Ideas For 125 Gal

[Bex]

I am upgrading from a 30gal to a 125 gal (uk) very soon and don't know what else to get. The new tank will be 4ft by 2ft by 2ft.

In my 30 gal I currently have 2 dalmation mollies, 4 platys, 2 german blue rams, 2 bala sharks (reason for upgrade!) 1 red tail shark, 6 tiger barbs, 2 high fin catfish and 1 green phantom pleco.

I'd like a school of neons or tetras but not sure how many as I don't want to max out my stockage with them. I also find them a bit boring and would like some different ones to the norm.

I'd also like some more bottom dwellers, ideally 2 more plecs but not sure which ones would be good. I'd like to get some clown loaches but I know these guys should be kept in 3 min

I'd like some really interesting/different fish that would compliment the rest. Any ideas guys?

 

[stargirly1208]

do you like catfish? if so why not either some cories or maybe some upside down catfish because both of these like to be kept in groups of 3 or more but they're much smaller than clown loaches. not to mention they're bottom feeders (well for the most part the upside down ones are partly) but i think they're fun!

 

[sparrow6190]

pictus catfish are very cool, and their long whiskers are extremely cool, they like cave like hiding places.

 

[demonmagus]

won't the pictus eat the smaller fish though

 

[Bex]

I already have 2 high fin catfish which are cool but we hardly ever see! I was thinking maybe 2 or 3 cory's - are they nocturnal?

Most of my fish swm at all levels, except maybe the rams which are a more mid to bottom so I'd like some top swimmers.

I don't want to make the mistake (again!) of buying fish which I then find out are gonna outgrow my tank as we won't be able to upgrade again! This is what happened with my bala's - stupid LFS said they would only get to about 6"! The new tank will be 4ft by 2ft by 2ft so clown loaches would be ok? WOuld I then be overstocked with a couple of plecs as well? I think with clowns, corys, plecs and the 2 catfish I would have too many bottom dwellers. Plus I intend it to be well planted. I love clown loaches but think I will go with the cory's as will stay smaller!

I have found a much better LFS that won't sell you fish that will outgrow your tank - my friend wanted some goldies for his daughter but they wouldn't sell him them cos he didn't have a filter or a big enough tank so I know I can trust them!

Keep the tips coming guys!

 

[guppler]

cories and upside down cats sound good. Also consider loaches. I have coolie and YOYO. the chain loach sounds great but I haven't found then in a store since I decided I wanted some (haven't looked real hard either, as I'm short on space). I suspect clown loaches would get big. I saw some huge ones in a 1000g tank at a LFS, but they also had giant upside down cats. I had to do some research to reasure myself the big ones were not Synodontis negriventris, which I plan to get as soon as I see good healthy small ones for a really good price again. (I didn't have space when they were $3.)
You might even consider frogs or shrimp.
I like gouramis too, and would get at least some dwarfs if I had a little more space. The croaking, or sparkling gourami in my book sounds cool. Talking fish are always fun. I usually only hear my cories chirp if the filter is unplugged for maintenance. They are characters. Mine are up day and night and the youngsters even swim upsidedown ocasionally. Then there are the headstanders (anostomas, I think). Some of those are pretty small, like the spotted 1. I'd want those if I had room and saw them available. Maybe diamond tetras? that's another I might get some day if I decide I have space.
I'd put in more plants too if I had your size of tank.
oh, and don't forget to look into hatchet fish.

 

[Bex]

Cheers guppler!

I like the sound of talking fishies! Will defo look into those. I think I will avoid the clowns cos it would be just my luck that they would turn into monsters and by that time I wouldn't want to re-home them. I think I will go for some cory's as they seem to have loads of personality.

I've been looking at weather loaches too but haven't seen any in my area, but, my LFS has told me they can order in any fishies I want so might have a chat with them in the next few weeks.

Keep looking at fire eels too but again, all of them are gonna take up too much rrom at the bottom. Seems that I like the bottom dwelling fish the most! LOL!

 

[guppler]

I like weather loaches too. i had 1 for a little while, but I understand they are not really tropical and prefer cooler water than what it gets to in my upstairs bedroom in summer without air conditioning.
Your tank might even be big enough for Anapleps anableps, the four eyed livebearer, but it couldn't live with your little guys.
You could put in hatchets, especially if you want critters that don't spend much time on the bottom. Hatchet fish are suposed to be able to fly above the water a little. I haven't seen them do it, but around the time I got mine, I noticed 1 in the tank next door to the rest of his school or "flock" as I like to call them. He was trying to school with them from the other side of the glass, and all his buddies were trying to stay near him too. I think he flew over the divider. I pointed it out to somebody working there, and they put him back in the right tank, which he seemed to appreciate. I think it was a marbled hatchet in the silver hatchet tank, which makes me think a mixed school might not stay together. I chose marbled mostly because they are smaller and I can get more of them in the same space, and I thought they were even prettier once I got a better look at them at home. (colorful irridescence, etc.) I think sinodontis negriventris prefers upper levels too.

 

[Bex]

Cheers Guppler!

I will definitely look into the hatchets and thanks for the tip about weather loaches! That might be why my LFS doesn't stock them.