Well I deccided on moonlight gouramis, almost the same size as the opalines, and I figure they'l be a little less agressive, and rather than 4, 2 of them Providing they do not antagonize each other). And then I was thinking of a couple pearl gourami's(maybe 3), 2 angels, and the Dojo. Now I'm not going to let anything explode here, I'm aware of the potential size of the dojo( as I went and talked to an aquarist who'd told me he'd kept them for about 20 years and that they can hit 14 inches. But I'l be keeping the dojo in a warm water aqaurium ( as I've researched is possible, and the one I'm going to buy is living in warm water) and since this normally alters it's life span I'm hoping ti puts down it's growth rate a little( although it could do the opposite I suppose but I"m no scientist). From all that I've heard it's not likely it'l grow over 8 inches( but If it does I'l have to be prepared to upgrade ( although buying a 60 would not only irritate the people around me, it would also really cramp my living space, but hey sacrifices must be made). from the numbers I've banged together it looks like:
2 moonlight gourami potential size of 5.9" each [ Though from the people I've asked at the shops gourami's rarely reach their full potential]
3 Pearl Gourami's (potential size of 4.7) ( when I first threw them into the calculation I've read that they hit about five and that sounded right)
2 Angels( potential of six inches)
and finally ye olde dojo loach (8-14...praying for 8 [ I could possibly keep tabs on one at one of the shops that dosn't move many of them and gauge it's size and potential for growing)
so when I rang this up earlier it came up to something like 46.6 inches thats providing the moonlights are 6, as well as the angel, the pearls are 5, and the dojo is 8. An 8 inch dojo seems to have the potential for cramping the other fish but if it's a bottom dweller and I feed it at the bottom this could help( though I've heard stories about dojos that worry me a tiny bit lol)
Right now I've got the 2 moonlights in the tank. I just don't want my fish to be cramped. But I really have high expectations for this aqaurium because it's the biggest anyone in the family has ever kept, and I spend a good deal of hours every day( more than 12) in the same room as it.
if any of this sounds wildly off bare in mind that it is now 9:30 a.m. and I have not gone to bed...though I am feeling pretty lucid.
