Choosing tank mates round 2!

[Andrew waterson]

Hi All,

After some great advice from users on this site an a bit more internet research I've revised my list of potential community tank mates
The below is a list of potentials that that could do well in my water conditions and space, but I don't know how well suited they are in a community (some sound like they can be quite territorial or aggressive)

I'd greatly appreciate any advice on the maybe list (I'll be sticking to under 1cm of fish fully grown per litre)
the Dwarf Neon's are a definite (Thanks Colin_T for all the info on them)

Tank 160 litres, to be setup as a tropical community tank
Moderately planted, with lava rock as structure\decoration and 2 filters (one with the package suggested to be too small)
Hard Alkaline water area, tap water readings
- PH 7.6-7.8
- Hardness
268 ppm Calcium carbonate(CaCO3)
Degrees German(DH) 15
- Ammonia 0
- Nitrite 0
- Nitrate approx 30ppm

• 6 Dwarf neon rainbowfish - (Melanotaenia praecox)
o Yes - will be used in a fish in cycle, with established filter media from another tank
o PH 6.8-7.5
o Hardness 5-15 DH
 Have had it confirmed by a very good source that these will do very well at in higher alkaline hard water - Thanks Colin_T
o Temp 23-28
o Max size 8cm (50cm) – need to get even number of males ideally (may bully other fish with odd no of males)

Maybes
• 6 Mollies (Poecilia sphenops) - ideally all male
o Maybe -Meet all criteria, a bit worries about mass breading issue
o Max size 7cms (42cms)
o PH 7-8.5
o Hardness 15-30 DH
o Temp 21-28
o Liver breeder, very likely to have fry (try and avoid females)
o Could get bullied by male Dwarfs

• 6 Orange Chromide - (Etroplus maculatus)
o Maybe – Fit the conditions but may need a bigger group and could be stressed by rainbows
o PH 7.0-8.5
o Hardness 179-357ppm
o Temp 20-28
o Max size 8cms (50cms)

• 6 Dwarf Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
o Maybe
o PH 5.5-8
o Hardness 8-15 DH
o Temp 20-30
o Max size 7cm, but not likely in aquarium (40cm)
o A good match with other Dwarf rainbows
o Is and even no of males important?

• 6 Celebes Rainbowfish (Marosatherina ladigesi)
o Maybe – if I can find them locally
o PH 7-8
o Hardness 10-25 DH
o Temp 22-28
o Max size 8cm (50cm)
o Would get on well with other options
o Would need to get them from a local store or similar water condition, don’t cope well with water condition change


• 1 Three-spot Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus)
o Maybe – but 1 female only, might be a tad big
o PH 5.5-8.5
o Hardness 3-35 DH
o Temp 25-30
o Size 12cm (12cm)
o Sounds like they can be aggressive and will be the biggest fish, but suggested that a single female would be much more peaceful
 Would a single fish be ok or would it stress them?


• 4 Florida Flagfish (Jordanella floridae)
o Maybe – sounds like they could be aggressive\territorial
o PH 6.5-8
o Hardness 36-357ppm
o Temp 18-30
o Max size 5.5cm (22cm)
o How would they get on with rainbows\mollies?
 They sound territorial, but they will be some of the smallest


• 6 Bumblebee Goby (Brachygobius doriae)
o Maybe – sounds like they could be aggressive\territorial
o PH 7-8.5
o Hardness 143-357ppm
o Temp 22-28
o Max size 3.5cm (22cm)
o How would they get on with rainbows\mollies?
 They sound territorial, but they will be some of the smallest

 

[Colin_T]

Bumblebee gobies are best in a single species tank because they are small and slow to get the food.

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Florida Flagfish are fine and relatively peaceful, and they tolerate a wide range of water conditions.

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Blue or 3 spot gourami is not really suited to your water and is blue. I would use the rainbowfish for blue and if you want a big gourami look for a female pearl gourami. But again it will prefer softer water.

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Celebes rainbows would be fine but be careful buying them. They either do well or die. Watch them at the shop for a couple of weeks. Maybe ask the shop to hold 6-10 for you and leave them in the shop for 2 weeks. If none die (and I mean none) then grab them. But if one fish dies at the shop, don't touch them. They are really temperamental fish and look stunning when doing well but don't do well that often.

If you do get Celebes rainbows, add 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres of water. It reduces stress and they do better with a bit of salt.

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Orange Chromides are nice little fish but might struggle to get food in a community tank. they are best in a single species tank or a tank with slow moving fish, not rainbows

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Mollies (not the sailfin variety) and platies will be fine. As will any other small species of rainbowfish. Pseudomugil signifier from Ross River or Townsville are pretty flashy looking and could be used instead of Celebes rainbows.

Melanotaenia maccullochi, sexlineata, papuae, nigrans & exquisita, and Glossolepis maculosis & ramuensis, and captive bred Rhadinocentrus ornatus would all do well. You can mix and match rainbowfish and have 1 or 2 prs of each species and the males will all display to each other. They will all cross breed and produce fertile young, so if you have a mixed group of rainbowfish, never keep any eggs from the community tank.