Need Recommendations For Top Dwellers In A 30 Gallon

[Lynda B]

I currently have serpae tetras, red eye tetras, black phantom tetras and black mollies in my 30 gallon. The mollies go everywhere, but mostly, the others are appearing to be bottom dwellers. What top dwellers would go well with this assortment? Thanks!

 

[fishwatcher]

Killifish or hatchets are the main ones that will really stay on the top, that I can think of. A group of hatchets would be pretty in there, I think.

 

[Lynda B]

I've always loved killies and a gentleman from our fish club is the chairman of the livebearers association. He's the guy I got my mollies from. I could easily get quality stock killies from him.

I've never really been a hatchet fish kinda girl.... just something weird about them.

 

[-germ-]

Zebra danios......

 

[Lynda B]

Oh, I like them, too..... actually I love almost all the types of fish. Just need to be sure that whatever it is I end up with will hang around the mid to top range. Thanks!

 

[fishwatcher]

Killis are definitely awesome fish. I have a trio of gold wonders in one of my 30-gal, and the male actually lets me pet him!

 

[Lynda B]

So, what is the best grouping for them? They do okay with just 3 of them? 1 male, 2 females?

 

[Kay1123]

Another top dweller to consider is a Half beak. I currently have them and you can't find them in my area very often. You might like them better than Hatchets.

 

[Lynda B]

Wow! That's a really interesting looking fish.....

 

[Biulu]

What about gouramis? You could also have a trio (1 male, 2 females) in your 30 gallon. Great characters, and lovely colours.

 

[Lynda B]

I love the gouramis, too, especially the chocolate ones. I guess I figured they were too big. I can see I'm going to really have to do more research with all of these top-dwellers.

 

[-germ-]

Gouramis aren't really top dwellers (not to contradict biulu) they are everywhere dwellers, depends on the fish, alot are shy and given cover will spend a fair bit of their time hiding, you'll always have some activity though because of their travelling to the surface for air.
Chocolates are quite vulnerable and you have to be able to provide perfect water specs for them.....
Have you got hard or soft water?

 

[Lynda B]

I think our water actually falls right in the middle. It's perfect for everything, be it drinking, washing, or cycling a fish tank.

I should add that we've been involved in fishkeeping for about 6 months. It's been really smooth sailing for both my husband and me with our tanks and I probably shouldn't get involved in anything that's too difficult just yet. We've been having a really positive experience and I'd love to keep it that way.

 

[BigC]

Ps. annulatus..... 2 males 4-6 females

 

[Biulu]

My gouramis spend most of their time at the top part (pearls and dwarfs), but I have some vallisneria growing large, so it is kind of shaded in certain parts of the tank. There are several gouramis which are not difficult to take care of: thick-lipped, honeys, pearls etc. Dwarfs are not difficult to take care of either, but due to inbreeding have become very vulnerable to diseases, so I don't recommend those.