Looking For Stocking Ideas

[Guppy2010]

I've always had fish - from the goldfish I won at the fair when I was 6, to the tropical freshwater tank I had in high school/college.
Well, tomorrow, my husband is getting be a new tank and I'm not exactly sure how I want to stock it, so I am looking for ideas.

We went to the LFS the other day to see what they options are. I know a lot of these fish are too big for my tank, but I include them on the list to give you an idea of what I like.

• Bala Shark
• Dwarf Gourami
• Glass Catfish
• Ghost Knife Fish
• Polka-Dot Pictus
• Fire Eel
• Debauwie Catfish
• Freshwater Angel
• Electric Blue Johanni
• Multi-Spotted Catfish
• Head and Tail Light Tetra
• Ghost Shrimp
• Hatchet Fish
• Cory Catfish
• Green Spotted Pufferfish

So, suggestions?

Oh, and husband likes peppermint shrimp. I know they are marine, not freshwater, but I'm wondering if there is something that looks similar?

 

[lilfishie]

do you know what sized tank its going to be?

Cory's are fab little fish but do best on sand substrate (cheap play sand from argos is fine £3!)

 

[Guppy2010]

It's 30 (US) gallons. I'm not sure the dimensions.

Of that list, I've had cory cats, ghost cats, freshwater angels, dwarf gouramis, and ghost shrimp.

 

[minnnt]

Just to check... you are planning on cycling this tank first before adding fish aren't you?!

 

[Guppy2010]

Yep

 

[minnnt]

Brilliant.

 

[lilfishie]

nice size then so how about this sort of thing

10 Cory (all same sort)
10-20 Tetra (depending on size)
2-3 Angelfish/Gourmai (depends on height for the Angels)

With sand some wood and some easy grow plants i think this would look fab

 

[minnnt]

Better off with deeper bodied tetras if going with angels.

Black/dark angels with rosy tetras...

 

[Guppy2010]

Thanks for the suggestions.

ANy other ideas to consider?

 

[minnnt]

I wouldn't go with any of the sharks as they get too big for your tank. I would be considering a more chilled community setup. I would look for 3 nice platties, a small angel fish or 2 (so you can watch them grow) and then a school of rosy tetras or silver tip tetras. Also add a group of corys for upkeep of the sand and you will be laughing. A nice bulldog/rubbernose plec would also suit it very well too. Maybe even 2 or 3.

 

[MarlinMan]

Better off with deeper bodied tetras if going with angels.

Black/dark angels with rosy tetras...

+1 on the Rosy Tetras! I have 2 males and 4 females...Very active fish...you can sit and watch them display all day long!

 

[Guppy2010]

I wouldn't go with any of the sharks as they get too big for your tank. I would be considering a more chilled community setup. I would look for 3 nice platties, a small angel fish or 2 (so you can watch them grow) and then a school of rosy tetras or silver tip tetras. Also add a group of corys for upkeep of the sand and you will be laughing. A nice bulldog/rubbernose plec would also suit it very well too. Maybe even 2 or 3.

Yeah, bala sharks are on my "someday" list. I don't have the room for that big of a tank right now, but someday....


I definitely like the idea of corys (they are really cute). Would they be happy in a shoal of four, or would I be better off getting more?

 

[minnnt]

6+ would be better

 

[Guppy2010]

6+ would be better

Alrighty

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd just like to point out that, unless they are a mated pair, two (or three) angels is heading for trouble. Angels really need to be with a partner they've picked themself, a group of 6+ or a single specimen.

Also, slivertip tetras will probably nip an angel; I've got a shoal of 18 and, although I noticed before it got too bad, they did nip my angel and I had to separate them.