Umpteenth tank stocking question

nursie

nursie

AC Members
Jan 15, 2005
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Peoria, IL
Real Name
michelle
How does this look for numbers and compatability? I have a 50 gal planted tank with sand/fluorite substrate and plenty of snails.
7 harlequin rasboras
2 otos ( I plan to get 2 more for a total of 4)
3 clown loaches (don't have yet)
3 pearl gouramis (don't have yet)
1 betta (I know may not work...he seems to keep to himself and hides in the hornwort. I'll move out to a 10 gal if it doesn't work out)

Could I go up safely on # of clowns or gouramis? I know the loaches will grow..that's my ammo for getting a 100 gal down the road, but I know they grow slow.

Any other suggestions? Or is it too much?
 
That could work.

I assume you already have the ottos, rasboras, and betta?
 
I just looked at the profile on here and it says that pearls can get nippy with smaller fish, and that they do best in pairs, so you might consider only getting 2. I've never had them myself though, so not speaking from experience! Would 4 work I wonder, being in 2 pairs? I also think you could get a couple more clowns as long as you're sure that an upgrade is in your future! I would get the extra otos too!
 
Having kept Pearl Gouramis before, it is okay to have a group of them. I never had any problems with them at all. They never gave chase to my other fish (large or small) and were extremely peaceful. I would get at least 4 of them. Just keep in mind that some may have a bad temperment, but its a chance you take with any pet...some may just be meaner than others, but having a small group would lessen/even out any aggression that may come up. I would get maybe 2 more clowns if you will def be investing in a larger tank in the future. They're wonderful fish! I love mine! :thm:
You can also safely increase your harlequin school by at least 5 or 6 more
 
I would suggest a pair of pearls, m/f. They do get a bit aggressive when they think about sex. I never found them to bother other fish much, except for territory.

I used to frequent a fish shop that keep a lot of full grown clown loaches, little herds of them full grown. They really like to school and swim quite rapidly. They get quite big and quite fat. I always figured they would wreck havoc in a planted tank after watching that, but I have never kept them.

How about some chain loaches? Botia sidthimunki. Or maybe Acanthopthalmus kuhli, the coolie loach?
 
Keep in mind that any of the loaches are going to be really rough on the snail population. My tanks with kuhli loaches don't have any snails that don't dig into the substrate.
 
X-nay on the CLOWN loaches, but greenlight on the khuli loaches or weateher loaches, which will keep you entertained a long time. My preference runs to the weather loaches with their mischevious looks and whiskery faces. Always playing or acting like clowns. Clown loaches are gr8 but too big for your tank at a foot or so each.
 
and khuli loaches are "khul" but hide all day and rarely come out. I still love mine though
 
But, in the short term, the slow growth rate of the clown loaches will allow them to be a perfect excuse for a bigger tank down the line.

Kuhli's will be more active and visible if kept in groups. The 'false', or black kuhli, tends to be more social than the striped kuhli's, though I have both and can usually see a few of each in my 55. I have 6 striped and 10 or more black (they bred in my 40, certainly didn't need that many).
 
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