Stocking help

[Animallover😍]

I plan to have...
20 Cardinal Tetras
11 Rummynose Tetras
5 Black Phantom Tetras
6 Black Neon Tetras
In my community tank. I also want to have a centerpiece(s).
Some choices here..
2 Pearl Gouramis(prefered)
2 Dwarf Gouramis
2 Dwarf Coral Blue Gouramis
2 Dwarf Blood Gouramis
1/3 Dwarf Gourami Honey red
1 Apisto Cacatuoides Super Red(pricy)
1 Apisto Cacatuoides Orange(also pricy)
1 Apisto Agassizii fire red(same)
1 Apisto Agassizii Double Red *
1 Apisto Viejta Redneck *
5 Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish(cheapest)

 

[Essjay]

Remind us of the tank size, please - volume and dimensions.

 

[Animallover😍]

Tank is 55 gallons. 39" x 18" x 18"

 

[anewbie]

I think it is a bit too many tetra for such a small tank. Also for apisto i would recommend borelli over the ones you mentioned; and I would pick only one species. You could go with a large dwarf cichlid such as one of the Laetacara; but again i would stick with a single species.

For the tetra perhaps 15 cardinals and 10 black neon; drop the others; alternatively 15 cardinals and 10 rummy.

 

[Animallover😍]

I get the apistos online due to none at the pet shop. but borelli is out of stock.

 

[Animallover😍]

I think it is a bit too many tetra for such a small tank.

it's 55 gallons. I don't think it's small. I checked Aqadvisor, it said 78% stocking level.

 

[Byron]

First, forget anything on Aquadvisor. That site can sort of help with very basic stocking, but there are so many factors involved in a community tank that the programme cannot possibly include all of them.

For example, you mention 5 Black Phantom Tetra...this is not sufficient. At least 9-12 or more with this species. The Black Neon will also fare better with a larger group. Characins (and most shoaling species) generally do much better with larger groups of the species and fewer species, rather than more species in smaller numbers.

A recent study which I reported on in this thread https://www.fishforums.net/threads/effect-of-group-size-on-behaviour-and-welfare-of-fish.474711/
and the study determined that not only did 10 as opposed to five prevent increased aggression, but the larger group of fish actually had better feeding habits. Clearly a larger group means healthier fish.

To your list. I personally would take Black Phantoms over Black Neons, and a group of 15 Phantoms would be nice here. They are not active, and would remain in the lower half of the tank among plants and/or wood branches. Cardinals and rummynose are OK, though a few more of the rummynose would be better. Recognize you have lower level fish here, so far. The tetras and cichlids are all lower level, the gourami upper.

Not much to offer on the list of "centerpiece" depending what you decide on but if you go with Melanotaenia praecox you should get a slightly larger group, 8 or so, with a ratio of 2 females per male.

 

[anewbie]

To your list. I personally would take Black Phantoms over Black Neons, and a group of 15 Phantoms would be nice here.

Is there a particular reason you favor black phantoms over neon or just presonal preference. I ask because I personally find the phantoms undesirable but was curious if there was an actual trait that make you favor them.

 

[Byron]

Is there a particular reason you favor black phantoms over neon or just presonal preference. I ask because I personally find the phantoms undesirable but was curious if there was an actual trait that make you favor them.

I have had the Black Phantom (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) several times over 30+ years, and I had the Red Phantom (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi) once. The Black especially has quite an entertaining interaction if there are males and females within a decent-sized group. The males stage little "battles," but the worst that occurs are some split fins sometimes. It is natural behaviour, and it needs a good-sized group to work. The Black Neon (Hyphessobrycon hrbertaxelrodi) does not provide this entertainment.

 

[anewbie]

I have had the Black Phantom (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) several times over 30+ years, and I had the Red Phantom (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi) once. The Black especially has quite an entertaining interaction if there are males and females within a decent-sized group. The males stage little "battles," but the worst that occurs are some split fins sometimes. It is natural behaviour, and it needs a good-sized group to work. The Black Neon (Hyphessobrycon hrbertaxelrodi) does not provide this entertainment.

I've not explicitly owned black phantoms but have owned serpae and white fin rosy (not sure of the specific species since there are several sold under that generic name); i presume their behavior are similar to black phantom and i guess I didn't find the dynamics as entertaining as yourself.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

On the other hand, Black Neons will shoal and males will also chase each other around the tank, with no apparent damage. They'll also show off against each other.
I feel the black neon is a grossly underrated fish and, in low light, their white stripe really pops and is almost fluorescent.

 

[Byron]

I've not explicitly owned black phantoms but have owned serpae and white fin rosy (not sure of the specific species since there are several sold under that generic name); i presume their behavior are similar to black phantom and i guess I didn't find the dynamics as entertaining as yourself.

I've had several species in what Weitzman called the "Rosy Tetra" clade, which includes the phantoms and serpae and rosy and bleeding heart and similar, but the black phantom is without question more prone to displaying than any of the others. When I had large tanks like my 5-foot Amazon riverscape I had groups of 12-15 of these species and always liked them because they are colourful, and very peaceful (except the serpae of course, never had those). They are good dither fish.

 

[itiwhetu]

I have had the Black Phantom (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) several times over 30+ years, and I had the Red Phantom (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi) once. The Black especially has quite an entertaining interaction if there are males and females within a decent-sized group. The males stage little "battles," but the worst that occurs are some split fins sometimes. It is natural behaviour, and it needs a good-sized group to work. The Black Neon (Hyphessobrycon hrbertaxelrodi) does not provide this entertainment.

Agree 100% Black Phantoms are my favorite fish in this group. There is something special about their interaction with each other. Really underrated.

 

[Animallover😍]

I'm going for black neons.
Is this ok:
20 Cardinals
14 Rummynose Tetra
9 Black Neon Tetra.

Would 2 Pearl Gouramis be ok to keep in this community tank?
or would 2 Dwarf Gouramis be better?

 

[Byron]

I would not consider dwarf gourami due to the issue of disease, which is only non-existent (with certainty) in fish obtained direct from the breeder. Pearls are a better choice, and given the tank size I would do a small group. Two females to one male minimum (this should spread out the male's attention to females) but if this were me I would have two males and four females, or three males and five/six females. Yoou want more activity in the upper half where the gourami live, as the other mentioned fish are all lower half residents.

If you like the pattrn of the dwarf gourami, a similar and safer gourami is the thick-lip, Trichogaster labiosa. Another thread reminded me of this gourami earlier today. A small group, say five or six. Photo below.