In a 55g there's no reason you can't have both cories & kuhlis, say 6 cories & 8 loaches. Or 1 group of those & 1-3 horse faced loaches but IDK seems like they may uproot plants, they kind of "swim" through the (sand) substrate.
Alternatives to Kuhli Loaches
- Thread starter Wycco
- Start date
Even with 8+ Danios, some shrimp, snails and maybe another mid/upper level species of fish?
I'd be worried the upper levels of my water would be bare with just one school... Unless I just got more Danios since they don't take up too much room...
If I had 14 bottom feeder fish- would I have any slack in my bio-mass to support some fish at the higher altitudes of the tank?
I suppose if I got some Pygmy Cories- they would serve the purpose of occupying the mid-level and the lower level. I'll have to see if anyone stocks them anywhere near me.
Anyone know what the usuall going rate of a pygmy is?
Am I being too conservative in trying not to overstock?
*shrug* depends how heavily planted- mine is pretty heavy and even my cories uproot plants sometimes, just scooting around on the bottom. Seems kind of unavoidable with any number of decent sized bottom dwellers. Some are worse than others, of course, but I'm not sure how much that would weigh into your decision.
I've got seven or eight small plants and got 5 more in the mail. They'll eventually grow- but for now they're small. I guess being small they'll be more easily uprooted.
If the fish uproot the plants occasionally I don't care. If I find myself having to replant them on a daily or every other day basis I'm sure it would bother me.
The plants are around the sides and back with little caves made from slate in between them. I've purposely left the middle of the tank as an open swimming area with no plants... I don't know if they will prefer to sift through the sand in the middle or around the edges where the plants and caves are.
Eventually I'll have some driftwood in the middle, maybe a couple of anubias- haven't gotten them yet though.
The substrate is a light coloured sand- but I'll probably be getting some smooth black or dark pebbles to put as a thin layer over the sand on one side of the tank because I've been told shrimp don't like light coloured sand.
I guess I'll have a shrimp end and a Cory/Loach end to the tank.
I'm not sure about lupin's experiences with dojos, but I have a dojo right now living with ghost shrimp and he leaves them alone, he used to live with a cherry shrimp that I got on accident before I moved it to a different tank. My dojo does have a tendency to up root my new plants though...kinda annoying lol
I am glad you like the pygmy's, they are awesome little cories and great for smaller tanks. Or in your case would be great to offer a variety w/o stocking up on the larger variety. I've got 6 cories at home and they are so fun to watch, there are 3 different types but no-one seems to care they all school the same anyhow! Wish I could keep loaches, but had such bad luck in the past I am scared to get one now. I also have 2 danios I wasn't knocking them just trying to figure if you were going to have a school or if you were going to test the water to see if it is inhabitable.
I like the idea of slate, cave areas on the bottom or at least corners so the shrimp could hide if need be. Maybe sandy bottom for the cories (yes they do uproot plants) mine do on occasion but not all the time. IDK about the pygmys tho. It's just them nosing around for stuffs. They are little brooms that swim! :laugh:
I'd love to see what you come up with. Sounds like you have a fun project ahead of you.
I like the idea of slate, cave areas on the bottom or at least corners so the shrimp could hide if need be. Maybe sandy bottom for the cories (yes they do uproot plants) mine do on occasion but not all the time. IDK about the pygmys tho. It's just them nosing around for stuffs. They are little brooms that swim! :laugh:
I'd love to see what you come up with. Sounds like you have a fun project ahead of you.
I bet your shrimp will be hiding a lot from the danios. I never saw any babies & the RCS were shy with small mouthed shy fish, threadfins & celestial pearl danios.
Be careful choosing mid water tankmates for the danios. Their hyperactivity & "strike first" attitude toward anything that might be food may make some fish hide & not get enough to eat. Plan on feeding bottom feeders after lights out.
Be careful choosing mid water tankmates for the danios. Their hyperactivity & "strike first" attitude toward anything that might be food may make some fish hide & not get enough to eat. Plan on feeding bottom feeders after lights out.
Thank you everyone... no didn't think you were knocking my Danios... don't worry 
I do appreciate all your help! I'm filling the long waiting period of cycling getting all sorts of great advice from ac!
I guess it all depends on what is available in any of the stores in the nearby cities when I'm ready to buy. Danios should be easy to find- they're available everywhere. I know I can get shrimp (they're always being sold on here even if I can't find them locally).
Based on what I've read today on here- I'll probably get a loach species AND a Cory species. Probably not a Dojo though- I've been reading that they are tank wreckers!
I'm torn on Kuhlis or horsefaced... I may not have a choice though- depends on whats in stock. I may go with Kuhlis first as I've always liked them- but I'm glad I started this thread- gave me ideas of other compatible loaches.
As for Corys; If I can get Pygmys- I will, I don't recall ever seeing them in stores before... although, there again, I've never been looking for them before.
After that- who knows... Pearl Gouramis sound good to add some contrast to the narrow Danios. Just two or three of them maybe.
Now if only my water will hurry up and cycle!
I do appreciate all your help! I'm filling the long waiting period of cycling getting all sorts of great advice from ac!I guess it all depends on what is available in any of the stores in the nearby cities when I'm ready to buy. Danios should be easy to find- they're available everywhere. I know I can get shrimp (they're always being sold on here even if I can't find them locally).
Based on what I've read today on here- I'll probably get a loach species AND a Cory species. Probably not a Dojo though- I've been reading that they are tank wreckers!
I'm torn on Kuhlis or horsefaced... I may not have a choice though- depends on whats in stock. I may go with Kuhlis first as I've always liked them- but I'm glad I started this thread- gave me ideas of other compatible loaches.
As for Corys; If I can get Pygmys- I will, I don't recall ever seeing them in stores before... although, there again, I've never been looking for them before.
After that- who knows... Pearl Gouramis sound good to add some contrast to the narrow Danios. Just two or three of them maybe.
Now if only my water will hurry up and cycle!
Well you can always call your LFS and check, also see if they will special order stuff for you. I have my LFS order stuff for me all the time if it's something I want and they don't carry as long as they have the tank space they will bring it in for me.
It probably varies place to place- but do most places charge a premium for special orders?
Regarding Danios scaring Shrimp- do you think this will be overcome by lots of plants? I have read a number of articles claiming Danios are one of the compatible fish to keep with RCS. I've no doubt you're right about them eating the young though... My shrimp population will no doubt grow very slowly if at all- again I suspect plants will help.
With planted zones and open zones- I'd expect the Danios to stay in the open and leave the shrimp in the denser areas... obviously I have very little to base this on having not kept them together and never having had shrimp previously.
