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HI,

This is not only a great site but the forums are full of helpful people willing to share with rookies like me!

Background:
I have a 5-weeks-old 29 gallon fully-cycled tank. I already have in it 3 beautiful Platy, 1 blue dwarf gourami, 1 mystery snail (neutered. Now I have space for 11 inches of fish.

Here are my questions:
1) Can anyone suggest any really colorful and small schooling fish that are easy to care for? I want to get some cardinal tetras but they are too delicate for a beginner.

2) My tank is only 30 inches long. Do you think this will hamper the schooling behavior of fish? Earlier I had 4 rasboras and 2 zebra danios that did not school too well.

3) I will add a school of 3 corys. I am thinking of panda corys. Any suggestions or advice on the cory-front?

Any suggestions apart from these questions will be greatly appreciated too. I could use some of your expertise.

Thanks a ton.

Harlequin rasboras are colorful, good-schooling fish. Lots of different colored tetras...check your lfs to see what's available and what you like; we can then give you our thoughts on those fish. The profiles here often mention if a particular fish is hardy or requires special care.

Most people will recommend at least six fish for a proper sized school. That could be one reason the fish you had previously didn't school. Another is that with many fish schooling is defensive, safety-in-numbers reaction; if the fish feel safe and happy in the tank they may not necessarily school.

If you're looking for color and not necessarily concerned with schooling you could add more platies, or more platies and guppies. IME both will eat their own fry if you have mixed sex fish and are concerned about being overrun with fry; the gourami would probably help with population control as well

Cherry barbs can be kept in pairs and are nicely colored.

Like the other fish, cories really should be kept in a school of at least six. Many people say pandas are a bit sensitive, I never had a problem with them. If you don't want to chance it maybe look around your area for another small cory that interests you.

Another option for bottom feeders would be loaches. They like the company of their own kind, a group of at least three is usually recommended.

Hope I helped some; keep us posted

Last edited by Theresa_M at 07-Oct-2004 09:26

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks for the reply Theresa!

I do not think I have space for 6 corys! Are there any other small bottom-feeders (that are equally cute!) that can be kept singly or in a smaller school?

Unless you really, really want a schooling fish this is what I'd suggest:

1 dwarf gourami
6 cories
7 platies or 3 platies and a pair of cherry barbs

If your platies are same sex, make sure the ratio is at least 1M/2F to keep the stress down on the females.

Last edited by Theresa_M at 07-Oct-2004 09:36

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Theresa,

Thanks again.

I loved your suggestion. I think I will go with your mix and call my tank 'The Theresa'. Just kidding!

I'll definitely go for this:
1 dwarf gourami
6 cory
3 Platies
2 cherry barbs or fancy guppies. I like guppies but I might go with the cherry barbs because I might want to replace the gourami with a Betta and Bettas might attack the fancy guppies.

Thanks!

Glad I could help.

Personally I've not had luck with male bettas in community tanks. I tried a few...they either bothered the other fish or vice versa Some people have problems because the bettas don't like the current from the filter. I have had luck with females in community tanks though.

One thing I forgot to mention about the cherries is they tend to be a bit shy. So if you want more active fish getting more platies or guppies might be a better choice. It depends what you're looking for.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Tiger Barb's are always a fun choice!

While tiger barbs are nice fish, they would probably be trouble in this setup. They grow to three inches long, and are nippy. This means that they would be the dominant fish in the tank, and they'd pester the other fish to death.

Adding the school of six cories is a good idea, they will help clean up leftover food, and they don't produce too much waste. Also, they're very entertaining. I would definitely suggest adding six panda cories, they're a great choice!

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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."