What Fish Should I Put In My Tank?

[Discovery86]

I'd like to get some more fish for my tank. I have a 30 gallon tank with 4 bleeding heart tetras. I would like small fish, and maybe a fish that will help with eating algea. Any suggestions??

Thanks
tetragirl86

 

[chrismr]

For eating algae, I would recommend a bristlenose catfish (ancistrus). But if you do not have much algae you will need to supplement its diet with algae wafers.

I would recommend you get a couple more bleeding hearts, as they like to be in groups.

You could either go with a larger group of one tetra, say 12 bleeding hearts, or you could get a couple more bleeding hearts and then get 6 cardinals, or something like that.

There are alternatives to tetras though. You could go for a group of pencilfish. three lined pencil fish will stick to the top most of the time, so you would be using all levels of your tank.

There are harlequin rasbora which are nice schooling fish.

corydoras are lovely little catfish which will use the bottom of your tank nicely. I would go for a group of about 6 in that size tank. There are many variety of corydoras, so you would need to see which you prefer.

khuli loaches are also cute and would love all that bottom space

 

[dwarfgourami]

I would get more bleeding hearts, but not as many as 12- remember they do grow quite big. A school of 7 or 8 would stll leave a bit of tank space for other fish.

Corydoras are lovely fish, and that would make a great South American tank, but don't expect them to eat any algae; they haven't got that kind of mouth. For that purpose a bristlenose plec (also S American) would be better.

 

[Discovery86]

Don't plecs and catfish get quite big? Would shrimp get rid of the algea? What kinds?

 

[finz]

Otto cats are also great algae eaters and they stay small (1" to 2" max). They do best if you have an established tank with algae already growing.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Don't plecs and catfish get quite big? Would shrimp get rid of the algea? What kinds?

Depends. Bristlenose plecs (ancistrus) stay at about 5 inches; corydoras catfish usually between 2 and 3 inches. Amano shrimps are supposed to be good algae eaters.

 

[crazyjadles]

my corydora catfish that i've had for about 2 years now is still only around 15cm its been fun watching him grow bigger! Mines a pepper and i hope to get a an albino to partner with him! They have the best characteristics if you get the time to spend with them! For a catfish... they are so adorable!