Good Fish Options For Asian Biotope

[Danbarb]

Hi,

I am looking for some options for changing my tank to an asian biotope.

My water parameters are PH7, GH around 10-12, 10ppm nitrate, 0 nitrite, good heavily planted tank with bogwood. 180 litre bow front.

Current stock that I want to change is 3 yoyo loaches, 2 bristlenose catfish, and 2 apistogramma agazzsisi (sp sorry!). (These are going into another 120 litre tank).

Fish that I want to keep in there are 8 metallic gold barb, 3 green tiger barbs, 2 platinum tiger barbs, and 1 SAE.

Upper level fish I was thinking of maybe 5 zebra danio, but need some options for a few loaches and catfish for Asian biotope setup. Also a red coloured fish - I was looking at rosy barbs but to be honest they grow quite large-ish.

Any ideas please I would be grateful.

 

[Rex740]

Dojo loaches (also known as weather loaches) are great asian fish! I love them! Gold gourami's may not be red but they are nice asian fish as well. You can look into other gouramis as well such as the blue/three spot gourami and pearl gourami. For a smaller species you can get dwarf gouramis or honey gouramis. Honey/dwarf gouramis might be your red fish you're looking for.

 

[fluttermoth]

I wouldn't consider weather loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus suitable for this set up. First of all they grow too large; up to 12"; second they shouldn't be kept at tropical temperatures, they are a cold water fish. Thirdly, they prefer to be kept in groups.

I'd go for a mixture of the different coloured tiger barbs (as the male normal coloured ones have quite a lot of bright red on their noses and fins), zebra danios and either zebra or chain loach, or keep your three yoyos and add some more.

 

[keimak]

Rasboras are also an option since a few of them are native to my country here
(I live in asia btw)

 

[mattlee]

what size is the tank?

denisoni barbs or arulius barbs are both cracking fish but would need a 4ft tank minimum

 

[fluttermoth]

what size is the tank?

denisoni barbs or arulius barbs are both cracking fish but would need a 4ft tank minimum

It's a 120l...I don't think you can get a 4ft 120l

 

[Danbarb]

It's a 180 litre Juwel Vision (bow fronted). Thanks for all the suggestions HMM!!!

 

[Danbarb]

I decided to get a male and female flame dwarf gourami (reddish colour), and also am looking at glowlight rasbora although they can grow around 6cm, and require a reasonable group which puts me off as I prefer to have smaller fish rather than really large ones. I must be one of the few people that don't particularly like discus or angelfish.

I found the perfect fish in the end. Harlequin rasbora, small and red, and can be put in a school of around 8 for good affect. Thanks everyone!

 

[coldcazzie]

I decided to get a male and female flame dwarf gourami (reddish colour), and also am looking at glowlight rasbora although they can grow around 6cm, and require a reasonable group which puts me off as I prefer to have smaller fish rather than really large ones. I must be one of the few people that don't particularly like discus or angelfish.

I found the perfect fish in the end. Harlequin rasbora, small and red, and can be put in a school of around 8 for good affect. Thanks everyone!

I'm doing something similar: harlequins, kuhli loaches, and gouramis with my biotope (see my sig) but it's very "in the future" ish at the moment!

 

[Danbarb]

Sweet! Are you going to add peat to the filter or mix some in with substrate? I already have some aquarium peat but to be honest, my water is crystal clear and am not keen on turning this a slightly tea colour. My PH as it stands sits around 6.8-7 due to the bogwood mainly anyway.

After I do sort this tank out with the right fish, I am thinking of creating a new tank that will be a natural stream tank and somehow growing some "water" plants that grow out of the water by creating water banks that mimic natural water banks along with some aquatic plants from that region. Still very early in planning stages for this as it's just an idea at the moment.

 

[coldcazzie]

I'll be adding peat to the filter I think. Will be using a small external so I'm going to have a peat bag in there. Although I may mix some in with the substrate too. I am definitely aiming for lots of tannins, will be having lots of wood, very heavily planted and low flow too to try to recreate an almost stagnant pool. I think I'm going for sparkling gouramis though, rather than dwarfs

 

[Danbarb]

That sounds fantastic, and is almost like a snapshot of a real environment which I guess is the ultimate aim of a biotope!

 

[StandbySetting]

Have you considered T.hengeli and T.espei instead of the Harlequins, hengeli and espei are both more attractive species in my opinion and are priced similarly.

 

[Danbarb]

I'll take a look into it, and thank-you!

T espei are especially beautiful. Argh! Changing my mind again! I think I will try and get hold of some of them instead of the harlequins.

 

[coldcazzie]

They are lovely fish, I'm going for harlequins simply because I already have 6, so another 6 would be perfect for me.