A 'big' Fish For A Planted Tank?

[Jen]

So I have always had pretty normal fish in my tank; Barbs, tetras, danios and platties. I want to add something else to the tank. Something a little different, something bigger than these fish, but that will get along with my rosey barbs... I won't re-home them. They are my favourite.

Does anyone have any ideas on suitable fish? I was looking at one of the parrotfish chichlids, but they will most likely level my plants, so they're out.

 

[scott67892002]

a pair of angle fish!? mine get on fine with my rosey barbs.

 

[Jen]

I've been wanting angels for a long time now - all I have to do is call my uncle and he will set me up with as many as I want (he has a pair that wont spot breeding), but lately ive been thinking something different. I don't know.

 

[wendywc]

A pleco, syno, or elephantnose?

 

[Jen]

I have 2 bn plecs, and i think elephant noses are bottom feeders - would they pull up my plants? I don't know anything about synos... I'll go look them up.

 

[shrimply]

I am kind of in the same possition. In my 60 gallon I hope to have a shoal of 12 cardinal tetras, 1 plec( variety undecided) and a center piece. What I really, really want is discus. Probably three but I don't know if I could cope with them so i will be interested in the thoughts people give.

 

[simonbrown403]

I think most big chiclids would dig and eat your plants, my discus ocasionaly nibble at my vallis.

Discus, would look superb in your tank but i don't think the water temp would agree with your barbs.

shrimply you would be OK with a adult pair but they are expansive, if not you would need to keep at least 6 in a group, other wise you could end up with bulling probs etc, plus if you don't have the time to keep on top of your water changes due to work and study commitments, they might suffer in the long run.

Angels would be the better, why not koi or marbles angels.

 

[TammyLiz]

Three spot gouramis or any of their color variations (gold, blue, opaline, platinum, etc.) would be fine with your barbs. I am going for a similar setup. They will not do well with any smaller tetras, though. I have 5 of them in a 55 gallon tank and they are so cute. Mine are now 3" long but they will get to 6".

 

[kamel_007]

 

[shrimply]

shrimply you would be OK with a adult pair but they are expansive, if not you would need to keep at least 6 in a group, other wise you could end up with bulling probs etc, plus if you don't have the time to keep on top of your water changes due to work and study commitments, they might suffer in the long run.

Oh I didn't realise you had to have more than 6. I could probably have afforded 3 at most. That is a shame I knew they were a lot of work but I kind of had my heart set on them.

I don't know why but angels aren't really my thing. They just don't have the wow factor discus do.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

elepant nose are somewhat are bottom feeders, they pick off creatures on the ground but do not bottom feed like a pleco or catfish would. Theyre are slightly predatory but I think the barbs would be too big to fit in their mouths, but personally I wouldnt risk it. Gouramis would be perfect, like an opaline or gold. Glasscatfish are another option too, though they like a bit of a current and are hard to feed. Parrot would be pretty much out of the option with small fish like you have, and your plants may be rearranged. Synodontis catfish would be fine also, which can get quite large.

 

[Jen]

Gouramis eh? What numbers do they like to be in? Can I get 2 to try, or do they like big groups. My lfs has a bunch of different kinds that I will have a look at.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

Gouramis dont like to be mixed with other species of gourami, youll have to find one species and stick with it or else they will fight all the time. Id get about 3 or 4 in a small group, though two shold be fine. I reccomend either opalines or golds, both very colorful and hardy.

 

[ArcticLancer]

Gouramis dont like to be mixed with other species of gourami, youll have to find one species and stick with it or else they will fight all the time. Id get about 3 or 4 in a small group, though two shold be fine. I reccomend either opalines or golds, both very colorful and hardy.

That's true, however, gouramis also don't like to be in 'medium' sized groups. It's pretty much 1-2 or 6+ as far as I know. Of course, there's an exception if they're all of great temperment, but then you're playing a game of odds.

I agree with the gouramis, just stick with one or two.

 

[TammyLiz]

Well, I have not been keeping gouramis very long but the information I have been given over in the gourami forum seems to be holding true in my tank. Keep a group that includes only one male with more than one female. In a tank of your size and having plenty of plants to break up their line of sight you may be able to get away with two males but it would be taking a risk. If you want things to be a little more peaceful you can keep a group of only females. They will still establish who is boss so you won't miss any of the behavior except breeding. My four females definately make sure that if one is stronger, the others know it.