Suggestions

[mellowserra]

It's going to be a heavily planted 50 USgal (36"x18"x18"). I've decided to stock some tankmates in with my Tyretrack eel (who still happens to be quite small, I am aware of the size he will attain).

I'd like to have 5 Clown Loaches.

A "smaller" catfish, maybe 4 striped Raphaels.

Some kind of fancy pleco (ooh, but they're all so nice!)

Some other fish that will swim actively, maybe a school of Giant Danios?

I am leaning towards a SE Asian biotope, it's not going to be exact, hence the Raphaels (and other cats I'm considering), and some plants I'm using don't fit either.

I would like to hear some suggestions on other fish I can consider (I'm not too crazy about cichlids), thanks in advance

 

[Raechal]

I'd pass on the loaches, unless you plan on upgrading to a larger tank. I have 2 in my 120 gallon and plan on getting 1 or 2 more just for their company. 5 would be way too many for a 50 gallon.

I would stick with maybe 3 or 4 striped raphael cats as I believe they like their own company. They also don't come out during the day that often so if you want a fish you can see all the time, I wouldn't chose a striped raphael cat.

 

[mellowserra]

I'd pass on the loaches, unless you plan on upgrading to a larger tank. ...

With having the eel there is no question I will be upgrading to a larger tank in the future. I've read so much about Clowns, and of course opinions vary wildly. If I were to get 5 Clowns (at <2") and they were to grow quickly and reach a size of 5 inches in a year or two that would be no problem- the tank they would be going into is wider than most of similar size at 18". If I am fortunate, I may one day have a nice community tank of large fishes that I have raised from little fishes

I am also considering Pictus cats(EDIT:Pimelodus pictus), maybe they would be a better choice than the Raphaels.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

just remember: your eel will be the primary owner of the bottom portion of the tank. if you get a pleco, he'll try to capture any territory left over by the eel. your eel will also grow much faster than the clown loaches--they'd be expensive snacks.

i suggest that you skip out on any further bottom dwellers than the plec and tire-track.

 

[mellowserra]

Arrgh, I was wondering if was considering too many bottom dwellers. I'm still debating a little on the pleco, I don't want the plants to be destroyed.

From the majority of what I've gleaned about eels, they grow rather slow. Well before he is large enough to be predating on 2"+ fish he should be in a much larger tank (or so I would think).

This is starting to be a little more trying than I thought ! What other non-aggressive fish can I stock?

 

[acetennis2002]

I would suggest getting a red tailed shark they r really great fish i have one and love it

 

[Raechal]

Arrgh, I was wondering if was considering too many bottom dwellers. I'm still debating a little on the pleco, I don't want the plants to be destroyed.

From the majority of what I've gleaned about eels, they grow rather slow. Well before he is large enough to be predating on 2"+ fish he should be in a much larger tank (or so I would think).

This is starting to be a little more trying than I thought ! What other non-aggressive fish can I stock?

Clown loaches grow pretty slow as well. I've had both of mine for 2 years and they are only around 5 or 6 inches long.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

if i recall from another thread on this forum, tire tack eels grow about an inch every few months. clown loaches grow about an inch a year. clown loaches are exceptionally slow growers; you'd be hard pressed to find any fish that grows at the same rate. i'd skip out on the clowns unless you save time and purchase large ones.

bala sharks get nice and large at a good rate with similar minimum tank requirements to a tire-track. they inhabit the mid-regions of a tank so they wouldn't be competition for space. tinfoils and silver dollars also reach a pretty decent size if i remember correctly; again, lovely mid-region schooling fish.

 

[The-Wolf]

It's going to be a heavily planted 50 USgal (36"x18"x18").
Some other fish that will swim actively, maybe a school of Giant Danios?

Giant danios will need a uncluttered space at the top of the tank,
any plant the reaches the top 6" will need to be cut back.

you can have in that tank a maximum of 6 GDs, 5 being the min.

I'll keep out of the bottom dweller dilema, as I know nothing about eels.

 

[mellowserra]

tinfoils and silver dollars also reach a pretty decent size if i remember correctly; again, lovely mid-region schooling fish.

My first consideration for a schooling fish was silver dollars, sadly I've talked to no one who has kept them without having their plants destroyed.

EDIT: I just read that Bala Sharks should NOT be kept in a tank with plants, as plants constitute a major part of its diet.