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About 3 weeks ago, I ripped my 30 Gallon tank down to nothing. I changed it to a brown gravel from a light blue, put on a black background and planted it. I want to know how to stock this. It currently contains 4 cherry barbs, 2 pink skirted tetras, and 2 ottos. These were all overflow from other tanks. Where do I go from here? I would love suggestions. I would love to keep the cherrys and per my girls explicit instructions ]:| MUST keep the tetras under penalty of death . So.... stock me.
-Nick

Last edited by littleslicknick at 27-Dec-2004 15:08

Light blue gravel? >.>

ick, I say.

I'd round out your tetra school to 6, add a medium sized centerpiece fish, such as an angelfish (this is a thirty and not a 29, correct?) or a ram. Instead of the centerpiece fish, you could go with 5 cories and such. Maybe two more ottos.

I agree with what Cup said. Round out your tetra school to at least 6. Also, I'd get 2 or 3 more ottos so your current 2 have some company. They'll be more effective as algae eaters that way, too.

A pair of german blue rams would liven things up a little. Also, a dwarf gourami (any color variation) or a moonlight gourami or a pearl gourami would enjoy the plants. If you want some top dwelling fish, guppys or hatchets are a goot way to go. But of course don't forget your clean up crew - corys.

To sum up, if it were my tank I'd stock it as follows:
6 tetras
6 corys of some kind (most likely a smaller species)
5 ottos
a pearl gourami
2, maybe 4 GBR

Hope that gave you some ideas.

><>Dani<><

I like Dani's idea. For cories, I'd suggest pandas, because they stay small and just LOVE being in groups. They will keep you entertained all right. German rams are very pretty IMO, and I think they'd make a great centerpiece fish. Dwarf gouramis can be pretty too, but I'd go for the rams if you can find it. I think it's wise to go with an odd number though, so one doesn't get singled out.
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-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

If you don't go for the pandas, then I say you go for the albino corries, Les, has some and they are hilarious to watch...

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle