My new fish list, please advise.

M

mrmcmasty

Mark
Feb 8, 2005
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VA
I know I have another post on the same issue but it has gotten to 2 pages... so I am reposting.

For anyone who has not endured my constant posting... i am a new fish person, I have a cycling 55 gal tank (with 24 or more unplanned snails) HA!

OK guys I have been looking around and I have some new ideas about which fish I would like. I have tried to take into consideration which fish get along, water conditions and size of fish related to tank size.

I would like to have a busy tank with from fish from top to bottom. If anyone knows of a fish that they whink would be a great addition please let me know.

The following are the fish that I like/want. I would like opinions as to whether or not the fish are compatable and how may of them my tank can support.


#? Hatchet Fish
#? Dwarf Gourami
#? Honey Gourami
#? Dwarf Cichlid Ram
#? Zebra Loaches
#? Neon Tetras
#? Harlequin Rasboras
#? Bristlenose catfish

Are there any other algea eater that do not get as big as plecos but still have a nice look to them?

Thanks again everyone!!!
 
Reply i dont see any problems with your stock list every one seem's pretty compatiable.
As for the Algae eating theres a few choice's STAY AWAY from the Chinaese algea eater there a huge pain it the a$$. Personally i have a Hillstream Loach AKA butterfly pleco for my algae eating needs,
hillstream_james.jpg

They can get up to 4 inches.
 
any advice on numbers?

#? Hatchet Fish
#? Dwarf Gourami
#? Honey Gourami
#? Dwarf Cichlid Ram
#? Zebra Loaches
#? Neon Tetras
#? Harlequin Rasboras
#? Bristlenose catfish
#? Hill stream loach
 
Definitely get more than one ram cichlid, at least a "pair" the LFS should be able to tell you which ones have paired up. Or just sit and watch the tank for awhile. I only got one for a community tank and he was a terror and got donated ($12.00 mistake!). I'm waiting for a mated pair myself right now.

I'd also recommend gettting the gouramis at the same time and introduce them together (I wouldn't get more than 4 and at least 1/2 of them dwarfs). If they are introduced together you'll have an easier time w/ territory staking.

Check out cardinal tetras instead of neons. I think they are prettier and some people think they are hardier (you want at least 6).

Good luck
 
Hatchet Fish--at least 5 or 6. They best in groups, and will stay mostly at the surface. If the tank is not completely covered, don't get these guys, as they are very good jumpers. You can use nylon or mesh netting to cover any gaps, if needed.

Dwarf Gourami/Honey Gourami I wouldn't mix these. A single of either will be fine, but males can be contankerous to each other and females are very hard to find in most places. If you can find girls, one male/3 females is a good mix.

Dwarf Cichlid Ram Pair--but you'll want to watch to make sure they don't harrass the other fish. I would go with EITHER the rams or the gouramie group, not both.

Zebra Loaches Do best in a small group. They can be nippy, though, and I suspect they'd go after any eggs the rams might decide to lay.

Neon Tetras/Harlequin Rasboras I'd go with either or, a group of at least 7. IMO, a larger school of one species is much better than two smaller schools, or a mixed school. I prefer the cardinals as well--they are less prone to disease than the neons.

Bristlenose catfish 1 or 2 should be fine. They ignore most other fish, but 2 males can fight. Make sure to provide them with caves, and supplement algae with fresh veggies and wafers.

Hill stream loach Cooler water fish, doesn't need to be in a group but does need lots of water movement. Never saw much in the way of algae control from mine, but amusing fish to have.
 
Im bummed about the gourami/ram conflict... i really wanted both of those...

ok what about dropping the gourami group and adding a sinlgle banded rainbow? (do they group/pair up?)

I will drop the rasboras and add the cardinals. How many 6, 8, 10?

I could live with or without the hatchets... i was trying to add something to the top of the tank. Does anyone have a suggestion for another type of top dweller?

Thanks to everyone for the advice!
 
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I suggest going with either/or to reduce the bioload. Replacing them with something else won't really resolve that concern.

Cardinals: 10 would be decent, though odd numbers look better--no biological benefit to the fish, just that humans think groups in odd numbers are more pleasing.

There aren't many other fish that will hang out at the surface like the hatchets. Most other fish will use the top portion of the tank, but also use the rest of the tank, too.
 
There is so much conflicting info out there... I keep reading and Im not sure if I am getting any closer to resolution. Here are my new ideas.



5# Dwarf neon rainbows 2 inches 10total

2# Butterfly Ram/geophagus ramirez 2 inches 4total
Id like more of these. could I add another ram species?

1# Dwarf gourami 2 inches 2total
Id like to have more of these as well... and I have read and
recieved so much dif info.

1# pearl gourami 4 inches 4total

I really like the gouramis and the rams. What are the best numbers for these fish in my tank?

3# Zebra loaches 2.5 inches 7.5total

oh and i have over sixty snails now (yes... I counted them)

1# bristlenose cat, clown pleco or hillstream loach 5total

Id really like to add an algea eater(s) to my group... but the plecos I like all get too big... of these 3 which is the best algea eater but does not take up tons of space? I am leaning toward the loach or the plece.

Can I add to this list? Am I overstocked? Thanks again for all the advice!

:OT: are the rest of you as obsessive about your tanks as I am? I find that I am spending lots of time worrying about whether my fish will get along whether they can survive in the same type of water and.... shees... I am hooked on aquariums and I dont even have any fish...
 
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