Goodbye Puffers!

[BigTom]

Well, as much fun as the DPs are, I think I've decided I want more of a community setup with a bit of variety in it. As my previous community setup consisted of South American species I want to try some fish I haven't kept before, and so will be looking at Indian/Asian species.

Tank is in sig, it's a 90L, heavily planted setup with soft water and pH around 6.5.

The following are all in stock at my LFS, I'm thinking about:

Scarlet badis (Dario dario)
Galaxy rasbora (Celestichthys margaritatus) OR Dwarf Rasbora (Rasbora maculata)
Khuli loach (Pangio kuhlii) OR Zebra loach (Botia striata) OR Chain loach (Botia sidthimunki - twice the price of the zebras! Is it worth it for more daylight activity?)

And then some sort of centerpiece fish, I'm thinking Licorice gouramis (Parosphromenus deissneri) or Peacock gobies (Tateurndina ocellicauda - not Asian I know!).

They also have some beautiful chocolate and Vaillant's gouramis in stock but I think I'd want them in a species only blackwater tank if I was going to try them.

Any problems there? What sort of stocking levels do you think I could get away with? The darios and rasboras are barely an inch long each. I'd like a decent number of each, I'm don't know if the darios are all male or mixed sex, any idea if there might be some conflict with the gouramies/gobies? I'll need a decent sized group of loaches I imagine (5?).

Open for suggestions on the centerpiece fish too.

 

[BigTom]

Went in to the LFS to mull some things over and have a look at the stock.

The galaxy rasboras had very sunken stomachs - is this something that's likely to be a problem if I buy them, or just down to being stressed in the shop?

Also saw some very nice sparkling gouramis, how would they do in a largish group. or are they better in pairs/trios?

 

[Curiosity101]

Your lfs stock all those fish? Wow... Where abouts are you based?

Also, I have sparkling gouramis in a group of 5 (unsexed), they're getting braver over time but are still incredibly timid. They do tend to shoal loosely and so far so good on the aggression front.

 

[youngfisher]

I love galaxy rasboras .

How could you get rid of your puffers lol.

I suppose its different for me as I have another tank so I have more wide choice, but hey.

Good luck with your new tank

 

[BigTom]

Your lfs stock all those fish? Wow... Where abouts are you based?

Also, I have sparkling gouramis in a group of 5 (unsexed), they're getting braver over time but are still incredibly timid. They do tend to shoal loosely and so far so good on the aggression front.

I'm down in Cornwall, and Trimar generally stock a pretty interesting selection of fish, although some of the more unusual things stay in the boss' home fish room, meaning you can't always see everything you're after (http/www.trimar.co.uk/, their stocklists are on there).

Thanks for the info on the sparkling gouramis.

 

[youngfisher]

Cornwall is one of the most amazing places in england IMO.

 

[BigTom]

I love galaxy rasboras .

How could you get rid of your puffers lol.

I suppose its different for me as I have another tank so I have more wide choice, but hey.

Good luck with your new tank

Heh, you should upgrade your 35L tank, then you could have all of my 6

They are great little fish, but I'm a bit fickle and have decided I prefer the variety of a community setup.

 

[youngfisher]

I have a funny feeling in a couple of months my 95L will turn into a DP tank

And my 35L will be a betta tank