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I am very clueless as to which fish to put together in a community. I currently have a five gallon tank,but I will be getting either a ten or a twenty gallon tank in the near future. Right now I have a five gallon tank with three swordtails, one male, two females. I want a bigger community tank, but i cant figure out what to put in it.
I was thinking about a pair of ram cichlids, and I had someone tell me that i could put cichlids with other non cichlid fish if raised in a community from fry. I need any and all suggestions of which fish would be best with swordtails. Also if Ram Cichlids or Julie cichlids, or paradise fish would be peaceful with swordtails. I am pretty desperate.PLEASE REPLY!!!

it all depends on what fish you like.. it's tough to give out suggestions because there are so many fish out there.

any idea what you like?

Well, in terms of the fish you asked about... Rams are an unaggressive species of cichlid. Paradisefish are good, hardy beginner fish and should be fine with swordtails. However, Julie cichlids, otherwise known as Julidochromis, are a Rift Lake species of cichlid, which means they're water quality is quite different and therefore incompatible.

But as Fallout says, you've got a lot of fish to choose from.

Last edited by solongNthxforallthefish at 13-Jul-2005 20:57

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I am REALLY interested in any kind of catfish. other than that, I like fish that school, and like...loaches and killifishes. I really like jack dempseys, but i know thats not an option. I guess fish with blue, green or orange. Pretty much anything but brown or dark colored fish.

Last edited by hello fishy at 13-Jul-2005 21:06

Paradise fish can be semi agressive or nippy and I wouldn't keep one with any tank mates in under 20gallons. In 20gallons one could get along with swordtails but it depends on the fish. Some can be very agressive and I've had them slaughter all their tank mates and some can be kept in a very peaceful community tank. Rams are peaceful unless spawning. Really with the size swordtails get plus the fry they'll have I'd go with the 20g. A 10 is just going to be too small to add much. In a 20g you could do any small schooling fish like small tetras or a group of cories. As well as probably rams or other fairly peaceful cichlids.

there r lots of schooling fish with varieties of color...and there r also livebeares that will give u wide array of colors.as for bottomfeeders...catfish like pandas r just one of most beloved.

so, go to ur lfs...check what they have...research the species...and whats compatible with them..and from there...u can slowly build up ur community tank.

Hello fishy

I suggest visiting as many LFS as you can and see how they have set up their community tanks, and from that decide what your are interested in, then go about getting a tank for something you are interested in and can afford .

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Corydoras, Tetra's & Loaches are all schooling fish.
Go to your LFS & tell us what you like & how big the thank will be.



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I'm with keithg on this one. What I do is walk around petsmart with the wife and look at what's there that we like and take notes. Then do some research on them to see if thet're compatible, fishprofiles will tell you, or ask in a forum if there'll be any trouble. Keep in mind the number of fish you want and their adult size. ie...you don't want something that will grow to 18 inches in a 10 gal tank, lol. good luck and plz keep us posted

Last edited by divertran at 14-Jul-2005 09:51

Well, Ive Researched compatible fish. There are some I like, and I guess I need some second oppinions. I will be getting the twenty gallon tank, and these are the fish I might be putting in it.

-Firemouth Meeki (either single or pair)
-3 swordtails (1 male, 2 females)
-A pair of Rams
-2 kuhli Loach
-Pair of paradise fish\

I would also like to know more about ghost shrimp.


Last edited by Hello Fishy at 14-Jul-2005 15:30

Firemouth Meeki (either single or pair)
-3 swordtails (1 male, 2 females)
-A pair of Rams
-2 kuhli Loach
-Pair of paradise fish

Firemouths grow to around 7 inches, and are too large for a 20g tank.
The pair of rams would be fine with the swordtails.
Kuhli loaches prefer to be in groups of 6, so you could up the number of kuhlis to 6.
The paradise fish will be ok as long as their are a male and a female. 2 males will kill each other in the same way male bettas will. If you are unsure of which is which, I would suggest just 1 paradise fish.

Instead of the firemouths you could consider a small peaceful schooling fish, such as pencilfish, threadfin rainbows, white clouds, tetra, or rasbora species.




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Firemouth Meeki (either single or pair)
-3 swordtails (1 male, 2 females)
-A pair of Rams
-2 kuhli Loach
-Pair of paradise fish


I really dont think that list will work
firemouths and paradise fish are to aggressive, to territorial for that sized tank. And its overstocked.

You could TRY, one paradise fish with the 3 swordtails, but then that would be it, or the rams and 3-6 khulies with the swordtails, but then that would be stocked also.

paradise fish are alot like bettas, some will tolerate tankmates, others will not, its always a gamble.@ paradise fish in the same tank is asking for a big fight between the 2.

OK...So no firemouths. I couldnt really find Kuhlis anywhere, so i have a friend giving me two of his, so i think two will be all i can get for now. So I could have the two kuhlis, and swordtails, and rams, but harlequin rasboras or tetras...will they be ok with everyone else?
I was thinking that instead of the firemouths, i could have a small school of six or seven of one or another.

If you could upgrade to a 30 (which, in thought, is only ten more gallons), then get the swordtails, firemouths, and several ancistrus; a central american lake biotope.

I am only getting tanks from my uncle: a 5, 10, 20, and 29. I would have liked the 29, but my sister,who has cichlids, has already claimed it. Im such a tightwad, and so far, havent spent any money on my current tank, lights, etc. pretty much all from friends, so I guess I wouldnt want to buy a 30. Would this be a better combination?

3 swordtails,
2 rams,
2 kuhlis
a small school of tetras, rasboras,etc.(5-6)
possibly somthing else small?

The thing is that the 2o gal is stocked with the swordtails, rams, and khulies. If yuo want to add a school of small fish- say 6 -8 glowlight tetras, harlie rasboras, ect youll need to realy watch your water quality, and really keep up on your water changes, and have good filtration. Im not saying you cant do it, Im saying that you cant let you tank maintance slip.Adding some plants would also help