What Fish For My Fluval Edge?

[littleandy0410]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, and also to fishkeeping. (Unless you count goldfish won at the fair when I was a boy!)

My wife bought me a Fluval Edge for an anniversary present in August, and I have been fishless cycling it since, after researching how to do it on here. Having achieved good levels, (with a bit of help from some mature media from my brother's tank) I started to look into what fish I wanted for it.

It seems like every time I find a fish I like the idea of keeping, I hit a stumbling block. I have pretty much ruled out labyrinth fish, due to the lack of surface area for them to get air, as the small gap at the top is compromised by the current from the filter. Most fish seem to need a lot more volume than the 23L available too.

I went to my LFS last friday, to get some ideas, and ended up with 5 Cherry Barbs. (4 female, 1 male) I thought I had read that these were OK in a small tank, and I possibly foolishly listened to the advice of the LFS. I have since read that these need more like 60L, so may have to rehome them.

I have since discovered Endlers, and found a couple of local breeders on eBay, so could collect from them.

What do people think - are the Cherry Barbs going to be too crowded in the Edge, and if not, can someone recommend a single/pair of fish that would be ok with them? If they're too crowded, what about getting Endlers instead - are they difficult to keep? Not sure how I'd cope with them breeding lots - would I end up needing a nursery tank to keep the fry in, and have to keep selling/giving them away?

Sorry for the long rambling thread - I'm getting very confused as to what to do!!

Oh, and I'm not keen on a shrimp tank at the moment, or a reef tank just yet! (Not ruling either out for the future, as I'm already scouring eBay for local 125-180L tanks!)

 

[Westwood]

My brother has fluval edge with endlers in, they are perfect for the tank, but he has had 2 sucked up the filter intake, so i would recommend a mesh just to go over the intake, just a heads up for you there.

 

[littleandy0410]

Thanks! Yeah, I bought the foam cover to go over the intake, as I was worried about any fish getting damaged by it. I just remove it and rinse it in some removed tank water a couple of times a week.

 

[chrisrm]

I would get rid of the cherry barbs if you can they will do better in shoals of 6 or more.

I think a few male endlers would be ok females are a bit bigger and dull in comparison and a mix will over populate the tank!

Or you could plant it up and have a dwarf puffer with a group of ghost/tiger shrimps

By the way to the forum!

 

[littleandy0410]

Is it Ok to keep just male Endlers then? I was under the impression that they were best kept 1 male to every 2 females, and that males can be quite aggressive towards other males?

Are there any puffers that can be kept in a tank this small? I thought that although there are small freshwater puffers out there, they all require at least 60L to live comfortably?

 

[littleandy0410]

Well, my Edge has been up and running for a few weeks now, I've got 3 male guppies and 5 cherry barbs in. The barbs will be moving soon, once my new Roma 200 is cycled, and will be replaced with either some endlers or more guppies (or something else better suited to a 23l).

Can anyone answer my previous post, about whether it is OK to keep just males endlers, (would be kept with male guppies) and also if there are any puffers suitable for a 23l tank as previously suggested by someone (I would move the guppies and barbs to the 200l), as all the ones I've seen need larger tanks.

Thanks!

 

[Assaye]

A group of 4-5 male endlers should be fine. You might see some aggression but if you have plenty of caves and plants it should be fine.

You could also keep 3-4 male guppies instead of the endlers, as you already have some.

If you want a puffer, you could try a single dwarf puffer. However, they'll need a lot of research as they have quite specific care requirements and you will need to make sure the filter can handle the waste they produce. These would not be suitable to be kept with other fish.

 

[littleandy0410]

Thanks Assaye.

I do quite like the idea of a puffer/shrimp tank, but think I'll stick with guppies or endlers at the moment, as I'm new to this! Maybe once my Roma 200 is set up, I'll fancy a change next year, but depends on what I stock the Roma with, as to whether I can move the current stock across. (Addictive, this fish keeping lark, isn't it!?)