Last question, promise. I know theyre a little more aggressive, but would a trio of blue gourami work instead of the pearls?
Recommendations compatible tank mates
- Thread starter wickette
- Start date
My list is very light on color aside from black white brown yellow. A blue gourami is a cheap easy way to fix that without custom order from a LFS.
Pearls are much more peaceful than blue...especially if you can't sex them if they're small. Out of 3 blues, you may end up with just 1...so if you really want blue gouramis get 1, female preferred...but a blue of the rams may also trigger it's aggressiveness if male...
Yes, in some ways your tank is larger... but maybe not in terms of a species territory. Some will need, say, a linear 2 foot area. Your tank will allow 1...plus a 6 inch territory for others, unlike a 4ft tank that may handle 2 such areas. It also depends heavily on your hardscape & plants. I know you want certain colorful inexpensive fish; we want you to be successful in the long term, not just a few months.
I've kind of lost your latest stocking ideas but there was 1 several days ago that sounds ok.
Yes, in some ways your tank is larger... but maybe not in terms of a species territory. Some will need, say, a linear 2 foot area. Your tank will allow 1...plus a 6 inch territory for others, unlike a 4ft tank that may handle 2 such areas. It also depends heavily on your hardscape & plants. I know you want certain colorful inexpensive fish; we want you to be successful in the long term, not just a few months.
I've kind of lost your latest stocking ideas but there was 1 several days ago that sounds ok.
Your right about the blue gourami, too big, too much of a risk. Ill stick with the pearls.
I still want some blue in the tank. (the aquascape is a lot of brown, red and pink (when I started this I wanted paradise fish, but you talked me out of it)
Latest stock list, still being fine tuned I think 20 fish might be too much for 48 gallons
6 White Skirt Tetras (Im still looking for something 2.5"-3.5" fairly inexpensive but less nippy )
3 Pearl Gourami
2 Festivums
2-3 Bolivian rams*
1 Ctenopoma**
6 golden zebra loaches (loaches are the last thing Ill add if the tank is crowded, I may forgo these for a loach/shark shaped fish that does fine with pairs)
*I know ppl here said 2 bolivian rams, but many other sites and the LFS owner say bolvian rams(unlike appistos and german rams) do much better in groups of 3 or more in a 20g+. Im fine with 2 or 3, just want them to be happy
**different sub species grow 4" others grow to 6" if I wind up with a bigger ones, the tetras might be too small, but otherwise Ive made verified they are compatible with everything else, its also why I decided against the appistos. They dont mix well.
I still want some blue in the tank. (the aquascape is a lot of brown, red and pink (when I started this I wanted paradise fish, but you talked me out of it)
Latest stock list, still being fine tuned I think 20 fish might be too much for 48 gallons
6 White Skirt Tetras (Im still looking for something 2.5"-3.5" fairly inexpensive but less nippy )
3 Pearl Gourami
2 Festivums
2-3 Bolivian rams*
1 Ctenopoma**
6 golden zebra loaches (loaches are the last thing Ill add if the tank is crowded, I may forgo these for a loach/shark shaped fish that does fine with pairs)
*I know ppl here said 2 bolivian rams, but many other sites and the LFS owner say bolvian rams(unlike appistos and german rams) do much better in groups of 3 or more in a 20g+. Im fine with 2 or 3, just want them to be happy
**different sub species grow 4" others grow to 6" if I wind up with a bigger ones, the tetras might be too small, but otherwise Ive made verified they are compatible with everything else, its also why I decided against the appistos. They dont mix well.
If you really are still considering a leaf fish, I'm done with trying to help you, sorry 
You seem to "know better" than any advice we can give you. Good luck!
You seem to "know better" than any advice we can give you. Good luck!
If you really are still considering a leaf fish, I'm done with trying to help you, sorry
You seem to "know better" than any advice we can give you. Good luck!
I actually went back and read through the thread and the last thread, Ive avoided all the pitfalls anyone on this site has sad, and all data I can find. What incompatility is there with the the Ctenopoma?
Every issue I found/was told
I cant have slender bodied fish under 3" ✓ (took kuhlis off the list, no small loaches, no narrow schooling fish)
Wide bodied tank mates must be over 2" ✓ (took dwarf/honey gouramis off my list)
I cant have with the more aggressive dwarf cichlids ✓ (got rid of the appistos)
Theyre shy, cant have them with bigger territorial fish ✓ (no agressive gouramis, and took paradise fish off the list)
No aggressive fish ✓ (never had any selected)
They get stressed out with nippy fish ✓ (No barbs, nippy tetras, took yoyo loaches off the list)
They need a large enough well planted tank ✓
Depending on the source, the max out at 4",5",6", and one site 6" in captivity 8" in the wild. (Im still looking but posters that say they got theirs Petco/Petsmart say it reached 4", very circumstantial evidence, It will not even be the largest fish in the tank... and I rather pay $9 at petco and stick him in a quarantine tank for 2 weeks than pay the $27, the LFS will charge to order it for me... and put him in quarantine for 1 week)
Obviously water parameters of all these fish fall 6.5-7.0, softer water, 76-79°. And every species are known to be easy and hardy that do well in a peacful-semi aggressive community tank (except maybe the golden loaches, there care level like most loaches is listed as moderate)
If you are going to research elsewhere it may be prudent to cite your references..
I am not going to say it is a good or bad idea, as I am really not interested in community tanks.
What I will say, is to be sure to have a backup plan, if you are trying something that is not a known quantity it will be good to be able to do something before there have been serious consequences.
I am not going to say it is a good or bad idea, as I am really not interested in community tanks.
What I will say, is to be sure to have a backup plan, if you are trying something that is not a known quantity it will be good to be able to do something before there have been serious consequences.
I've now got a second tank Identical to the first. Hold just over 49 gallons, should take. care of incompatibilities should they arise. big comet is going to get the bacteria going intank 2, 1 is ready, what should I start with, 3 tetras, 3 more in 2 weeks? (should I scratch the tetras completely and go with Mollys or Platts?) also what kind of loaches are these, petco says clown... I don't think that's correct
