Help with community fish

[StarWolf]

Hi everyone
It has been a long time since I had a tank around the house. I have a
pond in the back yard with messy old goldfish and mosquito eating
guppies, however, that is not the point.
I have acquired a 50 gallon tank, set it up with plants and rocks, and
now I am ready to start thinking about what kinds of fish to put in
this beautiful tank that resides in my living room. The goal is to
have an environment indoors that can help lower my blood pressure and
continue to be a positive experience for the whole family, including
our 5 year old son.
I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
the live plants I have in the tank.
I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
fish are unreasonable.
Thank you!
~Star

[Justin Boucher]

Personally, I would go for some tetras. Get a few different types (rummy
nose, priscilla, black skirt, etc) and a least three each. I've always
enjoyed them and they work well in my water conditions.
Speaking to which, what is the water like coming from your tap? If it's
hard, then you would do best to stay away from fish that prefer soft water,
if it's soft, then hard water species aren't for you. I know this may be a
bit more extensive than you were hoping, but it's something to consider.
Pick fish that would do best in your water parameters and you will have less
headaches dealing with stressed fish.

Just my two cents,
Justin

"StarWolf" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi everyone
> It has been a long time since I had a tank around the house. I have a
> pond in the back yard with messy old goldfish and mosquito eating
> guppies, however, that is not the point.
> I have acquired a 50 gallon tank, set it up with plants and rocks, and
> now I am ready to start thinking about what kinds of fish to put in
> this beautiful tank that resides in my living room. The goal is to
> have an environment indoors that can help lower my blood pressure and
> continue to be a positive experience for the whole family, including
> our 5 year old son.
> I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
> inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
> but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
> don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
> the live plants I have in the tank.
> I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
> our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
> fish are unreasonable.
> Thank you!
> ~Star

[Toni]

"StarWolf" > wrote in message
m...
> I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
> inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
> but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
> don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
> the live plants I have in the tank.
> I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
> our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
> fish are unreasonable.
> Thank you!


Not unreasonable at all!

For a planted community I would unreservedly recommend a South American type
tank.
Cardinal Tetras in a group, whatever other Tetra strikes your fancy- also
in a group. Maybe a group of Harlequin Rasboras, some Otocinclus for algae-
a Farlowella or small ancistris if/when you see real algae, some Cories for
bottom interest, ghost shrimp if you have children or enjoy watching them
yourself. If you have room for more a few top dwellers like Hatchet Fish are
very cool.

I find that groups of like fish are more pleasing to look at than one of
everything, plus the fish are much more comfortable that way as well.

Alternate plan if you prefer livebearers- a group of Swordtails and
Platties. Also with Cories, Otos, and the shrimp are always fun.

If you still have no idea which way you want to go then a trip to a local
LFS is in order- do not take money!!!
You are just wanting to see what strikes your fancy.
Once you can name a "must have" fish we can recommend suitable tankmates.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm

[Dick]

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 08:13:47 GMT, "Justin Boucher" >
wrote:

>Personally, I would go for some tetras. Get a few different types (rummy
>nose, priscilla, black skirt, etc) and a least three each. I've always
>enjoyed them and they work well in my water conditions.
>Speaking to which, what is the water like coming from your tap? If it's
>hard, then you would do best to stay away from fish that prefer soft water,
>if it's soft, then hard water species aren't for you. I know this may be a
>bit more extensive than you were hoping, but it's something to consider.
>Pick fish that would do best in your water parameters and you will have less
>headaches dealing with stressed fish.
>
>Just my two cents,
>Justin
>
>"StarWolf" > wrote in message
m...
>> Hi everyone
>> It has been a long time since I had a tank around the house. I have a
>> pond in the back yard with messy old goldfish and mosquito eating
>> guppies, however, that is not the point.
>> I have acquired a 50 gallon tank, set it up with plants and rocks, and
>> now I am ready to start thinking about what kinds of fish to put in
>> this beautiful tank that resides in my living room. The goal is to
>> have an environment indoors that can help lower my blood pressure and
>> continue to be a positive experience for the whole family, including
>> our 5 year old son.
>> I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
>> inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
>> but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
>> don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
>> the live plants I have in the tank.
>> I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
>> our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
>> fish are unreasonable.
>> Thank you!
>> ~Star
>

A variety of scavengers will help keep your tank interesting and
clean. I like Clown Loaches (in two years none of mine are over 4
inches), Siamese Algae Eaters, Plecos are all interesting as well as
helpful.

dick

[Justin Boucher]

I too have clown loaches, and in my opinion, too many. I also have
Malaysian Trumpet Snails and the loaches are dwindling their numbers. My
experience with Pleco's nearly gave me a barren tank (it loved to eat my
plants) and I can't find a good source of true Siamese Algae Eaters although
I would really like some. So Ottos and MTS make up the pack of my algae
control. Clown and Khuli Loaches help clean up the rest.

