New Tank Mates Suggestions Please

[jacquie]

I am going to look tomorrow for some possible new tank mates for my current bunch who have been together for a long time.
I want colourful and medium to quite large as anything small will be eaten, and nothing delicate.
The ph is neutral, and the water a bit on the hard side, athoug I do have fish which thrive but are meant to prefer softer water.
I have sand, with wood, plants and rocks. Not bright bright light.

Currently have -
5 congo tetra (orangey)
2 black widow tetra
3 black spot barbs
3 boseman rainbows
1 neon rainbow
1 pictus catfish
3 red tailed botia
2 zebra danios
1 small yoyo loach
1 scissor tailed rasbora
1 red line torpedo fish (denisoni barb i think is another name)

Am thinking of getting a few more of the denison barb as they have a bright red stripe.

Have a few bottom livers, most go around the middle, have nothing at top level.

 

[Bloo]

Depending on the size of your tank, I'd expand on what you have already.
You seem to have mostly single fish and almost all of them prefer some company.

Some more Neon Rainbos and Boesmani's - and perhaps some Red Rainbows too.

How big is your tank ?

 

[osteoporoosi]

You have lots of schooling fish without proper schools(danios,loaches,rasbora,tetras,barbs and the raibows). I would start out with adding more fish to the groups you already have, depending what size the tank is.

 

[jacquie]

The tank is a biggie - 8' x 2' x 2' so no problems here.
I mainly want get some bright colour into tank.
Some of the singles I am not interested in increasing, but the neon rainbow is nice, and he did have 2 female pals but the tank was neglected for 6 months (only because it is so big have the fish in there survived with no diseases!) There was no water change or filter attention and very sporadic feeding for this time due to family problems and illness. I have now got care of the tank, and have done some big water changes and cleaned filters and water quality is now good (although it was only up to 50 nitrates, with no nitrites etc and no disease that I am aware of but about 50% death by probable starvation i guess, after all that time!) The ones left must be very tough.
I like the most - the denison barb, the congo tetras, the rainbows and the black spot barbs.
The red tailed botia ( I think they are Modestas) wont like more company because they do fight occasionally now, and hide most of the time.
The black spot barbs are really nice, but quite big already (6")
If I get more rainbows can I get all males or do they need mixing to show colour better?
What is a good number for a school of the fish you mentioned??

 

[kris-b-]

If you are not interested in creating schools for the fish you that should be kept in schools then I suggest that you try to rehome them as they will not feel comfortable on their own.

 

[osteoporoosi]

6 is the minimum, in my opinion 10 for small fish. Loaches prefer bigger groups so the aggression would even out. With small groups they tend to stress and get nippy.
Nitrates are harmful for fish in high doses, even 40 is a bit too high. 0-20 is the preferble range.

If you don't want to increase the schools the best thing would probably be to give the fish away to a bigger group or put them down with a painless method(in my opinion this is better then just leaving them alone in the tank, but searching a new home is preferable ofcourse)

 

[jacquie]

Thanks guys
I think I will go for creating schools for the following:
neon rainbows(need 9 more)
boesmani rainbows(need 4 more)
denison barbs(need 5 more)
yoyo loaches(need 5 more)
modestas(need 3 more)
black widow tetra(need 8 more)
black spot barbs( need 3 more)

and get rid of the
danios
rasbora

May take a while!! Dont think my birthday money will go that far!!

If I do go for the above - do you think these fish as a big community will mix well in the size of schools mentioned?

What about sex ratios by the way for fish like the rainbows - can I have all male ?

 

[Bloo]

I think that's a much better plan - concentrating on what you already have.

I currently have 2 male Red Rainbows and 1 Boesmani - not "ideal" I know, but they all get along perfectly and all "look" very happy, active and playful. On a larger scale I'm not sure. Guess you can only try and if it doesn't work have a plan B up your sleeve.

 

[osteoporoosi]

Sounds like a decent plan, good luck with the tank!

 

[Jules H-T]

denison barbs(need 5 more)

Precisely what I was thinking- they show much more personality in a group.

 

[jacquie]

Well I got 3 more denison barbs today!!
Cost £16.99 each though
So that was my birthday money gone - expecting more in the post though!
When I was in the shop the lady got one in the net, and while it was still in the top tank, in the net, it jumped out, and I rescued it from the floor!! It swam away when back in the tank though.
I got one a bit smaller than the one I have, and 2 quite a bit smaller - their colour isnt bright either - i thought in the shop it might have been the lighting in the tank, but hopefully when they have settled down they will get bright bright red stripes like my original one!
How much did you pay for yours Jules??

 

[Bloo]

Shucks they are expensive ! But very pretty and I know at my lfs they are pretty costly too - but can't remember how much. I just remember being shocked that a barb cost that much.
I'm sure they will brighten up once settled

 

[modernhamlet]

Shucks they are expensive ! But very pretty and I know at my lfs they are pretty costly too - but can't remember how much. I just remember being shocked that a barb cost that much.
I'm sure they will brighten up once settled

They're even more expensive in the US right now... I haven't seen them for less than $30 each, more often $45.

Gorgeous fish though...

 

[Bloo]

wow! yeah, £17 = $30, but I don't think I've seen them more that that here. But guess it depends on size.
The ones in my lfs were probably around 3 - 3.5" each.