Striking fish for a peaceful community tank...

[muddyfox]

Hi,

I'm setting up a 120 litre planted community tank in which I'm going to
keep Rummynose Tetras, Lemon Tetras and Endlers livebearers (Poecilia
wingei) with a Khulii loach, some corydoras and amano shrimp. I would
like to keep one or two more striking fish too but they would have to
be peaceful towards their tank mates.

The options I've thought about are:
(1) Betta splendens (since I've always adored bettas - I do already
have two in other tanks.)
(2) A pair of Honey Gouramis
(3) A pair of Kribensis. (I'm not sure these will be OK with such small
ultra-peaceful tank mates since they can get up to 3 1/2 to 4 inches in
size. Also, despite their reputation for being relatively peaceful,
being cichlids I suspect they will still guard and hold a territory
quite aggressively if they breed. I do have a 15Gal (UK) tank which is
currently empty so I could transfer them if their aggression gets out
of hand. I don't know, maybe this idea is a non-starter.)
(4) Killifish
(5) Apistogramma Dwarf Cichlids
(6) Something else...

Any ideas, comments, or thoughts would be most welcome!

Thanks

Muddy

[Tynk]

On Jan 26, 6:30*am, "muddyfox" > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm setting up a 120 litre planted community tank in which I'm going to
> keep Rummynose Tetras, Lemon Tetras and Endlers livebearers (Poecilia
> wingei) with a Khulii loach, some corydoras and amano shrimp. *I would
> like to keep one or two more striking fish too but they would have to
> be peaceful towards their tank mates.
>
> The options I've thought about are:
> (1) Betta splendens (since I've always adored bettas - I do already
> have two in other tanks.)
> (2) A pair of Honey Gouramis
> (3) A pair of Kribensis. (I'm not sure these will be OK with such small
> ultra-peaceful tank mates since they can get up to 3 1/2 to 4 inches in
> size. *Also, despite their reputation for being relatively peaceful,
> being cichlids I suspect they will still guard and hold a territory
> quite aggressively if they breed. *I do have a 15Gal (UK) tank which is
> currently empty so I could transfer them if their aggression gets out
> of hand. *I don't know, maybe this idea is a non-starter.)
> (4) Killifish
> (5) Apistogramma Dwarf Cichlids
> (6) Something else...
>
> Any ideas, comments, or thoughts would be most welcome!
>
> Thanks
>
> Muddy
Hi there.
Khuli loaches need more of their own kind and I see that you listed *a*
Khuli loach.
Being from America, I am not up on how many liters is in gallons. Do
you know? If not..somebody help me on this.
With Bettas, each has it's own personality. What will be fine with one,
may not with another.
My concern would be the Tetras you've listed. I personally do not know
the tempermant of those particular ones, so this may be an issue for a
Betta. Most Tetras are fin nippers (except Neons, Cardinals and I think
Black Neons or Gold Neons..but I could be wrong on those last 2).
Killifish....Don't they need a small, quiet tank to them selves? Again,
I could be totally wrong on that, but I have not seen them listed with
other community type fish. I do know somebody that is VERY
knowledgeable on Killies, so if you still want info on a particular
type, let me know if you'd like me to ask him. There are so many types
of Killies that not everyone here may know the specifics about each
(which Larry would).
Have you seen the Powder Blue Gouramis? They are just that...powder
blue but metallic. Gorgeous fish.
If you go with any Gouramis, stay away from a male Betta. They're too
closely related and having both males in one tank could be a problem
(fighting).
Kribs...I don't think so they're so peaceful. I think you're right to
be very cautious of them.

[muddyfox]

Hi Tynk,

Thanks for your thoughts - it's so good to get anther point of view.


> Khuli loaches need more of their own kind and I see that you listed *a*
> Khuli loach.

Mmm, I think you might be right there - perhaps 2 would be better. Or
may be a small group of otos.


