More on Classroom Tank

[lizard]

Hello.

I'm getting ready to set up my mom's classroom tank and would like some advice, information, opinions, and the like.

I believe the tank is a 55-gallon (US). I haven't seen it, but from what my mom has told me, I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

Can Clown Loaches be kept in a 55? I think Mom's students would love Clown Loaches, but I don't want to put 'em (the fish, not the students ) in a tank that's too small, of course.

The students are quite excited about having fish that swim upside-down, so we'll be getting some Upside-Down Catfish for the tank. Anyone have any other suggestions? We'd prefer fish that are pretty colorful and/or fun for the children to watch. I want lots of bottom-feeders, but there's only so much room on the bottom of the tank Corys, Clown Loaches, Kuhlis, etc.! If my Cory eggs hatch, I'll be putting some of those in the tank, once they grow a little.

Thanks!

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[Puffer_freak]

Put something in top middle and bottom.
Khulis would be a great idea, they squirm and wriggle and everyone would love them. Would it be possible to put a pair of rams in? I don't know much about rams, but they are definately colourful, and from the little I've heard and read, they can be kept in a communtiy. Be sure to get sand if you're getting khulis though.

HTH

 

[clutterydrawer]

IMO 55 is too small for clowns. I'm sure everyone will disagree though. Rams would be ncie but if they rbeed tehy might get stroppy with your other bottom feeders, and I hear they're quite sensitive to water quality.

How old are the kids? I'd suggest cories for cuteness, otocinclus or other small plec cos all kids love "sucky mouth" fish and a shoal of something colourful. or maybe danios, they are always active and amusing. what's happening to the tank in the holidays? (im just benig nosy not criticising, I'm sure you've thoguht of all that already )

 

[Nauplii]

Get a sailfin mollie or two a male and female or just females, but the males are really pretty. have a look out for them, guppys are beautiful and colourful but if your not looking for stuff like that then.....
You could get a bristlenose pleco they are sweet.
Silver sharks are cute too but id get some advise from someone about if it would be ok for the tank

 

[Paul_MTS]

i say it's a must have on a breeding group of live bearers, i have sunset platties which i think are very colourful. seeing the fry grow up would be a great experience.

silver shark need a bigger tank than that unfortunately, i think clown loaches will do fine in there though.

 

[Nauplii]

You really should get some sailfin mollies, mine have babies.... HEY!! where do you live lol.... i bet ull say usa sorry i have some fry thats why

AND im a poet and didnt know it

 

[Nauplii]

OH you live in usa hmm...... fair enough.... i have some really nice green/golden mettalic sailfin mollies they are sooooooo sweet, if anyone wanted them they are here in uk

 

[lizard]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far! I was kind of thinking a 55 might be a little small for Clown Loaches. Too bad they don't come in a smaller variety

Substrate in the tank will be sand. I probably will put a couple of Khulis in there

Rams are a good idea, but I worry about them getting aggressive with the other fish if they spawn. Can they be kept in two-female pairs, or three-female groups, or do they need to be in a male/female pair?

Suckermouth fish are a good idea - I hadn't thought of that. The kids would probably get a kick out of a Bristlenose Plec, or something similar. Do Otos and Plecs reside together okay?

Oh, my mom said the kids would *love* having some kind of fish that's a shark, even if it looks nothing like your stereotypical shark. Do RTBSs do okay in a community tank? Or Rainbow Sharks? Or is there another kind of shark you'd suggest?

My mom lives pretty close to school, so she'll be able to get over there to care for them over breaks and such. Thanks for asking though - sometimes "details" like that get overlooked. The tank is going in a first/second grade classroom.

I was considering Guppies, just because they're so colorful. Hadn't thought of Sailfin Mollies - I'll look into it.

Thanks, all! Keep the suggestions coming!

Edit: I was considering Angels, but they'd take up a lot of the space I have available, wouldn't they? From what I recall, they require something like 10 gallons each.

