Another stocking question

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 13, 2023

Okay so I finally got that large tank I've been dreaming of for the longest time, I was able to convince my parents on a larger tank so I now have a 48x18x18" tank, 67g.
I currently have some fish I've been keeping at my petshop's display tanks, I got a whole tank for myself there. I currently have 2 adult angels, 4 juvies, 18 congos (like 6-8 males and the rest females), 8 parkingson rainbows and a handful (like 6) halfbeaks.

With the current fish I have, will all be fine? Can I possibly add more congos? I can't get anymore rainbows as they've been sold out for a while, I doubt we'll restock too. I could get up to like 20 more congos if I wanted. The halfbeaks I can put them in a different tank if they won't fit in.

Colin_T · Oct 14, 2023

Halfbeaks need a tank of their own with slow moving water and lots of floating plants. Thery do best in water with a pH above 7.0 and some like a bit of salt. Check with @emeraldking for that.

You can breed rainbowfish easily. Some info at following link, if you need more specific, ask. Most rainbowfish do best in water with a pH above 7.0 and a GH above 150ppm (preferably around 200ppm).

Back to Basics when Breeding Fish

STARTING OUT Make sure you have a pair, (1 male + 1 female). There is nothing worse than spending your hard-earned dollars buying a couple of fish to try and breed and ending up with a pair of fish of the same sex. Let's face it, to reproduce fish you need a male and a female. Two males won't do...

www.fishforums.net

Too many Congo tetras for that size tank. the Congos and rainbows are a bit too active for angelfish and will probably stress them. Congo tetras and angelfish do best in water with a H below 7.0 and a GH below 100pm.

-----------------

If rainbowfish are hard to get, take them and breed them. Flood the market and then get rid of the rainbows and get Congos if you still want them.

GaryE · Oct 14, 2023

In a tank that size, with the growth potential of Congos in mind, I wouldn't go past 8 individuals. They thrive with moving water at the surface, especially if there is a small window of natural light early on. In slow water, they are less interesting.

I had an acquaintance with a tank the size of yours who positioned a powerhead water pump right at the surface for maximum agitation, and his Congos were superb.

The parkinsoni will live a bit lower down in the water column, and be fine. The angels? Hmm. It's an odd mix in terms of fish needs. I'm with colin on the halfbeaks. Neat fish, but that seems an unlikely mix.

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 14, 2023

Ohh, thanks! I will be moving my halfbeaks somewhere else then, would a 30 gal tall be fine for these halfbeaks? I will definitely try breeding rainbows.

Someone told me in a messenger group I could get like 30 if I wanted...

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 14, 2023

Colin_T said:
You can breed rainbowfish easily. Some info at following link, if you need more specific, ask. Most rainbowfish do best in water with a pH above 7.0 and a GH above 150ppm (preferably around 200ppm).

Back to Basics when Breeding Fish

STARTING OUT Make sure you have a pair, (1 male + 1 female). There is nothing worse than spending your hard-earned dollars buying a couple of fish to try and breed and ending up with a pair of fish of the same sex. Let's face it, to reproduce fish you need a male and a female. Two males won't do...

www.fishforums.net

If rainbowfish are hard to get, take them and breed them. Flood the market and then get rid of the rainbows and get Congos if you still want them.

Oh and, how do I know if my rainbows are ready to breed? I actually have a mix of parkingson and crossing rainbows and I can't tell them apart... is it safe to cross them? I'll show you pics or vids tomorrow

emeraldking · Oct 14, 2023

Colin_T said:
Halfbeaks need a tank of their own with slow moving water and lots of floating plants. Thery do best in water with a pH above 7.0 and some like a bit of salt. Check with @emeraldking for that.

Yes, halfbeaks prefer slow moving water at the surface. Adding salt is a bit depending on which kind of halfbeak we're talking about. For it's not mentioned which type of halfbeak we're dealing with.

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 14, 2023

emeraldking said:
Yes, halfbeaks prefer slow moving water at the surface. Adding salt is a bit depending on which kind of halfbeak we're talking about. For it's not mentioned which type of halfbeak we're dealing with.

Unfortunately, I do not know the specifics as it is wild caught, however, I am pretty sure it is a halfbeak with the shape and that we can confirm it to be a livebearer. It doesn't have much color other than a blueish-grayish body. Caught here in the Philippines, It's probably introduced right? Then again, there's not much literature about the local fish here

emeraldking · Oct 14, 2023

Jacob the tank keeper said:
Unfortunately, I do not know the specifics as it is wild caught, however, I am pretty sure it is a halfbeak with the shape and that we can confirm it to be a livebearer. It doesn't have much color other than a blueish-grayish body. Caught here in the Philippines, It's probably introduced right? Then again, there's not much literature about the local fish here

In Asia there are a couple of halfbeak species that are livebearers.

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 14, 2023

emeraldking said:
In Asia there are a couple of halfbeak species that are livebearers.

Not much documentation of halfbeak species here, there is the Philippine Snub-nosed halfbeak but it doesn't look like that, it looks closer to the wrestling halfbeak

Colin_T · Oct 14, 2023

We need pictures of the halfbeaks and rainbows to identify the species.

You don't want to cross breed rainbowfish because they produce fertile offspring and that screws up the true bloodlines.

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 15, 2023

I hope these are enough. They used to have more color when I personally kept them in 2fts (I was a beginner who knew nothing). They used to be more colored when I fed some good foods and lives. The workers at the shop said they'd take care of them but they've been feeding the cheapest foods available. Hence, the losing of coloration I think

Colin_T · Oct 15, 2023

Normal Congo tetras have more colour than the albinos and lutinos.

The rainbowfish are hybrids and not worth keeping or breeding. If you haven't paid for them, just let the shop keep them.

The following link has all the known rainbowfishes from Australia and New Guinea and is written by one of the world authorities on the fish. Bookmark the link and use it to compare the fish you have.

Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae

A website dedicated to Rainbowfishes of Australia and New Guinea

rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 15, 2023

Colin_T said:
Normal Congo tetras have more colour than the albinos and lutinos.

The rainbowfish are hybrids and not worth keeping or breeding. If you haven't paid for them, just let the shop keep them.

The following link has all the known rainbowfishes from Australia and New Guinea and is written by one of the world authorities on the fish. Bookmark the link and use it to compare the fish you have.

Melanotaeniidae and Pseudomugilidae

A website dedicated to Rainbowfishes of Australia and New Guinea

rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au

WE are the shop. Nah they had more color before... These were sold to us imported from Manila (our capital city) as Parkingson rainbows and Crossing rainbows, I'll try to find better pics.

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 15, 2023

this is a older pic

Jacob the tank keeper · Oct 15, 2023

If these really are hybrids, then I'll probably just order a more well known rainbow like boesemani... or Red. What would you recommend? something easy to breed too. And maybe other fish that can fit my current stock

Another stocking question

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