> Being from America, I am not up on how many liters is in gallons. Do
> you know? If not..somebody help me on this.

It's just over 30 US Gallons. :)


> With Bettas, each has it's own personality. What will be fine with one,
> may not with another.

I know what you mean. If I did put a betta in the tank I would move
one of my current bettas who is already happily living with 5
Rummynose Tetras. I could move all six fish and perhaps add to the
Rummynose's too. I think he would fit right in - he is not a bully
but he doesn't hide either -always investigating every inch of tank
and displaying to the female betta in the tank next door. I'm sure he
has his eye on her.


> My concern would be the Tetras you've listed. I personally do not know
> the tempermant of those particular ones, so this may be an issue for a
> Betta. Most Tetras are fin nippers (except Neons, Cardinals and I think
> Black Neons or Gold Neons..but I could be wrong on those last 2).

Rummynose and Lemon tetras are very peaceful, shy fish, unlike a
number of other tetras - it's why I like them. I once had a species
tank of Tiger Barbs which I found difficult to watch in the end as
they seemed to always be struggling for dominance, even in a large
group on their own. I much prefer the smaller more peaceful fish.



> Killifish....Don't they need a small, quiet tank to them selves? Again,
> I could be totally wrong on that, but I have not seen them listed with
> other community type fish. I do know somebody that is VERY
> knowledgeable on Killies, so if you still want info on a particular
> type, let me know if you'd like me to ask him. There are so many types
> of Killies that not everyone here may know the specifics about each
> (which Larry would).

I've never kept killis before but I have often wanted to. I know
there's a steel blue Killi (Fundulopanchax gardneri) which is
recommended for a community aquarium in this month's Practical
Fishkeeping magazine (the definitive fishkeeping magazine in the UK),
so I'm thinking it's OK, although I'd bow to the knowldge of a real
Killi expert every time.

> Have you seen the Powder Blue Gouramis? They are just that...powder
> blue but metallic. Gorgeous fish.
> If you go with any Gouramis, stay away from a male Betta. They're too
> closely related and having both males in one tank could be a problem
> (fighting).

Those blue gouramis are beautiful - I thought about them again and
again, but when I researched them I kept coming across the advice to
keep with similar sized fish making me think that they may be too
boistrous for the small tank mates I've got in mind - a shame because,
like you, I think they're truly georgeous!

Thanks again for your thoughts,

Muddy

[Rich]

"muddyfox" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm setting up a 120 litre planted community tank in which I'm going to
> keep Rummynose Tetras, Lemon Tetras and Endlers livebearers (Poecilia
> wingei) with a Khulii loach, some corydoras and amano shrimp. I would
> like to keep one or two more striking fish too but they would have to
> be peaceful towards their tank mates.
>
> The options I've thought about are:
> (1) Betta splendens (since I've always adored bettas - I do already
> have two in other tanks.)
> (2) A pair of Honey Gouramis
> (3) A pair of Kribensis. (I'm not sure these will be OK with such small
> ultra-peaceful tank mates since they can get up to 3 1/2 to 4 inches in
> size. Also, despite their reputation for being relatively peaceful,
> being cichlids I suspect they will still guard and hold a territory
> quite aggressively if they breed.

I have a 180L set up and I'd go for the Kribensis (as I did in your
position). If they pair off and breed you'll spend far more time in front of
the tank. Whilst they will keep the others away from the fry, they probably
won't actually injure anything. They are just good with threats.
--
Rich

http://www.richdavies.com/tropicalfish/
http://www.richdavies.com/fishkeeping.htm
http://www.richdavies.com

[muddyfox]

> I have a 180L set up and I'd go for the Kribensis (as I did in your
> position). If they pair off and breed you'll spend far more time in front of
> the tank. Whilst they will keep the others away from the fry, they probably
> won't actually injure anything. They are just good with threats.
> --
> Rich
>

The more I read about Kribensis the more I see what interesting fish
they are.
They have beautiful colours and show the high level parental care
which is so
typical of many cichlids. I'm sure if I kept them and they bred I
would be
absolutely glued to the tank watching them shepherd their young
around. My
difficulty is that I really don't like seeing aggression in a tank
even if
it's more the threatening kind rather than a full blown attack. Maybe
the
answer is to convince my husband to let me set up my 15 Gallon tank in
the living
room where I could keep a pair of Kribs on their own with just some
amano shrimp.
I've got no room for the 15 Gallon in my study - I'm all tanked out!

