Next Fish: More Danios, Or Something Else?

[Autonerd]

I'm cycling my 15 gallon tank and am down to one zebra danio (see Banging my head against a wall). This Old Spouse suggested adding more fish to speed up the cycle.

You guys have been telling me that Danios aren't the best choice for my 15g tank. So the question is, should I buy the danio more tank-mates, or switch to something else?

Ideally I'd like to get a couple of small schools of very small fish, one for upper tank and one for mid-tank, and maybe some shrimp for the bottom end. Wife likes neon tetras but I don't know if that's a good fish for this stage. I am looking for color and (hopefully) some schooling action.

Can you folks offer some suggestions?

Thanks and I appreciate all the help for newbies like me.

Aaron

 

[Man of fish]

Neons are sensitive from all the breeding and breeding and breeding and breeding and breeding and breeding etc. They do and shouldn't be put in an aquarium that's not cycled and at least 6 months old. Maybe some corys, cardinal tetras, similar to neons, but most of these are wild caught do not inbreeding and immune system weakening. harlequins could also be good. Just my opinions.
I'd do:
6 corys:I like Julii, peppered and panda
6 cardinal tetras
6 harlequin rasboras
5-10 ghost shrimp

 

[Fishy friend2]

I have a 15 gallon and I plan to stock it with
8 Pygmy cories
12 neon tetras, but if i were you i would go with cardinal tetras
3 male guppies
3 male endlers
4 ghost shrimp
And one Betta
IMO this stocking looks really well in a nice planted tank with sand
Here is a pic of it

 

[Wills]

Hi if you are into your schooling fish and want three layers there is a great micro community you could look into. Something like

6 Sparkling Gourami or male Enders (or 3 of each)
8 Galaxy Rasboras or Ember Tetras
8 Pygmy Cories
4/5 Cherry Shrimp (and let them breed)

I had a quick look at your dilema thread, Ive got to say I agree with eagles aquarium, if you can take back the 1 Danio and move to fishless cycling its going to open up a lot more options to you stocking wise in the future as Danios really are too large and active for a tank this small (though again most LFS would agree with this)

Being really harsh but think of it this way you have just spent either close to or above £100 on this tank and its not spanning out how you want it so all thats happening is its stressing you out and giving you a bumpy start to the hobby as well as putting this lone Danio through a reasonable amount of stress being in a cycling tank and being alone.

I think the best two routes are either get more Zebra Danios for now to cycle with as the micro fish I mentioned would not survive a fish in cycle and then take them back when its time to stock with the fish you actually want to keep or take this one back and crack on with a fishless cycle. I would recommend the latter its just the most stress free for both parties.

Hope its helped
Wills

 

[Autonerd]

Appreciate all the suggestions. Sounds like there are some really neat stocking options.

I returned the danio today and bought a bottle of pure ammonia.

Aaron

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

[Wills]

Excellent news

Wills