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I want to add a colorful and lively school of tightly schooling fish to each of my community tanks. I have a 75 gallon, a 42-tall gallon, and a 29 gallon. All of the tanks are fully cycled, have gravel substrate, live plants, bubbles, and several hiding places.

There are so many options and I want all of them! :%) Please help me decide. What species do you suggest for each tank and how many should I get?

Existing stock in the 75gal. is
3 Bosemani rainbows,
5 dwarf neon rainbows,
6 yo-yo loaches,
1 juv. rainbow shark,
1 paradise fish,
1 flag fish,
1 juv. kribensis,
1 blue phantom pleco
The paradise fish and both of the rainbowfish species are a little nippy. I woke up the other morning and found that a Bosemani had lost an eye during the night to an unknown culprit. I need to choose something that can either hold its own or make a speedy get away. I was thinking that brilliant rasboras or serpae tetras may be good options. What other options can I consider?

Existing stock in the 42gal. is:
2 juv. keyholes,
2 juv. German blue rams,
3 balloon-belly mollies,
2 swordtails,
1 platy,
1 dwarf gourami,
1 bumblebee catfish.
There has been some mild bickering between the keyholes and the rams but they seem to keep it amongst themselves and the other fish are carefree. I think most fish would be safe in this tank.

Existing and planned stock for the 29gal. is:
8 panda cories (I'm picking them up tomorrow ),
6 kuhli loaches,
2 cherry barbs
This would have to be a small species, but otherwise I think pretty much anything would work.

Thanks!

Schooling fish...lets see!

Well, almost any tetra or barb will get you that.

My favorites personally, are the rummynose tetra, the harlequin rasabora, the gold barb, and the belted barb. I recommend them to almost anyone. The rummies stay smallish, but not as small as the harlies. The barbs can reach about 3" or so.

Congo tetras are nice, one of the biggest and boldest of all the tetras.

Then there's the classic neon or cardinal tetra, and the regular tiger barb, which comes in several color varieties.

What do you like?


[hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

You have a blue phantom?

Small tets are fine in the 29.
For the 75, I'd add more rainbows to buff up both schools.
I wouldn't trust smaller schoolers with bumblebee cats.

I agree with the harlequin rasboras. I've got a school of 10 in my 55 gallon and they are beautiful--bright colors and pretty tight schoolers. I also have bloodfin tetras in my 29 gallon that school pretty tightly for the most part and the red on their fins is definitely eye catching.
HTH
Jen

Actually my husband has a blue phantom. It's the only fish that he really likes. I admit he's a looker, but for such a pricey fish, he sure does a whole lotta nothing.

As for the bumblebee cat, maybe I should clarify. He's a South American bumblebee cat (Microglanis Iheringi). From what I've read he'll only get to be a little over 2" and will only be dangerous to fry.

I like Lifenoodles' suggestion to bump up the rainbowfish schools. Maybe two Bosemanis and three dwarf neons?

I'm still undecided about the 42-gallon and the 29-gallon. I like rummynoses but they are a little frail. I've had my eye on flame tetras and silvertip tetras. Hmmm, what to do, what to do . . .