Concerns About Stocking A New 55G?

[attibones]

So I posted earlier about a 29 gallon tank I was looking into buying, but I've come across a 55 gallon including decoration, fish, and stand for 200 dollars (I'm offering 160, though). Obviously, I'm more inclined to get the cheaper set up. It includes one large pink kissing gourami and a sailfin catfish. I have no idea what size these guys are because I haven't actually gotten them yet. If everything goes well with my offer, they could be in my possession by Saturday. This will be my largest tank to date, excludingy pond from a few years ago.

So my questions are these:
What sort of fish can I add with the gourami? I have had some before (all of them kissing) who were extremely aggressive.
How large can I expect the catfish to get, and should I expect to purchase several more to create a small shoal?
If I rehome the gourami and keep the catfish, would he be bothered by cichlids (probably jewel or tiger Oscar cichlids)?

 

[TallTree01]

I would buy the tank but give the gourami and sailfin Pleco to a shop. They would both get too big for your tank. The kissing gouramis can be aggressive to other fish too.

A tiger Oscar would outgrow your tank. The jewel cichlid would work but it could be aggressive. Then again if you want a cichlid tank then you won't mind a bit of aggression! LOL

 

[leighton_87]

Kissing Gouramis grow between 20-25cm and should be in a 5 foot tank minimum - anything less than this and they will be too aggresive to handle. So personally I'd rehome if you want to add anything else (the catfish would probably be fine as it stays out of the way)

The problem with the description sailfin catfish is it could probably describe at least 30 species - if I was to guess it is probably Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps which will grow to about 45cm. It would be fine with cichlids but would need a much bigger tank that what your planning.

 

[attibones]

I have no idea which specific catfish species this is. I have to have a closer look at it before I can know.

I think cichlids are some of the prettiest fish available where I live, which is why I'm so tempted to get them. I may also get angelfish, which I've wanted for a while now. It is my understanding that they are pretty calm.

 

[frapadoodle]

Agree with rehoming existing fish. While sailfin catfish could be one of many, in most petshops I have seen it means sailfin pleco.
A pair of angels would work. But the matter is a pair. Most start with a group of six juvies, and wait for a pair to form, and rehome the rest. They can be laid back, depends on personality. But get touchy when breeding.
Cory are great, and many smaller to choose from.
As for GBRs, have heard they not bad other than when breeding. But have not had them before. Am looking into Bolivians myself.
As with any S.A. chiclid, there will be agression when breeding. And cories don't bother with territory, they just go about being cories.

 

[attibones]

I definitely will get several cories. I have some now and I absolutely love them. I lost one last night, though I have no idea why. He was perfectly healthy earlier. Anyway, 2 angels, and maybe six Cory cats to start. I'll probably leave the cichlids out for now, even though I love them (particularly albino varieties and the red parrots). You think mollies would be alright with the angels? I have several in tanks now that I would like to switch out.

 

[frapadoodle]

Never had mollies, but know others that have kept them with Angels.

 

[attibones]

Okay, so after checking out aqadvisor because I am a visual person, this is my potential list of fish for the tank.
 
6 x Albino cory
1 x Jewel cichlid (maybe)
2 x angelfish 
5 x golden zebra danio
 
This would give me a layer of top swimmers, bottom dwellers, and middle swimmers. Aqadvisor did not warn me about any possible territory issues between the angels and the cichlid, so it may be okay. What do you all think?
 
Of course, if I go with this "shopping" list, then it does mean I'd have to rehome the sailfin pleco (confirmed that this is the species) and the gourami. I have no idea who would want these large fish though...

 

[leighton_87]

The fact you only have one cichlid will help te aggression levels but it will really depend on the personality of the fish.

I've also heard bad things about keeping 2 Angels unless they are a proven pair - puttin two angels in a tank does not make them a pair and most likely one will kill the other. Either buy 6 juveniles and sell 4 off after a pair has formed or try and buy a proven pair from somewhere.

 

[attibones]

I was going to try two, but if one decides to be awful, I'm going to give away one of the angels. I may just get a single angel though.

 

[frapadoodle]

What is the substrate?
Sand is preffered by and better for cories.
Black sand really makes albinos pop, but is a bit pricey.
Play sand is cheap, and you could switch to bronze cories.
I agree about how to go about the angels.

 

[Chris0422]

If you are looking for pretty fish I would say go for rainbows over cichlids. Can you tell I have rainbows..... I enjoy watching my school. I often catch my Australian reds from across the room. I have kept cichlids got sick of the balance of aggression.(maybe I was just bad at keeping cichlids) Dwarf cichlids are really good looking fish. Rams are great and double red cockatoos are gorgeous. I've been keeping fish for over 10 years the best part is trying them all at one point.

 

[attibones]

I'll definitely do sand in the tank, which I don't have yet but maybe soon! I'm excited. 
 
Thanks for all your answers, guys. I'm so pumped. I think this is definitely going to be my working list for the tank.

 

[Aviici]

If you're concerned about angels and want more options, you could always have a look at red dwarf gourami's, or electric blue rams to add a nice splash of color. Both of these are pretty peaceful, rams not so much when breeding but should be alright. Convict cichlids are a pretty nice option too, if you like the idea of more cichlids
 

 

[attibones]

If you are looking for pretty fish I would say go for rainbows over cichlids. Can you tell I have rainbows..... I enjoy watching my school. I often catch my Australian reds from across the room. I have kept cichlids got sick of the balance of aggression.(maybe I was just bad at keeping cichlids) Dwarf cichlids are really good looking fish. Rams are great and double red cockatoos are gorgeous. I've been keeping fish for over 10 years the best part is trying them all at one point.

I've looked into the rainbows as well, but they aren't readily available where I live and I'm hesitant to try to ship live fish. That being said, if liveaquaria ships fish safely, I might look more seriously into them.