Looking for suggestions to finish stocking tank

[k2snowboards88]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a sand substrate. Currently i have 5 clown loaches (will get larger tank when loaches outgrow it), 8 tiger barbs, a striped peacock eel, and a red fin shark.

you're probably saying that this tank is overstocked allready. But clown loaches grow very slowly and the eel is only out at night anyway. I'm looking for some interesting fish that could compliment this aquarium. I was thinking it would be good if i could get some suggestions of fish that only live for around 5 years or less, so they'll die before the tank gets overcrowded. What would you suggest? It would also be nice if the fish spent most of their time at the top of the tank.

Just to make one suggestion myself. How do you think some 3 spot gouramies would do?

 

[k2snowboards88]

Whatabout 3 mollies and an opaline gourami?

 

[bshockstubb]

i dont see a problem with that...perhaps maybe a pair of gromis like a oplane and a oplaine,blue,gold(they are all the same species i think)

 

[gobius]

I would not feel comfortable with putting something like a gourami in that tank as tiger barbs may nip at their fins. Having tiger barbs pretty much limits your choices to other sturdy barbs or tetras. You may want to consider hatchet fish to occupy the top regions of your tank. 5-7 of them will be good.

Except for the eel, all others are carp-like (if red fin shark is a labeo/epalzeorhynchos). For compatibility reasons (in terms of water and othe environmetal requirements), you may want to go with some other carp-like fish. Opsaridium chrystyi (medium to top region), if you can find, might be a choice. They grow as large as a three-spot gourami eventually but are active enough to keep up with tiger barbs. Also, indian glassbarb and several species of rasboras mght be appropriate tankmates.

 

[corykitty516]

dont mollies prefer somewhat brackish water?


I dunno about the others though ... not so great at stocking myself so I try to err on the side of understocking.

I like tetras myself ... and they live less than 5 years.

 

[sylvia]

I wouldn't go with hatchets as they are prone to being bullied - deffinately a bad idea with tiger barbs in the tank. Other carp-like fish and mollies would work fine though.

Mollies do enjoy brackish water but are pretty much just as comfortable in fresh.

I think three-spots could work but I'd suggest you go with moonlight gouramies instead and increase the number of tiger barbs at the same time. That'll reduce aggression and force the barbs to focus on each other and their own hierarchy while the gouramies get used to their new environment.

Moonlights are also larger but more peaceful than three-spots and would make an attractive upper-water addition.