60 Gallon Stocking

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trevo878

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Hello All,

I am getting back into the hobby after some time away. I recently purchased a 60 gallon tank and plan to have the "theme" as a planted Discus tank. Here is what I am thinking of doing for stocking. Please provide any feedback, criticism, questions, or comments as you see fit. Thank you!

Discus X4-5
Ram Cichlid X4
Dwarf Gourami X4
Zebra Plec X1
Panda Cory X5 OR Red Tailed Black Shark X1

And, if possible, would it be possible to add a betta as well? Or is tank already overstocked?
 
As far as the Betta is concerned it is not really a community fish and is best kept by itself with maybe a snail. There is a reason they are referred to as "fighting fish" Even if he does not attack the other fish he will be stressed by their presence. They have type A personality.
 
It's not so much over stocked as inappropriately stocked. Fortunately you are asking before acquiring, so that will save you (and the fish) grief.

Gourami and cichlids do not go together. If the discus are intended primary, no gourami. This species (Dwarf) is still a health risk for iridovirus unless you can obtain the fish direct from a reliable breeder; but never buy them from any stores. Local stores (I'm in Vancouver too) get their fish from SE Asia, or chain stores from places anything but safe.

The Red Tail Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) is not suited for tanks with calm upper fish. Individual fish may vary, but this is a feisty fish, frequently taking a dislike to fish with vertical stripes too.

Hypancistrus zebra is fine; you need a chunk of wood where it can "live" in a tunnel or crevice (no idea of your knowledge level, so mentioning things just in case).

Betta if meaning a male Betta splendens, no; this is not a community fish.

Corydoras panda cannot work here because the discus need warmth (above 80F/27C) and this cory will not last long at that temperature. There are actually no cories suited to discus tanks for this reason. Even those that can manage at 80F/27C should not be maintained at that temperature permanently, and that really is not warm enough for discus.

Ram, if Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (common blue ram in any of its varieties) is OK from the temperature aspect, and could be fine depending. But this 60g tank is not that large and rams must select their mates so this takes some special consideration. The Bolivian (M. altispinosus) has the same numbers issue, and the warmth is a tad high.

I've left the discus for last...don't know the tank dimensions, but this needs to be a 4-foot (120 cm) tank minimum for a group of discus, and there are many discus keepers that would consider this a no-go unless a larger tank is intended.
 

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