Need Another Fish

[Christine1014]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give me some ideas as I finish stocking my tank. I have a 44 gallon which is a new home for some old fish who've lived in a smaller tank for about 5 years..... now I want to add some new fish since I have the bigger tank, but I'm not sure what would work. I know my current mixture of fish SHOULDN'T work, but it has for years...

3 Giant Danios
4 small zebra danios
4 Neon Tetras
2 black skirted tetras
3 plattys
2 unidentified algae eaters


My danios chase each other around the tank, but leave everyone else alone.

I'm looking for something maybe a little bigger and/or different/colorful/interesting but everything the guy at the LFS suggested was way too big for my tank. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!!

 

[Fate2006]

hmm... what size tank is it?

 

[Christine1014]

44-Gallon corner unit

 

[MegTheFish]

I would add a few more gaint danios, zebra danios, neons and black skirted tetras to bring each number up to 5 or 6.
You need to find out what the unidentified algea eaters are, so you can determine wether they are suitable for your tank.

Common plecostamus?
http/images.google.com/images?sourceid=n...sa=N&tab=wi

Chinese Aglae Eater?
http/images.google.com/images?svnum=10&a...ese+algae+eater

Otto Cat?
http/images.google.com/images?svnum=10&a...q=otto+cat+fish

These are a few of the more common algae eaters.

As for future stocking for your tank, I wouldn't go with anymore schools of fish, maybe a single centerpiece fish? Like a gourami, dwarf gouramis are really colorful.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Get a German Blue Ram, there peaceful and colorful.

 

[Christine1014]

Thanks! I'm pretty sure they're Chinese Algae Eaters.

 

[puddle_inc]

silver dollar? that isn't too colorful but there different, shiny, and cool. and a little bigger then the fish you have, i think.

 

[MegTheFish]

silver dollar? that isn't too colorful but there different, shiny, and cool. and a little bigger then the fish you have, i think.

Too big for his tank.

Thanks! I'm pretty sure they're Chinese Algae Eaters.

Then I would reccommend rehoming them. As they grow larger they can become nasty to the other fish, sucking on slime coats and dining on fishy eyeballs.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=98998

 

[Christine1014]

I just looked up the Chinese Algae Eater in my fish book.... you're right, MegTheFish, I think I need a new home for them! They are the newest addition to the tank -- they've been there less than a year, I think. I like the idea of having something cleaning up the bottom of my tank, though. Would a couple of corrys be good replacements?

 

[puddle_inc]

silver dollars don't get that big do they? like the average silver dollar like you would see on the science channel. they are always taking them out of there nets, lol. every one i've seen isn't that big.

 

[Christine1014]

I read the silver dollar should be kept in at least 100 gallons.... I asked the guy at the LFS about them, and although he didn't seem concerned about the size of my tank, he said silver dollars would nip the fins of my beautiful long skirted tetras.

 

[MegTheFish]

Silver dollars DO grow big, they need a large tank and even if they could live in her tank puddle_inc she wouldn't have enough room anyways (stocking - wise).
Christine, your tank doesn't really "need" bottom feeders, no tank does, they are just there to occupy that region of the tank. As long as you don't overfeed you won't have to worry about having a dirty bottom. However if you want to add a shoal of cories then go ahead, they are great little fish. However you should get alteast 3, but the more the merrier for them. What kind were you looking at getting (their are many different varieties)

 

[Christine1014]

I've always liked the albino cories -- do you think one variety is any better than another?

 

[MegTheFish]

I wouldn't say one is "better" then others, however they do have their differences. They all grow to different sizes so it depends on if you want big ones or little ones. Albino Aeneus are one of the bigger ones and they top off at about 3". If your looking for smaller guys then you may want to look at Corydoras Pygmaeus (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=104113), Corydoras hastatus (http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=324) or Corydoras habrosus (http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=482)
My personal favorites are albino and normal Aeneus, Skunks cories (Corydoras arcuatus) and Julii cories (Corydoras Julii)

 

[Christine1014]

Thanks for all the advice! I'll have to post some pics once I get everything just right...