]

I've seen several large ones at a LFS and they all had a very ugly shape to them. Like a pear, but on both sides. Anyone have a picture of them at 4-5in?

 

[SubRosa]

Angelfish

 

[RazzleFish]

You could do a pair of angels or a pair of cons or a pair of keyhole cichlids. If you were willing to go a bit smaller a herem of apistos would look nice. Then again, apistos can work well with angels and keyholes.

 

[fishycat]

Fancy goldfish! I think you could do 2, 3 maybe if you really over filter...?

 

[Lillyan]

I have 7 Angels, don't need more!
I've had Goldfish, not sure if I'd like to have them again though...
I'm limited to what Petco has posted on it's website.