Thanks!

Muddy

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

[...Tetras...]

A 120L tank might limit you to one Tetra species but of course than more of
them..

[...striking tank mate(s)...]

> (1) Betta splendens

In my mind a good choice..

> (2) A pair of Honey Gouramis

Ditto but at the moment the most gouramies sold in Europe seem to be of bad
quality, they're often ill and early dying. Try to find a regional hobby
breeder..

> (3) A pair of Kribensis. (I'm not sure these will be OK with such small
> ultra-peaceful tank mates since they can get up to 3 1/2 to 4 inches in
> size. Also, despite their reputation for being relatively peaceful,
> being cichlids I suspect they will still guard and hold a territory
> quite aggressively if they breed.

Peaceful as long as they don't breed but growing up respectively adult kribs
are always breeding and breeding kribs are little devils were even able to
terrorise a 300L tank all day long without getting tired..

Wouldn't recommend to combine kribs with cory cats because both are bottom
fish, both love caves but a 120L would never offer as much refuges as
needed for the cories to hide..

Free water tetras and kribs were no prob..

> I do have a 15Gal (UK) tank which is
> currently empty so I could transfer them if their aggression gets out
> of hand. I don't know, maybe this idea is a non-starter.)

Hmm.., you're responsible for the fish you buy. A 15g were to small for a
couple of kribs..

> (4) Killifish

Is the small and colourful Aphyosemion australe available in the UK..? I've
the golden form. They're great fish but even able to catch guppy babies.

> (5) Apistogramma Dwarf Cichlids

Some of them are soft (and acid) water fish..

> (6) Something else...

Well don't know this or any other species of the genus "Something"..! ;-)

> Any ideas, comments, or thoughts would be most welcome!

How is your water..?
--
cu
Marco

[Larry Blanchard]

Marco Schwarz wrote:

>> (6) Something else...
>
> Well don't know this or any other species of the genus "Something"..! ;-)

Rainbowfish.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Rich]

"> The more I read about Kribensis the more I see what interesting fish
> they are.
> They have beautiful colours and show the high level parental care
> which is so
> typical of many cichlids. I'm sure if I kept them and they bred I
> would be
> absolutely glued to the tank watching them shepherd their young
> around. My
> difficulty is that I really don't like seeing aggression in a tank
> even if
> it's more the threatening kind rather than a full blown attack. Maybe
> the
> answer is to convince my husband to let me set up my 15 Gallon tank in
> the living
> room where I could keep a pair of Kribs on their own with just some
> amano shrimp.

From my own experience, Kribs are better parents when other "dither" fish
are present. Again, just my own experience, but very quickly the inmates
seemed to be aware and careful not to go anywhere near the young Kribs.
(Another debate, but how if fish supposedly have a four second memory span
?)

My only frustration has been from a terratorial bristlenose catfish who has
decided to take up residence in my Kribs favourite breeding cave.

--
Rich

http://www.richdavies.com/tropicalfish/
http://www.richdavies.com/fishkeeping.htm
http://www.richdavies.com

[atomweaver]

"Rich" > wrote in
:

> (Another debate, but how if fish supposedly have a four
> second memory span ?)
>

Because the "4 second piscine memory" is just an old myth...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1645894.htm

http://petshub.blogspot.com/2007/01/three-second-fish-memory-myth.html

Regards
DZ
AW