60 Gallon Tank Setup

[NoodleCats]

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Red Tail Shark
5 Pearl Gourami
5 Cockatoo Apisto
5 Blue Ram

This is also a no.

Blue rams need warmer temps than the rest, above 82F for longterm best health. Too hot for the rest.

No apistos or rams with the shark either--all occupy the bottom of the tank so will cause disputes.


Obviously thinking you are set on a shark...

Here's something that could work better
6 pearl gourami
8-10 five-banded barbs
1 red tail shark

Keep the bottom shark only.


OR, if you like the look of the shark but want more bottom activity, look into botia loaches instead (not clowns--too big).

Could do:

6 pearl gourami
8-10 five-banded barbs
8 yoyo or zebra loaches


Five banded barbs look similar to tiger barbs, but a LOT more peaceful.

 

[jtino]

i did research on the five banded barbs and i just like the activeness and the look of the Tiger barbs a little better. it is a nice option though if i want a little bit more variety in the tank. Would any of the below be suitable tank mates for the RTS and a school of Tiger Barbs?

Golden Wonder Killifish
Rosy Barbs
Odessa Barbs
Giant Danios

i heard keeping barbs with other barbs is generally okay but Im 100% sure with the Tigers. thanks.

 

[NoodleCats]

Can attempt Odessa barbs, theyre a little more robust than the rosies.
Might get away with the giant danios, mostly due to activity level but I'd say you'd be safer with the odessas

 

[fishorama]

I would skip giant danios (jumpers & shark shaped, might nip gouramis, disappointing too) & the killifish. I like Noodle's idea of Odessa barbs over rosies too. But I'd go with only 1 barb species...Odessa or tigers. Even with mellow pearl gouramis 6 seems like too many. Loaches will not be happy with a shark, yoyos too big & aggro for your tank.

If you want a semi-aggressive tank & it sounds like you do how about:

1 RT shark
1 blue, opaline OR gold gourami (much tougher than pearls)
10-12 barbs (Odessa or tigers, I vote Odessa. I will not keep tigers again) OR with loaches rather than a sharks (see below)

Possibly a BN pleco (any color but NOT a long finned 1) with 4-6 caves & the shark, they both understand the territory thing. Wood in 2 areas if you go BN, they like it to graze on it.

It sounds like you're not a loach lover like me but another idea: No shark, no BN pleco!

7-8 striata (zebra) loaches OR 10-12 sidthimunki loaches (dwarf chain)
Pearl gouramis (1 male & 2 females)
5 denisoni barbs (roseline sharks, torpedo barbs) OR Odessa barbs

I also like rasboras instead of either the gouramis OR roselines (or other barbs, tigers or Odessa)). Harlequin or red tailed (Boras boraspetensis). You could have 12-ish of either.