I have a 4 inch rainbow shark, golden algae eater, several neon tetras, and a handful of corys in my 40 gallon.
I started out with 8 neons, but over time several have died off and I now have only three. I have considered getting some more to create a nice sized school as the centerpiece. I like the little fellas and all, but that's not my first choice.
I attempted to have a male gourami as the centerpiece, unfortunately my water perams were not in tip top shape back then and he jumped the tank. Since then mister sharky has gotten a little older and a bit more territorial, so I am not looking to get another gourami, unless their is a type that could hold its own if the shark pesters it. The shark is not aggressive, but he will herd fish around the tank sometimes until they are arranged how he likes. He leaves the neons alone completely and doesn't mind the algae eater - he mostly herds the corys when he is bored.
I was thinking some small type of cichilid, but I have read they are mostly bottom swimmers and I don't want to overcrowd the bottom of the tank with the shark, algae eater, and corys already living there. Is that true, or are they mid level swimmers?
I am just toying with some ideas, I may just stay with my current stock and replenish the neon school until I get my larger tank.
Basically I just want to know, what would you do in this situation?
I started out with 8 neons, but over time several have died off and I now have only three. I have considered getting some more to create a nice sized school as the centerpiece. I like the little fellas and all, but that's not my first choice.
I attempted to have a male gourami as the centerpiece, unfortunately my water perams were not in tip top shape back then and he jumped the tank. Since then mister sharky has gotten a little older and a bit more territorial, so I am not looking to get another gourami, unless their is a type that could hold its own if the shark pesters it. The shark is not aggressive, but he will herd fish around the tank sometimes until they are arranged how he likes. He leaves the neons alone completely and doesn't mind the algae eater - he mostly herds the corys when he is bored.
I was thinking some small type of cichilid, but I have read they are mostly bottom swimmers and I don't want to overcrowd the bottom of the tank with the shark, algae eater, and corys already living there. Is that true, or are they mid level swimmers?
I am just toying with some ideas, I may just stay with my current stock and replenish the neon school until I get my larger tank.
Basically I just want to know, what would you do in this situation?
