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Hi all

I'd like to add 1 or 2 larger fish that are about 3" in size max. to my 42G tall. My current stock consists of 6 guppies, 3 danios, 2 swordtails, 3 platies and 1 balloon molly. I do have a cycled 5g tank that I could move a couple of fish into to make room if necessary

Any suggestions? Thanks so much!


*Mitch*

Mitchee,

I find Gouramies very nice, and South American Cichlids too.

The Gouramies would hang more in the middle - top of your tank, which may be a little crowded then.

The South American Cichlids, like Rams and Apistogrammas, are more active in the lower level, so that may work out well.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi Little Fish

I love gouramies and I did have 2 dwarf blue gouramies for about 6 weeks. Unfortunately, they kept attacking each other then, for some reason, 2 of my platies started attacking them. I removed the 2 platies but one gourami died 2 weeks ago and the last one just this morning from their battle wounds. I'm afraid of trying them again in fear that maybe the guppies will attack them!!
I'd like to try the Cichlids that you mention, but would they not make a meal out of the other fish??? The reason I say this is that a while back I had mistakenly purchased a juvenile firemouth cichlid that was in a community tank with livebearers and he was absolutely gorgeous. When he was identified for me, I was advised that I should get rid of him for that same reason. Luckily, my LFS took him off my hands. So, what do you think???


*Mitch*

Mitchee,

Sorry to hear about your Gouramie losses, maybe you should lay off them as you would constantly worry even if all goes well (I love Pearl Gouramies, but they get to be about 4 inches and I have more space for them).

Yeah, that is not the kind of Cichlid I was talking about. Rams in particular stay mostly in the lower parts of the tank and yes - they can be territorial (mostly at breeding time). But they have no competition for that part of the tank as all your other fish are mid to top, right? German Rams make lovely Community tank fishies, but they require very good water quality and are a little sensitive. Bolivian Rams, which get a little larger (maybe up to 4 inches for the male) are hardier. Why don't you read up on these two kinds?

Also, anybody else who has experience with these fish (in particular when combined with lifebearers) should speak out please.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks so much for the info. Little Fish. Read up as suggested and I really like the looks of the Bolivian and German rams that you recommend and I also like the Panda Apisto. Hopefully, my LFS will be able to get these for me. Thanks again


*Mitch*

Mitchee,

My pleasure, but maybe it is worthwile creating a special thread asking about your favorite option first. Also, you can try a search here at FP to see if threads already exist that have this fish in their topic line.

Have fun,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I have a bolivian ram in with my swordtails, cories, danios, and abristlenose pleco.

The bolivian ram is my favorite fish, he tends to stick at the bottom of the tank, but will swim to the top. I love his "helicopter" movements.
He's a little shyer than all the other fish, but gosh he is beautiful.

They all get along great, Bali (my bolivian ram) tends to ignore everything in the tank. Also, he loves cichlid attack pellets, he wont eat anything else beside frozen food now.

I've had dwarf gouramis, angelfish, clown loaches, panda cories, and skirt tetras, with my livebearers, none have been much of a problem except for eating the fry

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

Chelaine

I never considered Angelfish because I thought they would be too aggressive I'd love to have them!!! However, wouldn't the fast moving guppies and platies stress them out and bother them just like they did to my gouramies? If I do decide to go with Angels, do they do well as a solitary fish or are they better in pairs?

Thanks!


*Mitch*

Mitchee,

See I was not considering Angels for two reasons:

a) I cannot tell you much about them as I never had them
b) You asked for fish up to 3 inches (and I stretched it to 4). Angels get a bit larger than this. Keep that in mind.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Angels get quite big, and would go great except for your danios (sometimes nippy) if they are leaving your guppies and swords alone then they may be okay with an angel.

Inky

Hey Littlefish

Yep,I know, max. 3", but that was before I found out I could get an Angelfish I never considered them because I didn't think they would be compatible with my livebearers and danios, but after reading the posts.... I should be OK to fit in one Anglefish as their profile states max. size is 6". And, I can always move a couple of platies into my 5G if need be. Sounds like a plan


*Mitch*

sacrifice for what you love? lol... angels are good fish, but they do get large, and im not sure how they are with danios. my angels run in a pack and pretty much dominate the tank. I do think angels however look good in a tall tank.. the 42 tall would need a cool centerpiece fish.

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...