33g Stocking

[Ripley]

Hey guys,

Yep, groan, ANOTHER stocking post!! I'm not a total noobie, so hopefully mine won't be completely out of line.

So, as per my signature, I currently have:
1 Spotted Climbing Perch (who should mature to be about 6 inches, and are typically non-aggressive, but will eat small fish)
2 Honey Gourami's
2 Dwarf Platies

The gourami's and platies are leftovers from the way I had my tank before, and if they're still around when Spot gets big enough to eat them, I will find someplace else to keep them. Right now, as Spot is only about 1.5 inches long, they're quite safe - and they get along wonderfully.

Anyway, as I'm sure you noticed, this tank is quite empty at the moment! I tried putting my danios in with Spot, but they're a bit too frantic for him, and he went into total hiding - so really fast moving fish are out, at least until he gets a bit bigger.

I'm not really into the oddball/crazy type fish, and seeing as how it's a 33 gallon right now, that doesn't leave much room. But, if I have my way, the tank will be upgraded to something like a 55 or 75 gallon.

I had thought about maybe a pair or two of Kribs, and/or a trio of Pearl Gourami's...

So... Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[atmmachine816]

I don't have expierence with perches let alone know much about them but how about angel fish or rams, possibly an african butterfly fish. Kribs are similar to rams so they might work, not sure and the gouramis I would say now since you already have some and they can get aggressive with so many in a smaller tank.

 

[sylvia]

The trio of pearls would work with the ctenopoma but only if you found the honeys a new home as it wouldn't be fair on them to have to compete with the bigger gouramies for territory. Pearls are peaceful though and shouldn't bother the ctenopoma.

I'd avoid cichlids unless you are interested, perhaps, in keyholes. The majority are either too small or become too aggressive when breeding.

Other fish I can think of that would work are things like swordtails. Clown barbs, spanner barbs and 'filament' barbs (Barbus filamentosus) would also work but are quite active - maybe a little too much so for Ctenopoma acutirostre. Larger rasboras would be ideal - like the 'giant scissortail' (Rasbora caudimaculata) or the elegant rasbora. Rainbowfish suck as Melanotaenia lacustris should also work with the ctenopoma. There are also many, many catfish and loach species that would work.

BTW, with most of these you'll probably find the ctenopoma is quite shy of them at first but it will get used to them eventualy - just make sure it has places to hide where it feels reasonably secure, away from strong currents or open water, and make sure it's eating well.