New 55 Gallon. Fish Suggestions?

[elle235]

Somewhat recently bought a 55 gallon tank after officially deciding my (completely too small ) 20 gallon was basically falling apart (its at least 15 years old. dont ask. ) so here's a list of the fish i have currently in the 55: I'm not sure but it seams somewhat empty, to me. Any suggestions on more/less fish? that be great. I also plan on possibly buying a new 29 to replace the old 20, but i'm not sure yet.


edit: UPDATED LIST FARTHER DOWN, dont go by this list anymore

New 55 Gal. Tank-

2 Gold Gourami
2 Black Skirt Tetra
3 Scissors
3 Silver Dollars
1 Pleco (cant remember what kind, pretty old)
1 ghost shrimp
7 Baby (few months, actually) Molly/Tetra mix breed

(the [somewhat] babies are a mixed breed of an old molly female i used to have with one of the tetras. still not sure if they are able to breed, however, as mollies are happy breeders. [uhoh.] )

any suggestions?

 

[vancouver]

More tetras and silver dollars... they probably are very uncomfortable in such small groups. Maybe 1 or 2 more SDs, and 3-4 more of each tetra.

 

[confusion]

don't silver dollars get really big? or am I thinking of something else?

I've become a big fan of gouramis and angels. You could do a pair of angels or a pair of pearl gouramis (caveat: I don't know how they would get along with a gold gourami).

 

[elle235]

More tetras and silver dollars... they probably are very uncomfortable in such small groups. Maybe 1 or 2 more SDs, and 3-4 more of each tetra.

Yeah, that's what i was thinking a bit about doing. The tetras and silver dollars tend to follow each other (all 5 of them, both tetra and SD together) around, but no biting at fins or anything, just like a pack. Where one goes, the rest do, you know? It seemed like each needed a bit more of their kind of be satisfied.
so how does this look for the tank?

2 Gold Gourami
5 Black Skirt Tetra
3 Scissors
5 Silver Dollars
1 Pleco
1 ghost shrimp
7 Molly Babies [mix breed]

 

[elle235]

don't silver dollars get really big? or am I thinking of something else?

I've become a big fan of gouramis and angels. You could do a pair of angels or a pair of pearl gouramis (caveat: I don't know how they would get along with a gold gourami).

silver dollars (i believe) get to about 5 or so inches. not really that big. the gouramis are very pretty, nice color especially. I'm not sure i've seen pearl gouramis around the area pet stores, but i guess i havent looked. That might be a nice addition, the angels as well. They are quite beautiful, i just hope i'm staying within stocking limit (thought i don't think i'm going over yet)

heres the change:

2 Gold Gourami
5 Black Skirt Tetra
3 Scissors
5 Silver Dollars
1 Pleco
1 ghost shrimp
7 Molly Babies [mix breed]
2 Angels
2 Pearl Gourami

(i'll go check up real fast on gold vs. pearl kind of relationships)

 

[confusion]

If you can swing the angels, they are worth it, in my opinion. They have a very noticable personality and recognize you when you come into the room.

 

[NightStalker]

If you can swing the angels, they are worth it, in my opinion. They have a very noticable personality and recognize you when you come into the room.

Yeah they rule, im gonna get a few myself as soon as my tank stabalizes and im sure my shark problems solved.

Wont the angels eat small tetras though when they get bigger? Or did i hear that somewhere bahh.

Yeah anyway nice fish, i prefer the ones that eat other things though so that layout wouldnt go to well with my plans . .......................

 

[elle235]

oh well that sounds actually really nice. i didnt know they were like that, thanks for the help.

just incase anyone else has some suggestions for change/addition/rehoming whatever, heres some pictures of the tank now just to show the fish and things in there now. Its a little empty decoration-wise, but i have yet to get everything i plan to put in there, and quite a bit of the stuff in there now is just substitution until i get the real stuff. if you're wondering where the pleco and shrimp are, i havent moved them exactly yet because the pleco won't have enough algae to eat off of and i plan on moving the shrimp with the pleco. (also, i've been somewhat lazy and havent gone out to by the pleco cube feeder things. )

front view^

there. all done.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I suggest you get even more tetras, about 10 total. Then they'll really be happy. Also, plecos can't live off of algae all of thier life. They have to have some kind of other food. Algae wafers of catfish pellets are good. Mollies are brackish fish. Without brackish water they are very prone to diseases and infection. If you get Pearl Gouramis, try to get a trio, 1 male, 2 females. Otherwise the male could pester the female, stressing her out a lot. I haven't had silver dollars before, but they should get to 8 inches if cared for properly.
Good Luck
Leah

 

[vancouver]

Silver dollars should get to about 6-8''... what are the scissors? some sort of scissortail rasbora?

 

[elle235]

I suggest you get even more tetras, about 10 total. Then they'll really be happy. Also, plecos can't live off of algae all of thier life. They have to have some kind of other food. Algae wafers of catfish pellets are good. Mollies are brackish fish. Without brackish water they are very prone to diseases and infection. If you get Pearl Gouramis, try to get a trio, 1 male, 2 females. Otherwise the male could pester the female, stressing her out a lot. I haven't had silver dollars before, but they should get to 8 inches if cared for properly.
Good Luck
Leah

thanks for the advice, more tetras sounds pretty good. and yeah, i just have to run out tomarrow to pick up some of the wafers. i had some, i just ran out recently, so i'm going to get more. they are really useful. okay, updated list to pick up next week. any fixes are appreciated.

2 Gold Gourami
8-10 Black Skirt Tetra (might not get actually 10, but somwhere around there)
3 Scissors
5 Silver Dollars
1 Pleco
1 ghost shrimp
7 Molly Babies [mix breed]
2 Angels
3 Pearl Gourami

oh and the scissors? i cant remember the full name, for some reason, i'm just so used to calling them scissors, but heres a picture if you know. sorry, i'm a little forgetful

 

[elle235]

oh, and n3ont3tra, just to let you know, they aren't full mollies, they're a mix breed, but you're right, salt is still a good idea, and i put a little in every couple weeks.

 

[vancouver]

I think think think they are scissortail rasboras.. don't know the scientific name, but that's what they were called when I bought them... might want to pickup a few more of those too if you can.

 

[elle235]

oh thanks vancouver, i thought they might be rasboras when you mentioned it, but i'm still nto a 100% positive so i dont wanna say for sure, you know. when i go back to the LFS i'll check and probably pick up some more of them too. thanks!