A 35g Stocking Question

[goldfishgeek]

I am in the process of a tank redo. its a 35G 3 foot long tank.

removed the sand replaced with gravel, got some plants am adding more. getting a new filter fluval 205

I would like this as my stocking fish wise

3-4 Key hole Cichlids
6 guppies
2 clown loaches
1 small pleco (Golden Nugget I think?)

this is all long term and nothing is happening immediately I just wanted some opinions on my stocking.

thanks

GFG

 

[dwarfgourami]

The Golden Nugget and the clown loaches will eventually outgrow the tank, so you would need to be prepared to upgrade. Why not go for a smaller plec (flash peckoltia, clown plec, bristlenose) instead? And smaller loaches. Don't know much about the temperament of the keyholes or how much space they need for territories- are you sure you can keep 3-4 together and still be ok? Perhaps best to ask in the New World cichlids forum. As for the guppies, 6 females will be easiest, though you may get some fry. 6 males should also be fine- and has the advantage of no fry. If you want fry, go for 1 male and 5 females, or 2 males and 4 females.

 

[goldfishgeek]

thanks,

I wondered about four, might go for three? and maybe if two pair up return the other one (always feel mean doing tho!)

this also sounds mean but I wondered if keeping guppies as dither fish, the babies might be a good source of live food. hope that doesn't sound awful, a sort of survival of the fittest?

I will rethink the pleco and the loaches.

thanks again!

GFGx