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 08:13:47 GMT, "Justin Boucher" >
> wrote:
>
> >Personally, I would go for some tetras. Get a few different types (rummy
> >nose, priscilla, black skirt, etc) and a least three each. I've always
> >enjoyed them and they work well in my water conditions.
> >Speaking to which, what is the water like coming from your tap? If it's
> >hard, then you would do best to stay away from fish that prefer soft
water,
> >if it's soft, then hard water species aren't for you. I know this may be
a
> >bit more extensive than you were hoping, but it's something to consider.
> >Pick fish that would do best in your water parameters and you will have
less
> >headaches dealing with stressed fish.
> >
> >Just my two cents,
> >Justin
> >
> >"StarWolf" > wrote in message
> m...
> >> Hi everyone
> >> It has been a long time since I had a tank around the house. I have a
> >> pond in the back yard with messy old goldfish and mosquito eating
> >> guppies, however, that is not the point.
> >> I have acquired a 50 gallon tank, set it up with plants and rocks, and
> >> now I am ready to start thinking about what kinds of fish to put in
> >> this beautiful tank that resides in my living room. The goal is to
> >> have an environment indoors that can help lower my blood pressure and
> >> continue to be a positive experience for the whole family, including
> >> our 5 year old son.
> >> I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
> >> inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
> >> but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
> >> don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
> >> the live plants I have in the tank.
> >> I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
> >> our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
> >> fish are unreasonable.
> >> Thank you!
> >> ~Star
> >
>
> A variety of scavengers will help keep your tank interesting and
> clean. I like Clown Loaches (in two years none of mine are over 4
> inches), Siamese Algae Eaters, Plecos are all interesting as well as
> helpful.
>
> dick

[Christy84065]

My experience with otos' in my 10 gallon tank is that they make A TON
OF POOP!!!!!!!! It strings all over the tank and I had a smaller one.
Needless to say I took him back... maybe if I had a bigger tank then
my 10 gallons .. but as it is he never ate my plants, only the fallen
fishie food and that was enough to make loads OF POOP!!! good luck *U*

[Dick]

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 22:25:58 GMT, "Justin Boucher" >
wrote:

>I too have clown loaches, and in my opinion, too many. I also have
>Malaysian Trumpet Snails and the loaches are dwindling their numbers. My
>experience with Pleco's nearly gave me a barren tank (it loved to eat my
>plants) and I can't find a good source of true Siamese Algae Eaters although
>I would really like some.

I have 3 Plecos in my 75 gallon tank and 1 in my 29 gallon tank. They
have been in the tanks for over a year and not eaten any plants. I do
see them eating algae off the leaves, but no holes when they move on.

I got my SAEs via the internet. They are very hardy and tend to stay
together. I have 8 in my 75 gallon tank and right now all 8 are
resting near each other on top of plant leaves. I didn't want 8 in
the tank, but they are 4 inches in length and I felt that the last two
I put in the tank would be better off than in the 10 gallon tank they
were in. The SAEs are very social much like the Clown Loaches. Many
mornings I find half of my fish in the 75 gallon tank swarming
together. The first six months the schoaling was done by species,
often stratified, one species at a given level, but now its is a much
more community swim.





>So Ottos and MTS make up the pack of my algae
>control. Clown and Khuli Loaches help clean up the rest.
>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 08:13:47 GMT, "Justin Boucher" >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Personally, I would go for some tetras. Get a few different types (rummy
>> >nose, priscilla, black skirt, etc) and a least three each. I've always
>> >enjoyed them and they work well in my water conditions.
>> >Speaking to which, what is the water like coming from your tap? If it's
>> >hard, then you would do best to stay away from fish that prefer soft
>water,
>> >if it's soft, then hard water species aren't for you. I know this may be
>a
>> >bit more extensive than you were hoping, but it's something to consider.
>> >Pick fish that would do best in your water parameters and you will have
>less
>> >headaches dealing with stressed fish.
>> >
>> >Just my two cents,
>> >Justin
>> >
>> >"StarWolf" > wrote in message
>> m...
>> >> Hi everyone
>> >> It has been a long time since I had a tank around the house. I have a
>> >> pond in the back yard with messy old goldfish and mosquito eating
>> >> guppies, however, that is not the point.
>> >> I have acquired a 50 gallon tank, set it up with plants and rocks, and
>> >> now I am ready to start thinking about what kinds of fish to put in
>> >> this beautiful tank that resides in my living room. The goal is to
>> >> have an environment indoors that can help lower my blood pressure and
>> >> continue to be a positive experience for the whole family, including
>> >> our 5 year old son.
>> >> I would like a nice variety of fish that do not grow to over 4-5
>> >> inches, some with color is eye catching and aesthetically pleasing,
>> >> but not a requirement. I would like to have good community fish that
>> >> don't try to eat each other's fins off and ones that will not destroy
>> >> the live plants I have in the tank.
>> >> I am asking for some advice on which fish would be good together in
>> >> our tank as well as wondering if my expectations of a community of
>> >> fish are unreasonable.
>> >> Thank you!
>> >> ~Star
>> >
>>
>> A variety of scavengers will help keep your tank interesting and
>> clean. I like Clown Loaches (in two years none of mine are over 4
>> inches), Siamese Algae Eaters, Plecos are all interesting as well as
>> helpful.
>>
>> dick
>