What Species Should I Get?

[mrvillicus]

hi everyone,

im starting afresh following some fatal newbie errors and would like some suggestions on what species to keep..my tank is 2ft wide x 1ft deep. Currently I have 3 columbian tetra and 3 neons. I would like to keep cichlids but after reading it seems my setup isnt really matched for them..I did have a betta which sadly died so id be a bit scared to have one again..any ideas, im after something quite colourful and exotic

my current tank

 

[Noahs ark6]

29 degrees is on the high side for most tropical fish, 26 is the average for most.
How about some red wagtail platies (5-6)? I got some a few days ago and they add loads of colour and activity to the tank

 

[mrvillicus]

ah okies ill drop the temp, i was just looking at cichlids theres some beautiful types

 

[Judgejudy]

You could molies or platies or guppies or harlequin rasboras or dwarf gouramis or some sort of shrimp or some sort of snail or blue rams or ottos or dwarf cory etc. Hope i helped most cichlids wont be able to go into your tank.

 

[Salam]

Well, seeing that you are in Sandwell area and I am not too far off (worked Sandwell area until last year) - if you are interested in platies, I got many juveniles for sale. They are all orange wagtail, but my rainbow platy is also close to having fry, so they should be ready in a month or so.

 

[mrvillicus]

ill get looking at dwarf species, thanks for the replies guys

 

[Noahs ark6]

ah okies ill drop the temp, i was just looking at cichlids theres some beautiful types

Awesome, make sure you lower it slowly (over a period of a few days).

 

[mrvillicus]

could i keep dwarf chichlids?

 

[mattlee]

possibly rams.

 

[mrvillicus]

well i think I ve got a list...

dwarf gourami x 2 (Red Dwarf Gourami/Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami)
red wagtail platies
2 blue rams
shrimp

 

[Judgejudy]

well i think I ve got a list...

dwarf gourami x 2 (Red Dwarf Gourami/Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami)
red wagtail platies
2 blue rams
shrimp

Sounds good to me

 

[mrvillicus]

yaaay!! its iike a child in a sweet shop!! im going to order them from directropicals.co.uk....do you think my neon tetras would be ok with them? I have another load of plants coming so the tank will be quite heavily planted once its cycled

 

[mattlee]

i would go for bolivian rams rather than blue rams. bolivians are more matched to the temperature required for the other fish blues require higher temps and soft acidic water to thrive.
bolivians are much easier to keep and much less of a headache. also very stunning when mature.

 

[mrvillicus]

thanks mattlee ive found some on tropical fish finder for £7.50 each ill get a pair then

 

[mattlee]

thanks mattlee ive found some on tropical fish finder for £7.50 each ill get a pair then

thats quite expensive for bolivians... dont you have a lfs you can get to?