can you fill my 55 with fun fish?
- Thread starter grannylvsfish
- Start date
Bosemani rainbows are lots of fun to watch. Very active, usually hovers around the mid-level of the tank, or at least when I had 3 of the Bosemani, that's what mine did. Hungry little hippos... mine were ALWAYS begging for food. 5 of them would make a really nice looking group. I'm not sure I would go with the tiger barbs myself, as they have a bad rep for being fin nippers. The zebra loaches are beautiful fish, and 5 of them along with 5 bosemani rainbows would be great for the bottom and mid levels of your tank.
If you wanted a larger school, yet wanted to stick with loaches, there are the Yasuhikotakia Sidthimunki. (common name: dwarf chain loach) They're not cheap... something like $14-20 each, and need to be kept in a group of at least 6, but a group of 10 would look fantastic. If money were not an issue, I think I might do 10 dwarf chain loaches, 5 bosemani rainbows, and 6 marbled hatchet fish. (that would be close to $300 worth of fish, assuming $20 each for the dwarf chain loaches) That might be a little on the high side as far as bioload is concerned, but should be easily manageable with a little bit of experience. Weekly 30-40% water changes would probably keep them plenty happy.
Those zebras really are tempting though, I almost bought several of them when I still worked at Petsmart. (they used to sell them, they changed the planogram and have since phased them out) I'm sure www.liveaquaria.com would have them, though shipping will cost you a pretty penny.
How do you plan to aquascape the tank? Gravel, ornaments, and fake plants for simplicity? Or are you going for a more natural, live plants, sand, and driftwood approach? When I had clown loaches, they did like to nip at some of the plants, which drove me nuts on occasion, but they were so playful and fun to watch that I could never really stay upset with them. 
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If you wanted a larger school, yet wanted to stick with loaches, there are the Yasuhikotakia Sidthimunki. (common name: dwarf chain loach) They're not cheap... something like $14-20 each, and need to be kept in a group of at least 6, but a group of 10 would look fantastic. If money were not an issue, I think I might do 10 dwarf chain loaches, 5 bosemani rainbows, and 6 marbled hatchet fish. (that would be close to $300 worth of fish, assuming $20 each for the dwarf chain loaches) That might be a little on the high side as far as bioload is concerned, but should be easily manageable with a little bit of experience. Weekly 30-40% water changes would probably keep them plenty happy.
Those zebras really are tempting though, I almost bought several of them when I still worked at Petsmart. (they used to sell them, they changed the planogram and have since phased them out) I'm sure www.liveaquaria.com would have them, though shipping will cost you a pretty penny.
How do you plan to aquascape the tank? Gravel, ornaments, and fake plants for simplicity? Or are you going for a more natural, live plants, sand, and driftwood approach? When I had clown loaches, they did like to nip at some of the plants, which drove me nuts on occasion, but they were so playful and fun to watch that I could never really stay upset with them. :
My tank is planted....
I am thinking just what you said, hatchet, zebra loach and Bosemani rainbows !! I love that mixture. I will add a strip to the back of my tank to keep the hatchet in and man that will be an awsome tank. I am off to look at the prices at your link gatosu . ^hanks for the great idea's. yeah I am thinking barbes would nip, I do not want to go thru that again!
I am thinking just what you said, hatchet, zebra loach and Bosemani rainbows !! I love that mixture. I will add a strip to the back of my tank to keep the hatchet in and man that will be an awsome tank. I am off to look at the prices at your link gatosu . ^hanks for the great idea's. yeah I am thinking barbes would nip, I do not want to go thru that again!
Thank you 
I am going to only buy 1 species at a time. put them in the hospital tank for 3 weeks, then into the main tank. then 1 month later add the loaches . I think I am going to play it safe this time and do things right. I like the Bosemani rainbows and will add 6 to my tank.... then 6 hatchet.... then 6 loach.
I am going to only buy 1 species at a time. put them in the hospital tank for 3 weeks, then into the main tank. then 1 month later add the loaches . I think I am going to play it safe this time and do things right. I like the Bosemani rainbows and will add 6 to my tank.... then 6 hatchet.... then 6 loach.
Thank you
I am going to only buy 1 species at a time. put them in the hospital tank for 3 weeks, then into the main tank. then 1 month later add the loaches . I think I am going to play it safe this time and do things right. I like the Bosemani rainbows and will add 6 to my tank.... then 6 hatchet.... then 6 loach.
Good plan with the QT and gradual stocking! :clap:
thank you
I want to be sure all goes well. also I need to save each month :lol: I would hate to see these guys not do well since the price is high for the Bosemani rainbows are almost 13.00I also love the fact doctor fosters has a 14 day Guarantee or your money back. heck my fish store does not even do 2 days! I will get them from them. I already paid 30 bucks to have my guppy fry shipped from california to my home for wednesday. So doctor fosters isn't so bad
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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Whoa! I would never buy from anywhere that didn't do at least a 7 day guarantee - even every Petco or Petsmart I've been to has the 14 day guarantee! If they don't give you at least a week, there's a reason - because they know or expect many of their fish will die within that time. I always order from drs foster and while the shipping is a bit much, and the minimum order is annoying when you're buying like $3.00 fish, I've had great luck with them. All of my fish looked excellent upon arrival (made the same species in the LFS look really pathetic, then again my LFS sucks), and all have survived except for some DOAs when there was a huge unexpected snowstorm and FedEx was delayed 3 days!! I couldn't really blame them for that one, and they refunded my money AND shipping with no questions asked - excellent customer service. Good luck with your stocking!
