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Hi everyone. I have a 46 gallon tank and have an idea of what I want in it, but want to check with others, who know alittle more, before completing my stocking.

Currently I have 4 kuhli loaches, 12 ruby red danios, 1 baby redtail shark (currently just an inch long) and one otto.

My plan is to add about 7 more ottos making 8 and 6 more 1-2" fish to contrast the ruby red danios.

Is my plan a good plan? I prefer the ottos over a bristlenose only because they are so much smaller. Anyone have any thoughts on a type of fish to add with the danios to contrast them? I went with a baby redtail because I wanted one and I figured it would be better for the other fish if it started as a baby. Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

thanks

Depending on how fast the RTBS will outgrow that tank certainly it will not happen overnight. Also when they get larger they can become very bossy of the tank and the older they get the worse they seem to be.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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Eventually the Red Tailed Black Shark will need rehousing. It's a 7 inch fish when fully grown and a feisty one that demands a LOT of space, frequently manifesting this by forceful evictions of other bottom feeders from its chosen patch. So I'd keep an eye on that beastie.

Without the Red Tailed Black Shark, you would have a LOT more options. As in boosting your Otocinclus numbers as you've stated in your wish list above, and adding, say, 4 more Kuhlii loaches to see if they spawn. Plus, you'd have room for ... let's see, a 46 gallon ... and you want something to contrast with your "Ruby Red Danios" (are these a selectively bred form of the Zebra Danio perchance, or something new such as Danio kyathit, the Glowlight Danio?). So, something that isn't red ... how about 8 Lemon Tetras? Nice and hardy, lively without being troublesome, likely to spawn in your community aquarium if you look after them nicely, and MUCH underrated because the juveniles seen at dealers are sold before they've had chance to colour up. Basically, Lemon Tetras look insipid and washed out in a bare dealer aquaarium, and thus tend not to recommend themselves to those who are simply 'shopping on sight'. However, put them in a planted aquarium, feed them colour foods plus intermittent live foods (they absolutely ADORE live Bloodworm!) and after about six weeks they'll be little bursts of sunshine in your aquarium. In fine specimens, the yellow becomes seriously intense. However, a planted aquarium is more or less essential if you want to get the best out of them colour wise. I had these for the best part of 9 years and would still have them if my water company hadn't poisoned my water last year ...

If you want a fish that's in keeping with the Asian home of your Danios, try Rasbora borapetensis as your 'contrast fish'. Yes, they have red tails, but the rest of the fish is bluish with a black and yellow stripe along the side.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Did not realize the red tail got to be 7". I guess once he's pushing that or causing problems, I will give him away.

I picked up 3 more ottos today, making 4. I like the idea of a yellow fish or even an orange fish, thanks. What about a mickey mouse platy? are they ok with my set up?

I like the idea of more kuhlis, I like those little guys, but I don't want to starve them, how is the best way to feed them without over feeding the others? I am always turning out my lights and looking for them and watching them, sometimes I get to see them during the day.

I like the long tail zebra danios, they were cool, but I think I want something with alittle more color and the girlfriend wants soemthing other than a danio.

So. 12 ruby red danios, 6-8 yellow (1-2" fish, 4-6 kuhlis, 8ish ottos, and a red tail shark. That would be it. Is that ok? Is that overstocked? Again, any and all ideas/thoughs are appreciated.

psuklinger

Run with the Lemon Tetras and remove the Red Tailed Shark when it starts to get big or boisterous. That more or less sums it up. Mind you, if you remove the Red Tailed Shark first, your Lemons will grow bigger.

Red Tailed Sharks catch out a LOT of people who don't know about their substantial adult size or their tendency to exhibit strong territoriality once mature. They are popular because of their striking colouration, and tiny one inch juveniles look unbelievably cute. Trouble is, that cute one inch fish can become a bruiser once it piles on some body mass. Once again, pays to look these things up before buying!



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Psuklinger.

This an old photo of my RTBS as you can see by the size of the baby CLs which were about 1+ins. He grew a lot larger. I only lost him because of an introdiced water problem.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Attached Image:


Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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WOW I knew they got larger, but did not know they got that large. He was only 3 bucks and so darn cute I had to get him. I have a place I can take him when he gets to large, I am fine with that. Thanks for all the advice.

Just so you don't feel too much despair over parting with your Red Tailed Black Shark, if you can, in th fullness of time, set up a nice large aquarium for him to occupy along with some other chunky, robust and boisterous fishes, then he'll make a fine show fish. As you can see from Keith's photograph, large ones are impressive fishes. So if you can set up a 75 in about 3 years' time and let him loose in that, he'll be quite something to behold! Only thing is, you'll need to choose companions with care. Many other bottom feeders will be harassed if there isn't sufficient in the way of 'real estate' for the Shark to pick a cave from - you can never have too many caves in an aquarium with a Red Tail Shark in it. Even if there are sufficient caves, an RTBS is likely to take up the sport of evicting other bottom dwellers from the over caves for the sheer fun of it. Other bottom feeders need to be big and tough themselves - larger Synodontis Catfishes and some of the chunkier Botia Loaches (tough, fesity ones such as Skunk Botias for example) are good choices. All of these fishes will of course need space, which is why, especially if you're looking at having companions with the RTBS, you should consider a 75 as a baseline setup. If your budget in future runs to the largesse of a 150, then you'll be able to put him in with some seriously impressive playmates - big shoal of Denisons's Barbs comes to mind!

Mind you, if you want to see a REALLY intimidating fish, the related Black Shark, Labeo chrysophekadion, is a juggernaut of a fish that can hit two feet. There's a photo of a big one in the Photo Booth and it actually manages to make a 150 gallon (and that's 150 UK gallons to boot) aquarium look cramped ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002