dwarfgourami
Fish Connoisseur
The Rio 240 I set up and half stocked early this summer is jogging along nicely with 6 platies (non-breeding), 2 guppies (apparently non-breeding), 2 bristlenoses and a small colony of porthole livebearers- small slender livebearers with quite an attractive beige colour+dark spots. All the above are in good health and get on with each other.
My earlier idea was to add to this a trio of pearl gouramis and a school of black neons. I have given up on the gouramis for the time being, as I realise I need more space for fry grow-out etc+ I like lightly stocked tanks. But I could still fit in one moderate school of smallish fish and not feel cramped. So what would you do of the following:
Trio of Black-bellied limias
Advantage: Like their looks, a chance to expand my interest in livebearers, which seems to be where I'm going, have never kept a limia species before. And they seem to be very good swimmers, which I find attractive. Can be kept as a trio.
Drawbacks: can I cope with yet another breeding species? Seeing that the porthole fry are nearly mature already, and the bristlenoses are ensconced in their cave....
School of Black Neons
Advantage: These aren't going to breed, easy to access information, reasonably hardy. And they look quite good.
Drawback: Well, it does feel a bit like the safe option... And there is a risk of them being overbred and hence weakened.
School of Cochu's Blue Tetra
Advantage: Beautiful colouring- you couldn't see anything more lovely than that sudden flash of blue.
Drawbacks: School would have to be smaller as they are a bit bigger than neons. Have been told these can be quite sensitive. They might not like my water (hard, alkaline). And- don't they waddle a bit?
School of Black phantoms
Advantage: Love the way the males display to the females.
Drawback: Colouring a bit dull. Have read they can be prone to disease. Maybe won't like my water so much.
School of Emperor tetras
Advantage: handsome+ display nicely
Drawback: take up a little more space, no big deal in this tank
School of Lamp-eye panchax.
Advantage: look good, no particular preference for soft water
Drawback: again, have heard they can be sensitive
Or, final option, keep this tank space on hold until such a day as I can get hold of a suitable trio of:
Goodeids, probably the Zoogeneticus tequila (I can always shuffle around the guppies etc to other tanks)
What would you do, folks? I am torn between a desire to specialise (livebearers), a desire to try out more of the common species, play the field, before I settle down (black neons or phantoms) and a desire to try something totally different (panchax).
My earlier idea was to add to this a trio of pearl gouramis and a school of black neons. I have given up on the gouramis for the time being, as I realise I need more space for fry grow-out etc+ I like lightly stocked tanks. But I could still fit in one moderate school of smallish fish and not feel cramped. So what would you do of the following:
Trio of Black-bellied limias
Advantage: Like their looks, a chance to expand my interest in livebearers, which seems to be where I'm going, have never kept a limia species before. And they seem to be very good swimmers, which I find attractive. Can be kept as a trio.
Drawbacks: can I cope with yet another breeding species? Seeing that the porthole fry are nearly mature already, and the bristlenoses are ensconced in their cave....
School of Black Neons
Advantage: These aren't going to breed, easy to access information, reasonably hardy. And they look quite good.
Drawback: Well, it does feel a bit like the safe option... And there is a risk of them being overbred and hence weakened.
School of Cochu's Blue Tetra
Advantage: Beautiful colouring- you couldn't see anything more lovely than that sudden flash of blue.
Drawbacks: School would have to be smaller as they are a bit bigger than neons. Have been told these can be quite sensitive. They might not like my water (hard, alkaline). And- don't they waddle a bit?
School of Black phantoms
Advantage: Love the way the males display to the females.
Drawback: Colouring a bit dull. Have read they can be prone to disease. Maybe won't like my water so much.
School of Emperor tetras
Advantage: handsome+ display nicely
Drawback: take up a little more space, no big deal in this tank
School of Lamp-eye panchax.
Advantage: look good, no particular preference for soft water
Drawback: again, have heard they can be sensitive
Or, final option, keep this tank space on hold until such a day as I can get hold of a suitable trio of:
Goodeids, probably the Zoogeneticus tequila (I can always shuffle around the guppies etc to other tanks)
What would you do, folks? I am torn between a desire to specialise (livebearers), a desire to try out more of the common species, play the field, before I settle down (black neons or phantoms) and a desire to try something totally different (panchax).
