New Tank ! Fish combinations question
- Thread starter twinturbo11
- Start date
twinturbo11 said:
As an additional note to the cycling help; you have two gouramies in you 16g tank...while 16g may seem large, I hesitated to but 2 in my planted 30g back when it was as a live-bearer tank. Gouramies can be quite aggressive to each other, especially if they are both male and you don’t have a whole lot of space for them to claim territory. This funny behavior you described between them could be initial signs of aggression. Some have success keeping more than one gouramies together, but many others have bad experiences. Make sure to keep an eye on them and be prepared to return one should they become more aggressive, stress can cause death as readily as an uncycled tank.twinturbo11 said:
What other fish are you considering for this tank? If you post here before purchase, we can help you create the best possible set-up for you and the fish.
hey guys thanks.
ok, well i'm starting to learn more about the different types, compatibilities, etc. before, I list, i just wanted to let you know that i got a relatively large piece of driftwood with many many hiding spots and small caves.
i am thinking of having a semi-aggressive tank:
- keep one of the dwarf gouramies (the stronger one with deeper colors) and return the other
- get 1 dwarf indian puffer fish. this fish only reaches 1 inch max, only needs freshwater (it actually does not tolerate salt). i know puffers are somewhat aggressive, but if this one is alone, surrounded by other relative aggressive ones, with plenty of hiding spots, it should be ok i think... i think i am willing take the risk, as i saw in a pet store with a bunch of other ciclids and tiger barbs, and it seemed to have kept to itself...
- 2 to 4 small tiger barbs - i am prepared to take them out if they nip at the other fish
- 2 small dwarf/non-aggressive ciclids (i havent made up my mind which one i want to get yet)
- red tail black shark - i know i know, everyone told me that they get big and could territorial. what i am thinking is of getting a very small/baby one, and when it grows larger than 2.5 inches, to return it to the pet store. i just love this fish - i had an aquarium once, a long time (15 years ago) and i used to have this fish. i always found it fascinating how it hid in its cave and protected it. and given my aquarium is quite long and will have many many caves and hiding spots....
- when i start to have algua, then a small pleco...
what do you think??
ok, well i'm starting to learn more about the different types, compatibilities, etc. before, I list, i just wanted to let you know that i got a relatively large piece of driftwood with many many hiding spots and small caves.
i am thinking of having a semi-aggressive tank:
- keep one of the dwarf gouramies (the stronger one with deeper colors) and return the other
- get 1 dwarf indian puffer fish. this fish only reaches 1 inch max, only needs freshwater (it actually does not tolerate salt). i know puffers are somewhat aggressive, but if this one is alone, surrounded by other relative aggressive ones, with plenty of hiding spots, it should be ok i think... i think i am willing take the risk, as i saw in a pet store with a bunch of other ciclids and tiger barbs, and it seemed to have kept to itself...
- 2 to 4 small tiger barbs - i am prepared to take them out if they nip at the other fish
- 2 small dwarf/non-aggressive ciclids (i havent made up my mind which one i want to get yet)
- red tail black shark - i know i know, everyone told me that they get big and could territorial. what i am thinking is of getting a very small/baby one, and when it grows larger than 2.5 inches, to return it to the pet store. i just love this fish - i had an aquarium once, a long time (15 years ago) and i used to have this fish. i always found it fascinating how it hid in its cave and protected it. and given my aquarium is quite long and will have many many caves and hiding spots....
- when i start to have algua, then a small pleco...
what do you think??
hmmm as for a peacful cichlid have yo uheard of ram cichlids, they only grow about 2 inches and are peaceful ish, i have a pair in my 20g community, the males are brighter colored and females may have a pink belly. as for tiger barbs i had one and he killed almost all my fish, but that was a horrible incident. i have heard that if kept ina large school they will only bother themselves not your other fish i dunno, ask someone else to be sure. google rams to see if you like them. oh and there might be some smaller species of pleco you might get away with, myabe rubber lip or bristle nose, if i'm wrong someone correct me politely. as for the thing you wanna get and return , your going to get attached, it not gonna be easy to just give back to the store, iwould get it if your willing to invest in a bigger tank in the future. :clap: thanx for researching.
I'm not sure I agree with anyone who gets a fish an intends to return it to the pet store when it gets to big....the DP will not work in that tank, neither will the RTBS. Tiger barbs would do well at about 6, and I wouldn't put a pleco in with them as they are notoriously aggressive.
Sandy
Sandy
You should ask yourself, what kind of existance will the puffer have it is constantly hiding in a cave? Doesnt seem like you would getting the most out of what I know can be a very very fun fish. Not only that, but if any fish lives in fear it will be constantly stressed, therefore weak, therefore prone to disease, therefore more likely to die after just a few months.
You are going for a lot of centerpiece fish which isnt a good idea. Im talking from experience here, I made the exact same mistake and still in the process of sorting it out.
When you start out you want to try everything, but you will get a lot more out of a well maintened tank with a few happy inhabitants. If you end up happy with the result, but craving for more .... then you can always set up another more specialised tank.
thats my 2 pence.
You are going for a lot of centerpiece fish which isnt a good idea. Im talking from experience here, I made the exact same mistake and still in the process of sorting it out.
When you start out you want to try everything, but you will get a lot more out of a well maintened tank with a few happy inhabitants. If you end up happy with the result, but craving for more .... then you can always set up another more specialised tank.
thats my 2 pence.
ok ok.. i really think i hear you guys.... perhaps if i remove the tiger barbs, it'll be an ok tank?
I agree with Rbishop. Lose the above fish from your tank setup, and all shall be right with the world 
Sandy
Sandy
