Tank Mates

[kearey]

Hello.

Some time ago I put together a nice 35gal community tank with 15 gold neon tetras and 7 black neon tetras. The tank has been doing very well. I have been monitoring the ammonia and nitrite levels weekly and doing 20% water changes with de-chlorinated water.

The black neon tetras are very active and quite often like to swim against the current from the bio-wheel filtration system. The gold neons however tend to stay within the heavy planted areas of the aquarium. This doesn't bother me the slightest, it's nice to see the brief flashes of colour within the plants as they circle each other darting back and forth.

I would like to add some bottom dwelling fish but I cannot set my mind on anything in particular. The Kuhli Loaches look interesting, although searching throughout the forums leads me to believe I won't see them often. Of course there are Corys which are active, maybe even some shrimp... I am very undecided.

Thoughts?


Cheers,
Christopher.

 

[severum boy]

Hi Christopher, welcome to the forum.
The other forums are right, you wont really Kulis that often, although they are very cool fish. Corys always brighten up a tank and would be best in groups of 6+. Dont bother spending more than a few pounds per fish as if they do die it can be a waste, especially in a new tank. Good starter species include Bronze, Plated and the albino variety that you see from time to time. For more infomation on Corys, have a look in their own sub-forum in the catfish forum.
Hope this helps, Max.

 

[rob newland]

Some loaches would go nicely in there - try some yoyos or as you said kuhlis are good, but you need to make sure all vents and pipes are covered well otherwise they will be in them like a shot!
Loaches are best kept in large groups - the more the merrier.
Rob

 

[kearey]

Thank you for the replies.

I decided to do a little more research on the Kuhli Loach. I understand although they tend to be somewhat of a nocturnal fish, in larger numbers they can become more active during daylight hours. Providing plenty of cover and/or hiding places also adds a sense security.

I believe I can add three or four Kuhli Loaches to my current setup without over crowding. I'll check my LFS and see what I can come up with.

35gal.
_________________
15 Gold Neon Tetras
7 Black Neon Tetras
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+ 4 Kuhi Loaches

Thanks Again.

 

[fishboy619]

my kuhlii are seen most of the day and night, they do hide for weeks on end but then spend a few days up top, they need sand though as they dig a lot and will struggle with gravel. again cories are a good bottom dweller, albinos and pygmy are my favourite, although any cory can go in your tank as its a big one.what ever takes your fancy really with cories, but again they prefer sand. shrimps are great little buggers to have in a tank, spend all day searching for food and really clean up your tank of leftovers, may i suggest amano shrimp, algea eating shrimps, as the name suggest, they eat algea, but also other fish food thay can find.but again, what ever takes your fancy, some shrimp are harder to keep are need special requirements, but most are good to go.with tetras, none of the shrimps will be eaten.maybe even all 3, shrimps add little, if any waste to the tank, and spend all their time climbing around the tank, cories spend their time on the sand/substrate and wiz around, like before, creating little wate and eating leftovers that would usally rot, and kuhliis either are under the sand or moving around on the surface, often swimming up the glass corners like a snake, and also produce little waste. either way, i would suggest 3-6 kuhliis, 3-5 cories and a handful of shrimp, keep on top of water changes etc and all should be fine. ofcourse, im imagineing the size of a 35 gallon tank, so please correct me if ive over stocked it. but i think im right

 

[kearey]

Thanks fishboy.

In fact I do have a sand/gravel mix, about a 90/10 mixture.