Need help with a centre piece fish?

[Dave Noel]

Thanks again everyone fo rposting I am going to try my lfs to see what is available as dwarf cichlids and gouramis.

Thanks for that explanation riverfishgirl.

 

[deadxero]

deadxero, I never really realized that was the case. I wish there were a list of fish that match so you can plan that way. basically the way my tank got stocked was going to my lfs and telling what i have finding soemthing to match up. As far as I knew they did fit together. The only problem I thought I had was I was adding a small amount of salt to the water and was worried how the snails would react with that.

Is there a place a can find a list of fish for a partiular biotopes?

In my experience, fish stores gennerally base their oppinion of compatibility on agression/size rather than water condition. As stated a couple posts back, most FW fish will survive in a wide range of conditions whether or not they are ideal for that praticular species. The ethics of keeping fish in conditions they do not naturaly occur in, or with species they do not naturaly coexist with, is another discussion altogether... best avoided here so as to keep your thread on track.

Doing some basic research on species you are interested in before purchasing them can keep you on the right track. Most here will agree that the largest mistake many aquiarists make is impulse buying. The more knowledge you have prior to placing a fish in your tank the happier you, and the fish, are likely to be.

 

[Dave Noel]

Thanks deadxero

 

[Dave Noel]

Ok I don't want to drag thsi thread on much longer as I am sure there are others with questions too.

I was thinking of going with a pair of dwarf gourami's, also add 2 blk skirt tetras and 2 fancy teras.

One last question, Will I be overstocked or should i just finished off the schools I have started (which I thought I did according to lfs)

 

[Brian Bivens]

I don't think you will be overstocked (not until your mollies and guppies start popping out babies!), but if you don't get a "pair" of dwarf gourami's, and end up with two males or females, there is always the possibility of aggression between the two fish. In a 55 there is plenty of space for them each to claim a territory of their own, but sometimes, during feeding etc. there is the chance of aggression.

You know, in thinking about this, for a centerpiece type fish, you could also go with three pineapple swordtails (2f/1m), for wonderful personality and color. Once they are grown, they get to be 4-5 inches each, and will do great in a tank with other live bearers, but that is just my thought on it..