Help with replanning

[Rayne]

I currently have a 55gal tank with 2 comets and a black moor. I have decided to relocate them to an outdoor pond because I'm just sick and tired of trying to keep the tank clean (when I got them I was unaware of just how dirty they can be)

So I have a few questions:
The first has to deal with my existing fish. LAtely they have all been very lazy. They hardly every swim around all they do is hang out in one small corner of the tank. I have tested the water and everything is fine. I recently lost another comet to illness (i think) he grew a huge bump on on side of his body and started turning black. I trreated the tank with a recommended medicine for the other fish and after a few weeks they still seem fine. I stopped using the medicine a while ago and have done several water changes since then. If any one has ever expirenced this I would love to hear about it.

Now to the more important question:

I want to restock my 55 gal when the others move out.

I really want a couple of sharks that grow at least a couple of inches. Maybe a Beta if they get along with sharks

I would appreciate some suggestions of what type of sharks to get and any other type of Colorful fish that will make my tank beautiful.

I don't want fish taht are too dirty to keep like the comets. I never really got to enjoy the tank because everytime I looked at it I had to clean the glass.

Thanks a bunch !!!!!!!!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Do you want to limit your search to just sharks? I mean, there's a whole world full of cichlids out there, not to mention the smaller cyprinids, characins, livebearers, etc.

 

[David]

The thing with sharks is... they are aggressive towards their own kind usually. You could get red-tailed black shark or a rainbow shark but only one, and bala sharks are not as aggressive but really need a bigger tank (at least 75 gallons for 1 I believe, as they can grow to be 15" and up). Of course, you can always keep 2-3 juvies until you can get a bigger tank or rehouse them. I would really consider before going into sharks though. Sure, they are cool, but they are not the most interesting fish out there by far. Why not get 5-6 angels, they are beautiful fish.

 

[Boggle]

I have a very messy pair of comets & a Black Moor as well, so I know how you feel.

If you really like sharks, then you need to decide which ones, & then research which tank mates each kind does best with.

I have a couple of Bala Sharks, they grow to about 36cm, and you need to keep an absolute minimum of 2 (they are a shoaling fish, but who's got the room for 5 or 6 of those?). They are peaceful, IMO, despite their reputation.They do well with gourami, barbs, clown loach and danios.

Then there's the Red Tail Shark, which grows to about 12cm, comes in Albino variety, but I think these are agressive, and you should only keep one, and no other sharks in the tank.

Banded Hifin Sharks, they do best in pairs, and get to about a foot in length.

Or if you want a brackish tank, you can get White Tip Shark Catfish, but they grow big (anout a foot or more) and they need to be kept in a group of 4 or more, so once again, who's got the room.

I'm biased towards the Bala Shark, they are gorgeous, and act like absolute clowns, don't bother any other fish and are easy to take care of.