New Fish Store, New Questions

[LyraGuppi]

Okay, this topic is pretty much a post of my questions.
So a new fish store opened in my town, and they seem okay. They have a selection of awesome mopani, which is also a win.

So here are my questions:
1.What are your experiences or thoughts on Congo tetras? Would they be able to go in with rams and rokteils?
2.What are your experiences with African Orange Zebra Cichlids? Would one be able to live in a 45 gallon alone, or would they need companions?

Here's a off topic question,
3.My completely blind albino Cory, Willy, is living alone in a 5 gallon bowfront. He gets along just fine now, and is eating well. Should I get him a companion cory? I know cories are supposed to be in shoals, but I don't have the room for a shoal and I am worried the other cories would overpower him.

Thanks for tolerating my questions!

 

[the_lock_man]

Now there's an interesting question. If the fish is completely blind, does it know he's not in a shoal?

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd assume (dangerous thing to do, I know!) that they can feel the presence of other fish through their lateral line.

 

[DreamertK]

The other cories would probably put out phermones or other chemicals to let each other know there's more of them around, even if they can't be seen.

 

[Wills]

Fishes vision is often their weakest sense. They will feel through the lateral line via mild electric signals and through the hormones the other cories put into the water It would be better to get them some friends and put them in a larger tank.
 
Congos would go well with the other fish you mentioned but they are a large fish when adult and would visually dominate your tank, you would need to make sure this is what you wanted
 
With the African Orange Zebra Cichlids - Im not too good with Africans but generally you would have them in a community in a group of males and females, though I dont know the particular needs of this fish. African cichlids differ greatly in the way they are kept from their American cousins.
 
Wills

 

[SeanTrollope]

Fishes vision is often their weakest sense. They will feel through the lateral line via mild electric signals and through the hormones the other cories put into the water

It would be better to get them some friends and put them in a larger tank.
 
Congos would go well with the other fish you mentioned but they are a large fish when adult and would visually dominate your tank, you would need to make sure this is what you wanted

 
With the African Orange Zebra Cichlids - Im not too good with Africans but generally you would have them in a community in a group of males and females, though I dont know the particular needs of this fish. African cichlids differ greatly in the way they are kept from their American cousins.
 
Wills

espessualy being a catfish as they would naturally accour in areas where the visability is not so great

 

[LyraGuppi]

Should I move Willy back into the sorority? There are 5 other cories there.
 
EDIT:
Moved him in. I really hope the bettas are okay to him.
 
I don't think I'll get the Cichlid  or the Tetras. Thanks everyone!

 

[Wills]

What are the other Cories? Are they all the same species?
 
If your skipping the African does that mean you have a spare 45g
 
Wills

 

[LyraGuppi]

They are all the same species.
 
The 45 is a tall, and my family wants something different than cories in it.

 

[SeanTrollope]

 betta fish

 

[Byron]

They are all the same species.
 
The 45 is a tall, and my family wants something different than cories in it.

 
Are the corys staying in the 45g, with other (new) fish?  If yes, there are many options.  By "tall" is the tank 36" long by 24" high (and 13" width front to back)?  This will provide swimming space for relatively active but small fish (I agree with Wills on the Congo, not good in less than 4 foot tank), or alternatively given the height you could stay with less active fish that would fill the vertical space more.  Pencilfish are ideal here, just watch the species (I can elaborate if asked as I have or have had most of them).  Many species of tetra are fairly inactive, thinking those in the so-called "Rosy clade" of Hyphessobrycon (Rosy Tetra, Roberti Tetra, Black or Red Phantom Tetra, etc), Lemon Tetra, Flame Tetra, Pretty Tetra, cardinal/neon, and others.
 
Byron.

 

[LyraGuppi]

No, the cories are in with my sorority of bettas. Willy passed last night, explained it in my "Rage Quit!" thread.
The widest part of the tank is 33 1/2 inches, and it is 25 inches tall. I'm considering a gourami, but a tetra tank sounds cool.

 

[Byron]

No, the cories are in with my sorority of bettas. Willy passed last night, explained it in my "Rage Quit!" thread.
The widest part of the tank is 33 1/2 inches, and it is 25 inches tall. I'm considering a gourami, but a tetra tank sounds cool.

 
Sorry about the cory.  Having read that thread, this is not a surprise; fish that far gone rarely recover.
 
Gourami would work, some species anyway.  You could have the beautiful pearls here, one male and 2-3 females.  Tankmates could be almost any of the medium rasbora (medium meaning sized like the common Harlequin and others).  One of the dwarf species of loach for the substrate.  This SE Asian set-up is yet another option.
 
Byron.

 

[LyraGuppi]

The pearls and rasboras sound great!
What loaches do you recommend? (I've never had loaches before)

 

[Byron]

The pearls and rasboras sound great!
What loaches do you recommend? (I've never had loaches before)

 
For this size tank, you want to stay with the dwarf species.  The most common is the Dwarf or Chain Loach, Ambastaia sidthimunki.  Another is the Banded Dwarf Loach, Micronemacheilus cruciatus.  Both have undergone reclassification i recent years which put them in different genera, but you should be able to find photos and data online.  Here's what SF has on each:
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/ambastaia-sidthimunki/
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/micronemacheilus-cruciatus/
 
They are much the same; I have a group of both together in my 33g tank (3-foot length) and they have been fine for several years now.  Main thing is to get a group of whichever species, at least five but you could have six.  They must have chunks of wood, lots of wood, as like all loaches each individual fish likes to select its "home" which will be a tunnel or crevice in wood.  They also love to play tag, chasing one another through wood tunnels.  I have found that the very dark brown Malaysian Driftwood is ideal for this; I have six largish chunks of it in this tank.  Artificial decor that provides similar can suffice, but the wood is so natural and will contribute to the water conditions these fish prefer.  Sand substrate is best; these fish sift through it just like corys.  Lots of floating plants also help, and the gourami will be more at home with these too, so double benefit.
 
Byron.