I Need Colourful Suggestions

[Andypalf]

OK, so my new tank is up and running and everything looks fantastic. I've been stocking it over the last month but I'm not sure what my next fish is going to be and was hoping you guys could help out.

It's a 125L planted tank with gravel substrate. I currently have 5 male Guppies, 1 female Guppy, 2 very young Ancistrus (one of which is albino), 3 Yellowtail Rasboras and 2 Albino Shrimps.

I was thinking of getting 2 Pearl Gouramis (one male and one female). And as pretty as they are I would like something witha little more colour, a bit more striking.

Can you suggest anything? Cheers

 

[doresy]

Hi the first thing I would suggest is sorting your guppy stock. 5 males to 1 female
They will make her life hell. No problem with the 5 males but she should be taken out of that set up

 

[Andypalf]

I thought somebody might pick up on that. This is a mistake on my part (the research I did told me 4:1 ratio of males:females) and when my LFS agreed I saw no problem. But I saw the problem within a few days. The female is actually being rehomed to a friend starting up a new tank.

 

[-germ-]

What do you want sizewise?
Similar midsize gourami?
If not look up colisa fasciata...
Bit smaller but good lookin IMHO

 

[fishwatcher]

The pearls are pretty, but it'd be better to get a trio than a pair (1m, 2fm). You could also do the banded or thick-lipped gouramis... very colorful and personable.
If not something that large, then a trio of platies is always colorful and active.
Or you could add to your rasbora group, take it up to 7 or 8, and then add just one male gourami of some sort. (I say male since they're usually more colorful.)
HTH!

 

[Lynda B]

serpae tetras.....

 

[Miss Wiggle]

gourami's are not always a good choice in planted tanks, riccia and HC and that sort of thing make a lovely snack for them

 

[Andypalf]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was keen on Gouramis due to their more interesting shape and their managable size. And I would love to get a trio but I'm keen to understock the tank at the moment as the Ancistrus and rasboras are going to grow to 4-5 inches (or so I've been told).

I'm not too fussed about them nibbling away on the plants too much, as long as it makes them happy. The platies are a good idea. I would like something a little larger hopefully. I think I might go in search of some colourful gouramis that are suited to a community tank.

Cheers guys

 

[lilfishie]

what type of Ancistrus are they? up the number of Yellowtail Rasboras as they prefer to be in groups of atleast 6, and i have never heard of albino shrimp do you have any pictures of them?

 

[rsands]

i have red honey gouramis and they dont bother with the HC...but got two blue ones and they are never done eating the stuff!

 

[Andypalf]

The Ancistrus were described and labelled as "Ancistrus" to me in my LFS. The "normal" one looks a little similar to a BR Plec, but without the bristles and much smaller, and then the albino is the same but albino.

My mistake regarding the shrimp. I misheard the guy in the LFS and after a little research they are infact Amano Shrimp. I think I do need to get more rasoboras. They new ones have only been in the tank for a couple days so I'm going to see how they settle. But despite the size difference they were already shoaling with the guppies. It seems they're having a ball together!

 

[lilfishie]

more rasoboras then, if they are BNs they should be fine providing there not both male, maybe another shoal of tetras would bring in some colour, or a group of different coloured male platies