My Fish...must Have A Certain Sumthing

[dwarfgourami]

Reading through the posts on this forum, particularly the 'how can I stock this tank' s, it seems to me that people often have quite clear, and very different, ideas of what makes the ideal fish. For many colourfulness is a must, for others it's size, some like certain types of behaviour, others like a fish to be rare.

I've been thinking about what makes me go for a certain species. Colour is not so important, or at least I am happy with fairly subtle colours. Don't particularly go for big fish or aggressive fish either.

I think one thing I really do enjoy in a fish is a healthy appetite! All my favourite fish have been little aquatic pigs! I like to see a good trencherfish! That's probably why I like livebearers so much, it comes naturally to them. (though my ticos are too shy to let me enjoy the spectacle). The bristlenoses are also winners when it comes to this- you can watch a bristlenose stuffing himself any hour of the night or day!

I also like fish that interact with each other, not necessarily schooling, but taking some sort of notice of each other.

And- I probably shouldn't admit this, but...I do like it when they breed. The bristlies have been the best because you get to see so much breeding behaviour, at the same time they are not trying to take out the rest of the tank.

So what does it for you? What do you look for when you choose the species for your tank? (Please don't say just personality- specify! For some people, personality means a certain level of aggression and being able to hold its own against other fish, for others it is more a tendency to come forward when it sees its owner approaching with a tin of food. )

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i like fish with stripes

--EDIT--
spots come in a close second, tho'.

 

[demonmagus]

colour or nice ways of moving, also quite outy fish

like rays, I wish I could

also unusual behaviour like archer fish, getting some of those

 

[Pheonix]

i like unusal, uncommon fish, this is normally a pain because finding info out on them is a nightmare but well worth it in the long run when u know you are keeping something a little special

also fish with personality, i like it when my fish interact with me even if its in a small silly way

 

[CFC]

Big teeth or a huge mouth, or prefferably both, these are the factors i look for most, being venomous or having electrical capabilities is also something that appeals to me.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Anything that makes the average Bob Fishkeeper go 'eh?' is good. Small 'ugly' things with lots of spikes, big teeth or other such cute characteristics are nice.