Thoughts on my stocking lists?

ExtraHannah

ExtraHannah

Learning as fast as I can!
Dec 6, 2009
139
0
16
Central NC
Hi everyone! I'm new here and learning a lot from reading. What a great community!

I have previously had a 27 hex tank set up that I had to take down when I started moving a lot. However, I don't have a ton of experience with lots of different fish. I'm now ready to restock my 27 hex and I also have a 60 gallon (tall?) that I'm getting set up.

The 60 gallon is 48"L x 13"D x 24" H. I am a huge angelfish fan and figured this nice tall tank (I traded for it, unused!!) would be great for them. I also really like the look of dwarf gourami, but have never had them. I know that sometimes people have trouble with full grown angels eating cardinal tetras, but I've also read that many times they do fine. I think I want to give it a try.

The 27 is already partially stocked. I have one male beta, 8 neons (more than I planned) and 3 male guppies in there. It seems to be doing well and the beta completely ignores the guppies.

I've been keeping notes for myself and wonder if you guys would be willing to look over them.

I've listed potential numbers first, then fish, then normal tank location and lastly food requirements. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I'm just going to copy and paste from my word document:

Feeding and Stocking:
My 60g tank:
4 Angelfish – Mid Tank - Flake, Dried Bloodworms

4 Dwarf Gourami – Top/Mid - Flake, Dried Bloodworms, Algae Wafers, Frozen Brine Shrimp(Live blackworms?)
Mix some Honey Gourami?

1 Peppermint bristlenose? – Bottom - Spirulina algae discs, bloodworms, fresh cucumber slice or zucchini ([FONT=&quot]Microwave partially in water for 30 seconds, veggie clip or plant weight, remove after a couple days, and repeat every couple of days. )[/FONT]

4+ Peppered Cory Cats (Can I mix and match with Bronze or Panda Cories?) – Bottom - HBH shrimp pellets (Wardly brand messy), algae/veggie wafers

7+ Cardinal Tetra – mid and lower tank - flake and frozen brine shrimp

5 Other Tetra – Black Phantom, Bleeding Heart, Rummy Nose or Bloodfin

(Possibly a pair of Rams – Bolivian more hardy than Blues, both hardier than Golds)

My 27 Gallon:
3 Male Guppies – Top - flake and frozen brine shrimp

? Platties – all over – Flake, almost anything, Spirulina based food.

8 Neon Tetras – flake and frozen brine shrimp

1 Male Betta – all over – Beta Bio-Gold, flake, freeze dried or frozen brine shrimp.

2 or 3 Otocinclus (Also called Dwarf Suckermouth) – bottom – Algae wafers and Veggies as with Bristlnose
 
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Couple of thoughts. I would do only one gourami, they get a bit territorial with each other. The same species of cory works better. Makes for a happy group.

Male bettas and guppys can be a bad mix. The betta may look at the guppys as rival bettas and attack them.
 
Thank you so much Rich!

Man, I keep getting such conflicting info on the Dwarf Gourami. A couple people have told me that they keep several happily together, as long as there is enough planting. It was actually suggested that I have four instead of three on another forum. Others have said I should only have one, etc. etc. I guess maybe it depends on your setup and your individual fish, huh? Are the Honey Gourami better?

Yes, kind of the same deal with the betta and the guppies. Maybe it depends on the betta. These have been together for a little while. I just watched the betta swim right past the guppies and he only spared them a glance. Maybe it helps that they aren't all that fancy? I don't know my guppies, but these have don't have the hugely impressive tails. I will keep a very close eye on them though. If I see any aggression, the beta can go back in his little tank alone.
 
I have had no luck with two dwarfs together. Never ends well. One winds up stuck in a corner too scared to eat. Real honeys are supposed to be mellower.

It definitely depends on the betta. Some are quite mellow others not so much.
 
Kudos on doing the research :thumbsup: You may want to look at 1-3 pearl gouramis instead of dwarfs. I think pearls are a good size match with angels, less aggressive than golds, and hardier than dwarfs.
 
Thanks again guys! So it sounds like I might be better served with pearl or honey gourami huh? They are lovey too, but I sure do love the colors of the dwarf. Sigh. However, from the reading I've done on the anabantoids board, it seems like the dwarf is also very hard to keep alive. Not what I need to start out with likely.

I'm assuming it will be tough to find females of the pearl and honey. Do groups of males do OK together? Also, how many would you go with of either in this tank with the four angels?

I will stick with one type of cory. I may change to those in the 27 as well. They sound a bit easier.

Does everything else look OK and reasonably accurate?
 
For the 60g I would suggest:

1 pearl (biggest one at your LFS who doesn't look like a jerk)
4 wee angels
12 bloodfin tetras
10 peppered cories
peppermint bn pleco

I think if you did that only issue you might have is angel-angel aggression once they mature.
 
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Looks like you are coming along good. It may be hard to find females of the honey gourami, but you should be able to find some of the pearl gourami. :)
 
I would stay away from the dwarf gourami as well.They are very hard to keep alive for one thing,and you usually only see males for sale in pet stores.More than one male will lead to fighting,even in a larger tank.Pearl or 3 spot gourami would work better IMO.
I would get 5 angles,the more the better.
I would also get at least 8 corydora.
Mixing cardinals with angels may work,and may not.The bigger the school,the better the odds of it working.So rather than 2 small schools of tetra,I would stick with one larger school of 1 species.
A bristlenose pleco would be fine.
I would leave the rams out of the tank.Great looking fish,but not enough room with the angels IMO.
You could have 3 or 4 platties,and your 27 would be fine.
Good Luck!
 
Awesome info guys! I'm updating my list as we speak.

I do want the angels to be the focus of my big tank, so I'll do what I need to work around them.
 
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