Second Edit: I'm looking at some of the fish on liveaquaria.com for ideas. Perhaps some Gouramis? Do they do okay in a community tank? I think the kids would like watching the "feelers". Hatchetfish are also interesting fish and the kids might get a kick out of those. Am also considering a school of some kind of Tetras. What about African Butterflyfish? I don't know much about 'em, but they're neat looking fish. They'd probably like a snail or two, as well as some Ghost Shrimp.

Last night we got a filter (Whisper 30-60 Triad) and a heater for the tank. Sometime this week I'm going to go get a top, and perhaps some lights (nothing fancy at this point...).

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[clutterydrawer]

maybe you coudl try a different loach? i hear that zebra loaches are entertaining. but then khulis are just funny, they're so....wiggly. It's my understanding that rams must be kept in a male-female pair and that out of, say, 1m 2f, a male and female will pair up then kill the remaining female. Ottos *are* plecs, jsut small ones. I'd imagine theyd be okwith other plecs. I don't know abotu sharks though. i think RTBS can be aggressive.

 

[Paul_MTS]

yer maybe you should go for another loach as they would take up alot of stocking space. I'ved just bought botia stratias for my 110litre and there soooo cute and have a lovely pattern, do a great job cleaning up aswell.

yep a RTBS would do fine in a community setting although it should be added nearer to the end of the stocking as they can be agresive and territorial, even more so if it had the bottom all to it's self for a bit!! I'll be getting a ruby shark for my 110l once i'ved added a few more fish.

 

[Arashi]

I would say try some different Loaches, like Yo-yo's or Weather's. I own Yo-yo's and they are crazy little things...they even sleep on their sides like my Clowns do, lol! I've never owned a Weather Loach, but I will soon...I hear they are really friendly little fish, that get along with everything.

I gotta say go with Corys too. They just add that level of cuteness and playfulness that no other fish can top.

For top levels you could do some peaceful Gourami's. Pearls, Honeys, and Moonlights are all very peaceful species that should get along with most things you decide to put in there. They would also be a good 'big fish' for the tank as well, that will add a lot of color.

For middle levels you could do Tetras. Tetras some in so many different shapes and colors, you could do several different species and have none of them look alike. I personally own, Serpaes, Silvertips, and Head and Tail Lights. I know the Serpaes can be a bit nippy, but I've never had any problems with mine. Silvertips are wonderful, very colorful fish. They are fast like Danios, but without the nipping. And Head and Tail Lights are just the sweetest little things. They don't nip, do very little chasing and just school.

I gotta agree with the Livebearers as well. Wheather you do Platies, Swords, Mollies, or Guppies, each species is very colorful and very easy to take care of.

You could also try some other fish like Glass Cats (I'm sure the kids would get a kick out of the 'clear' fishies! ), Danios (for the speed ), or some Plecos that wouldn't get too huge (like Bristlenoses or Clowns).

Hope this gives you some ideas!

 

[JacopoFishy]

fancy guppies-who could resist, I ask you?
forget the sailfin mollies, lyretails *sigh* so gorgeous, so gorgeous.

 

[clutterydrawer]

This is a bit OT but a teacher i knew once kept an empty tank in his class and said it housed glass catfish, which is why they coudln't be seen the kids used to watch it for hours trying to get a glimpse of these nonexistent transparent fish.

Anway, on with the thread...black phantoms are nice tetras, not very colourful, but hardy and really funny to watch.

 

[Arashi]

OMG thats so funny clutterydrawer! I can just picture the kids smashing their faces against the glass trying to catch a peek of one! That teacher is my hero.

 

[Discomafia]

Dwarf gouramis don't need a lot of space, have very attractive colours, and are always swimming about. I've seen them in blue and orange, and they're prefect for a community tank. I'm sure the kids would like to see lot of colourful fishes so some platties or mollies would be great as well. And I'm pretty sure a RTBS is a good option as well.

Cheers,