Are These Fish Compatible?

[Bugsvile]

I am currently cycling my second tank, looking into purchasing a few different species hope you can help.

200l tank 185l'ish with substrate and bits and bobs.

Black phantom tetra
Bolivian Ram Chichilid
Kribensis Krib
Bandded shell dwellwer
Cherry Barb
Yellow Rainbow fish

i like these but am unsure on how many of each are ideal (shoaling fish) and unsure if some are not compatible.

 

[ebross67]

A good compatibility chart -

http/www.liveaquaria.com/general/fwcompatibility_chart.cfm

Always put most peaceful fish in first and more aggressive fish in last. This is what I've read from many books on fish keeping.

 

[Wills]

Hi there a few of these fish at face value wont work but others are dependent on the dimensions of your tank? Most 200l tanks are 4 foot long so please correct me if I am wrong.

Black phantom tetra - Will work with all but the shell dwellers
Bolivian Ram Chichilid - If the tank is 4 foot I think a pair or trio would do well with the kribs
Kribensis Krib - If the tank is 4 foot I think a pair will do well with the Rams as well
Bandded shell dwellwer - These need quite a specialist species tank though are quite easy to keep if you have them alone.
Cherry Barb - Will work with all but the shell dwellers
Yellow Rainbow fish - Depends on which one it is can you find a picture or scientific name as some grow large and others are more manageable. If its one of the smaller ones a small group could work with the above but not the shell dwellers.

Wills

 

[Bugsvile]

the rainbow fish is the Lake Tebera Rainbowfish, from what i have read it can get up to about 10cm or so.

The tank itself is 3'6 so does that mean to small or just in the ok range?

Man i was so hoping to have the shell dweller, looked to be a preaty fish and i would of enjoyed having them in, but hey ho.

 

[Bugsvile]

Sorry forgot to say i like the compatibility chart ebross67

 

[Wills]

Ah right so 3ft 6 is 42 inches yeah? Rainbows are a tricky fish sometimes to advise on as I think they would "fit" in your tank but they are active fish and some people would say they need the full 4 foot if not more when they are at their bigger sizes. Though at 10cm these are a 4 inch fish as opposed to some which can get 5 inch plus. As an alternative have you seen the dwarf neon rainbows? They would look fantastic in your tank.

As for proposed stocking list I think I would go with
4 Bolivian rams (2M 2F)
9 Cherry barbs (3M 6F)
4 Lake Tebera Rainbowfish or 10 Dwarf Neon Rainbows
and then something for the bottom but not sure what to suggest

With the shell dweller you could always have a 200l shell dweller tank? That would be stunning!! In that size tank you would be able to have a few different species of shell dweller and possibly a few other african cichlids as well. Because shell dwellers are low to bottom dwelling fish I have heard of people mixing these with good success rates with harlequin rasboras, so just an idea to throw in there.

Wills

 

[drobbyb]

You can keep a group of dwarf rainbows in a 3 foot tank as well as all the species of blue eyes. Suitable rainbows include Dwarf Neon Rainbow (M. praecox), M. kamaka, Forktail Blue Eye (P. furcata), Gertrude's Blue Eye (P. gertrudae), and a few others.

I would stay away from the rainbows that grow over 4 inches, including the yellow rainbow (well actually a few species are called yellow rainbow).

Also rainbows need more maintenance than your average tropical fish. They need to be fed a varied diet with lots of vegetable matter and need at least 50% of the tank's water changed every week. They are prone to columnaris (mouth rot) and a dirty tank is asking for this to happen. If you don't know about columnaris, it can wipe out your entire tank's stock within 2 days time.

 

[Bugsvile]

I did hear that about rainbows, so i may stay away from them for now as i am recently new to all of this,

With regards stocking list i do so love the black phantom tetra, they look so amazing and to have them and the cherry barb the two colours together would be lovely.

Can anyone please remind me if an angel fish would be suitable with the stock i suggested originally, omiting the Lake Tebera Rainbowfish, the height of the tank is 15 inch thats after substrate height, although i am thinking of changing the substrate tomorrow to sand as opposed to gravel. I found the gravel a pain to clean and sand is so much easier in the smaller tank i have.