Opinions On Top Dwellers

[tenohfive]

My better half actually showed an interest in my 125L long community tank the other day and pointed out that none of the existing fish seem to go near the top of the tank - the more active ones stay around the middle of the tank. So I've decided to make an addition.

The options I'm considering are:

Gourami (probably dwarves, I've always fancied them but never kept them.)
Pseudomugil furcatus - Forktail Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil signifer - Pacific Blue Eye

I'm really quite easy in either case, and am open to other options if suggested. But I've already ruled out danio's (they'll just school with my rainbows, probably around the middle.)

Current (relevant) stocking list:
Praecox rainbows
Pentazona barbs
Peacock gobies
GBR's.

Anyone have any thoughts on which I should go for?

 

[matt_storey]

Hatchet fish?

 

[tenohfive]

They're an option I suppose, but (compared to the alternatives) they're a little bland.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I had 5 dwarf gourami who all died of the Mysterious Dwarf Gourami Disease. I'm not familiar with your other choices except to agree with how great they look.

 

[Rogue4Fish]

I've got a Dwarf and top be honest, I wouldn't say he's a top dweller. He's more mid to bottom.

I've also got preacox with Bosemani's and they're all mid to top.

If I had the choice all over again, I'd probably go with a rainbow setup. They're all gorgeous.

 

[soybean]

In my experience dwarf gouramis are anything-but-the-top dwellers, even with floating plants. Still a lovely fish to have.
Not familiar with the others though.

 

[This Old Spouse]

The dwarfs I had usually stayed in the top third of the tank. I just loved them and I miss them now. Who knows ... I may try them again sometime if I can ever get this tank to mellow out.

 

[tenohfive]

As I say, I've already got rainbows (praecox) and they stay around the middle of the tank and I can't get away with boesmani's.

Okay, dwarf gourami is an option anyway (I've always wanted to keep them, and the setup is mature enough to give them a fighting chance) but I may look at a single male and write him out of the top dweller category.

Any thoughts on Fork Tail or Pacific Blue Eye? From what I can establish the behaviour and needs of the two are similar (although the fork Tail would better suit my water chemistry - it's more tolerant of high pH/hard water) so I'm veering that way right now.

 

[Squidward]

How about Hatchet Fish or Halfbeaks?

I would suggest Butterfly fish if you like something a bit different, but am not sure some of your smaller rainbows will be ok with them.

 

[Rogue4Fish]

As I say, I've already got rainbows (praecox) and they stay around the middle of the tank and I can't get away with boesmani's.

Okay, dwarf gourami is an option anyway (I've always wanted to keep them, and the setup is mature enough to give them a fighting chance) but I may look at a single male and write him out of the top dweller category.

Any thoughts on Fork Tail or Pacific Blue Eye? From what I can establish the behaviour and needs of the two are similar (although the fork Tail would better suit my water chemistry - it's more tolerant of high pH/hard water) so I'm veering that way right now.

Sorry, I was gearing you towards the additional rainbow fish, not bosemani's in particular.

 

[Carlovel1]

I would say go for the Dwarf Gourami-add a bit more colour to the tank
Or even better, the diesase-resistant Honey Gourami.
A sneaky thing I do with my Gouramis is to overfeed them. That way they gain your trust and think you will feed them 24/7 (which you shouldn't). Which means that they hang at the top of the tank. ATM I have around 10 (healthy) different Gourami species, majority of which are surface dwellers

 

[Bazza57]

My better half actually showed an interest in my 125L long community tank the other day and pointed out that none of the existing fish seem to go near the top of the tank - the more active ones stay around the middle of the tank. So I've decided to make an addition.

The options I'm considering are:

Gourami (probably dwarves, I've always fancied them but never kept them.)
Pseudomugil furcatus - Forktail Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil signifer - Pacific Blue Eye

I'm really quite easy in either case, and am open to other options if suggested. But I've already ruled out danio's (they'll just school with my rainbows, probably around the middle.)

Current (relevant) stocking list:
Praecox rainbows
Pentazona barbs
Peacock gobies
GBR's.

Anyone have any thoughts on which I should go for?

If you want something a bit different, how about anableps anableps AKA frogeyes?
They are livebearers, grow to around 4" a bit weird to look at will stand brackish or freshwater, & are quite peaceful.

 

[Caprichoso]

I have a large school of white cloud mountain minnows and they are always at the top and love the current. Great in a community tank and are very active and nicely coloured. They are very hardy fish and stay on the smaller side so you can have more of them. Dwarf gourami tend to be bottom dwellers unlike the pearls. My honey gourami sometimes hang around the top.

 

[mrscullen5373]

I would always recommend Honey Gouramis when it comes to the dwarf gouramis

Far more peaceful than the dwarf gourami especially when breeding, however everyone always pics the dwarf's because they are pretty but i LOVE the honeys
Mine stay near the top alot actually

On a side note do you lot recommend Dwarf Rainbows?
I am stocking a new tank and i am yet to be persuaded as to whether they are good fish.

 

[elisew]

I found the Celebes Rainbowfish to be excellent top dwellers when I had my community tank. They`re lovely to look at and pretty busy but always peaceful

http/www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=celebesrainbowfish