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Yesterday I reaquascaped my 55g and gave it a good cleaning. While I was at it I counted heads and came up with:

1 clown pleco
5 guppys (3m, 2f)
2 f platys
1 f swordtail
3 albino corys
5 otos
8 red serpaes
9 black neons
3 tiger barbs
1 angel
1 m dwarf gourami
(f and m are sexes)

I know the corys need a bigger school, as well as the tiger barbs. Here's what I'm thinking of adding for sure:
5 more albino corys
4 yoyo loaches

I'm not sure yet if I want to return the tiger barbs, or get 5 more. I'm also not all that partial to the sword and plattys, so they could go or stay. Doesn't make much of a difference to me.

I really like my tank, but it just seems to be missing something. I don't really want any more schooling fish, nor do I want (off the top of my head) killis, rams, or kribs. I kinda want something a little bigger (example: dwarf gourami size and up), definitely colorful, and more active than not. The obvious first thought is some kind of cichlid, but what kind (if any) would get along with, say, the guppys? Should I just give up on that idea and go with some dwarf rainbows or something? Help! I'm at a loss and am very open to suggestions.

The tank:

55 USg
ammonia: 0
nitrate: ~20
nitrite: 0
ph: right around 7.2-7.4
driftwood, rock cave, plastic plants, live plants
gravel substrate
Aquaclear 500 filter (now 110)

Thanks in advance for the input

><>Dani<><

A lot depends on whether you're keeping the tiger barbs or not. My first thoughts were angels or pearl gouramis, but I'd worry about the tigers with them.

Rainbowfish are very nice. You mentioned not really wanting another school, but congo tetras are a big larger and have good coloring.

Have to do some more thinking...


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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

If it were me, then I'd return the platies and the swordtail. For some reason, I just don't like livebearers.

If you want a cichlid, maybe a pair, you could go with apistos. They don't seem to be troublemakers, and they stay very small. I like the dwarf cockatoo cichlid, myself.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

IMO...

Even though Tim will disagree with this, ditch the Tiger barbs, as they severly limit what can go in with them since they tend to be fin nippers.

I'd also get rid of all the livebearers...just because I'm like Nick and don't really have a thing with them.

THEN, after filling out the schools you said, I'd go with some sort of rainbowfish that you fancy.

I agree with Theresa on the Congro Tetras, I sometimes forget that they are actually tetras because they are so big. Even though tetras are almost if not always schooling fish, these guys are the exception.

Do belted, clown, or gold barbs spark an interest??

Some type of gourami also lingers in the back of my brain as a possibility...Did you say no to killis?



Last edited by ferretfanatic at 01-Nov-2004 16:11

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I went browsing in a store that has this really annoying employee that followed me around like a little puppy dog... I'm just kidding dear

They had some gorgeous blue and gold rams. I may change my mind about them. I like kribs and rams, but racso has them. I want to be different. I don't want any killis because they stay at the top. They are pretty though, no doubt.

The guppys are staying for sure. I really like their personalities and the fact that they're not at all afraid of my hand. They're my mom's favorite, other than the tiger barbs. It might just be "tough cookies" with those tho I'm still deciding whether the platys and sword are staying or going.

I dunno, maybe what I'm looking for just doesn't exist but if I find something it will be like "AH HA!!!! That's EXACTLY it!!!"

Just gotta keep looking and be patient.

><>Dani<><

Racso and I went to a certain LFS yesterday to get our free fish of the month. The choices were platys, 2 I don't remember, and paradise fish. We got 2 paradise fish and put them in my 55g. I'm observing them closely to make sure they're ok in there. If a problem arises, an alternative housing situation will be arranged (between the 2 of us we have 14 tanks). Since both memberships were completely filled up this time around, we each got $5 worth of free fish and/or merchandise. He got a school of 6 glowlights to go in his ram tank, and I got 3 corys to fill out my school. I'll most likely get a couple more.

The tiger barbs are going, and I'm about 80% sure I'll be getting rid of the sword and 2 platys. Right now I'm thinking I'll get a school of 8-10 dwarf neon rainbows and the 4 yoyo loaches to fill out my tank stock.

><>Dani<><