Fish compatibility

[noelberg]

I plan on getting a 55 gal tank before Christmas, and I really like shoaling fish, so I want some tetras in it.

I was thinking of clown loaches for the bottom.

I also like neons, Von Rios, Pristella, lemon, and black tetras; cherry barbs; dwarf gouramis; and blue danios. Of course I'm not going to get all of these, but I'm thinking about some sort of mix. I worried most about the possible aggressiveness of the loaches, barbs, and gouramis, so would tetras mix with them in a well-planted tank?

Thanks

 

[tsr770]

As for aggressiveness in the Dwarf Gourami, the two that I have are probably the most timid fish in my tank besides the oto's. I don't know about the cherry barbs, I have seen some be peaceful, and some be little devils so I guess they are hit and miss in my experience with them. I have heard that Pristellas can be a little nippy, along with the black tetras.

I think the favorite tetras that I have ever kept are the Red and Blue Columbian tetras that I have now. I also like the rummynoses, the red is so intense when in the right light!

Clowns should be ok, I would get at least 3 of them, but probably not more than 5 for that tank, some people will say less, some more.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> before Christmas

Well, I always say plan ahead.

Cherry Barbs are not aggressive towards other species, but are not a shoaling fish in nature. Best kept as a pair, or trio, 1 male 2 females. Males may fight.

In general, people buy shoaling fish and assume they will form shoals. They are frequently disappointed. Shoaling is a protection behaviour. In small or highly stocked tanks, it is rarely seen since it offers no advantage. To see shoaling, you need shoaling fish, and large, lightly stocked tanks with a lot of open space - the fish then shoal up against predators, (real or imaginary). Any of those tetras would do.

 

[Nina7777]

OHHHHH GEEEEEZZZZZ.....its not even summer yet! and your already talking about christmas! STOP STOP your making me depressed! Golf season just started back up!

OK anyways, The mixture I have in my 55 gallon is below. I don't suggest mixing more than one guorami because they both live in the same section of the tank. Clown loaches will be fine, as IMO they aren't very agressive and I absolutely love mine! If you do end up getting clowns, make sure you have fine gravel or sand even, because when these guys were in my 30 gallon the swam around like crazy now that i moved them into my 55 gallon with finer gravel they look soooooo cute digging around and hiding in the substrate!

 

[crazie.eddie]

In my 55 gallon, I have harlequin rasboras, which often shoal. I also have clown loaches, the smallest (1.5") shoals along with the harlequin rasboras. I agree that fish shoal in a defense, but these just seem to like their company. The harlequins will sometimes just stay along the planted (fake) area of my tank, then a couple will decide to explore to the other side. A few other harelequins, followed by a few more. Kind of cool, I think.

My cardinal tetras in my 37 gallon tank hadrdly shoal, unless they seem me approach the tank and get scared.