Creative stocking ideas for a 46 gal?

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newtosnails

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Jun 13, 2006
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Well, my 46 gal is down to only two fish after the sickness and over medication. It will be another 2-3 weeks before I add any fish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for colorful stocking options. I'd like some bigger fish although I know I can't get real big with my size tank, but I do want to upgrade to at least a 75 in few years so if it's a fish that will take a few years to grow I think I could get away with it. ;) I'd like maybe 10 fish in the tank total. If they're all small 15 maybe.

Any colorful fish you can suggest? (I was thinking maybe discus)

How many in my tank do you think I can healthfully keep?

Can I keep live plants in there without adding too much trouble?

Oh, and is a silver dollar fish a type of discus? I'm thinking so, but not sure. These are the type of fish I have in there now, only 2.

Thanks!
 
newtosnails said:
Well, my 46 gal is down to only two fish after the sickness and over medication. It will be another 2-3 weeks before I add any fish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for colorful stocking options. I'd like some bigger fish although I know I can't get real big with my size tank, but I do want to upgrade to at least a 75 in few years so if it's a fish that will take a few years to grow I think I could get away with it. ;) I'd like maybe 10 fish in the tank total. If they're all small 15 maybe.

Any colorful fish you can suggest? (I was thinking maybe discus)

How many in my tank do you think I can healthfully keep?

Can I keep live plants in there without adding too much trouble?

Oh, and is a silver dollar fish a type of discus? I'm thinking so, but not sure. These are the type of fish I have in there now, only 2.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Silver dollars are not a type of discus. Discus fish require alot of maintence to stay healthy, especially if they are juveniles.

What you can have is a single Angel fish. If you want a colorful one there are the Koi angel breeds. Then you can add a school of larger tetras like Congos and then a school of 5 cories
 
BrkD said:
Silver dollars are not a type of discus. Discus fish require alot of maintence to stay healthy, especially if they are juveniles.

What you can have is a single Angel fish. If you want a colorful one there are the Koi angel breeds. Then you can add a school of larger tetras like Congos and then a school of 5 cories
Click to expand...


Only 1 angel fish at a time? I thought my mother in law had two or three in one of her tanks. Do they fight?

Thanks for the ideas!
 
I like anostomus, dwarf type plecos, abramite headstander, maybe rams, I think it would be better to search your lfs's and then come back and ask us about compatability as on this forum you could get a million types of answers. Also invest (if you dont have one) in a good book of fish profiles, I personally use "Encylopedia of Exotic Tropical Fish" by Axelrod and "Aquarium Atlas" by Baensch. These two are enough to give me quick info on just about any fish you might come across in a store.
 
I have three baby angel fish in my 46g bowfront, I added them pretty much all at the same time...within three days, one each day. They do fight with each other, that's why it's better to have more than two.

Edit: I have a school of six glow light tetras in there, I think they look really good when the light reflects off their bodies
 
Discus are cichlids
silver dollars are characins(tetras and such)


you could place discus there but...discus tend to do better in schools 4-6 as a minimum and the 46 is not large enough to house them.
you could house a small number of angels..unlike discus angels can be solitary or on small groups..keep in mind that if you house 4-5 angels you stand a chance of a pair forming..if they decide to spawn..that 46 may be to be too small for a breeding pair and other fish.

but for a time you could house 3-4 angels if there are aggression issues you should consider moving the angels..
I am not a big advocate of housing too many angels as the chance of pairs forming is pretty good. unless you want pairs.


however..silver dollars are also a schooling fish..you could add a couple more.
oh and I would stay away from live plants with silver dollars as they tend to eat the plants...tho you could keep anubias and java fern with them..they don't see these two plants as palletable.
 
as you have it now, you are fully stocked. silver dollars reach an 8" adult size, so 2 is all your tank can handle, except for maybe 1 more.
 
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