Basic questions I can't find answers for. *newbie*

[sivic]

I have this real inkling in the back of my mind to add a ropefish to this tank.

Ropefish are awesome but sort of a pain to care for. You said you would like to have some small tetras, they will be dinner for the ropefish. They will eat anything that can fit in their mouths. I got a black shark for free i was keeping until i had another home for it, and my ropefish ate the thing without any hesitation one night. It ate alot of my smaller fish in the beginning before i became knowable on them. They are nocturnal and blind, so they need a place to hide such as a small cave. Also a sandy substrate or fine gravel is a must along with a tight fitting hood. I recently got rid of my two ropefish as i wanted to move towards other types of fish including smaller tetras. Also trying to feed a ropefish is a hassle, or at least it was for me.

Be forewarned that you must devote some time and effort to keeping them alive.

 

[flyfly]

has anybody suggested a spiney eel? They have small mouths and would do fine in a 55g with a soft substrate

 

[sivic]

has anybody suggested a spiney eel? They have small mouths and would do fine in a 55g with a soft substrate

As long as its not a fire eel or tire track eel, ive already looked into them once for my 55gallon and they grow too big. I was suggested to do a peacok eel which supposedly doesnt grow extremely big. I actually saw one at the LFS today and wanted to buy one really bad, but wasnt sure if i could put him in my tank so i walked by. Took alot of will power

 

[ashdavid]

I don't want to seem rude but if you want to keep the fish you had in your list, why don't you go with a tank that will accommodate their full grown size?
You obviously will have your reasons but a bigger tank is Imo easier to take care of than a smaller tank.

 

[flyfly]

I was suggested to do a peacok eel which supposedly doesnt grow extremely big. I actually saw one at the LFS today and wanted to buy one really bad, but wasnt sure if i could put him in my tank so i walked by. Took alot of will power

thats the one! I heard you could house those in a 55g. I personally have never kept one though.

 

[reignman40]

Thank you all for your guidance.

ashdavid: You might not WANT to seem rude but frankly that was. I actually did get rid of all the fish on my original list that would get too big for the tank. That was sort of the purpose of this discussion. IMO the fish I've left on the list will do fine in the 55 gallon tank.

Anyway, thanks again everyone. I've decided against the ropefish or the like as I am worried the addition of another fish that large might throw off the balance. I think I got the list down to about 90% sure:
3 Angelfish
6 Kuhli Loaches
1 Red-Tailed Black Shark
6 Tetra (most likely Cardinal, Serpae or Flame)
I'm tossing around adding 2 Upside-Down Catfish or I may just add a couple more Tetra

I think in the 55 this should do well. Thanks again to all who helped me out in revising the list and learning more in this planning stage. I will definitely post pictures once I get it going.

Curtis

 

[ashdavid]

ashdavid: You might not WANT to seem rude but frankly that was. I actually did get rid of all the fish on my original list that would get too big for the tank. That was sort of the purpose of this discussion. IMO the fish I've left on the list will do fine in the 55 gallon tank.

Huh... :huh: I was actually giving you another option to choose from, nobody else has mentioned this , so if you want to keep those fish why not buy a bigger tank? If you can't afford it just say so, or if you have no room just say so, just dont go getting huffy puffy b/c I asked a simple question. And if you want to take what I said out of context, do so. I said "I do not want to seem rude" because this is excactly what I did not want to happen. And I will say again if you can get a bigger tank go for it ,b/c in my experience it is easier to care for and keep the water stable. Again I will say that I was JUST trying to help by exploring your options.

 

[reignman40]

I do agree with you there ashdavid. I have heard from many sources that the larger the tank the easier to manage. That may be an option depending upon how the funds look in a month or two when I get the tank. But as I'm you suspected money was the primary issue. As I want to do right I don't want to cut any corners in order to cut cost to make it possible to get a bigger tank.

I do thank you for your advice and I apologize for my abrasiveness in my response. In the end if funds permit I will go bigger. I just don't anticipate that being the case.

Curtis

 

[ashdavid]

No worries, I am glad you understand that I am only trying to help.