orange-colored top dwelling fish

[StinaUIUC]

I'm trying to find a species of orange colored, top dwelling, small (<3"), fairly inexpensive fish. Also, when I say top dwelling I mean stays near the top of the tank ALL the time...no bottom sleepers. It is to be housed with a blue crayfish...there was a high-fin swordtail in with him...but it tried to sleep on the bottom and the cray got him.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Hmm, that'll be a tough one. The upside-down butterfly.... lost train of thought. ANyways, taht fish. However, I don't know where it sleeps.

If you wanted fish in taht tank, I'd suggest losing the crayfish. The tank would look barren with just one inhabitant.

 

[StinaUIUC]

It actually looks fine with just the crayfish, and I want the cray more than the fish, I find him fascinating...I just want an orange and blue tank....lol I go the University of Illinois and those are our colors, I just thought it would be fun. An upside down butterfly would be a good thought...but they definitly aren't orange, so that would make the point moot. I don't need a fish...I just liked the idea and was wondering if there were any small, orange, top dwellers.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Sorry I can't help.

You might want to put your location down. People are getting together hear to do stuff (Shedd Aquarium last month).

So I guess orange won't work. Oh well. Another idea is plants, but like the butterfly, they're not orange. Good luck.

 

[StinaUIUC]

well thanks anyway...I will be putting a couple plants in the tank...a red dwarf waterlilly and a mossball. Neither is orange...lol I might just end up getting orange gravel...lol

btw...I did put up my location. Chicago isn't far...but I hate driving...lol

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Hm, I thought I didn't see it there before. My bad.

 

[melleth]

how about gold wonder killis? Mine stays on top all of the time. He is about 2.5 inches at about 2 years old. He is more yellow than orange but his tail has some orange highlights and some of his scales do too. They cost about $2-$3 each.

 

[StinaUIUC]

hmm...i'll see if they have any at my LFS and check them out. Thanks

 

[StinaUIUC]

any other ideas?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

You could get a big shoal of glow light tetra. I am not sure on the nature of crayfish though.

 

[Opcn]

platys stay at the top of the tank more often than swordtails. you could give them a try. Also no tetras at all. they all tend to sleep nearer to the bottom than other fish.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

platys stay at the top of the tank more often than swordtails. you could give them a try. Also no tetras at all. they all tend to sleep nearer to the bottom than other fish.

Cool, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Def]

FYI my platys sleep at the top, middle and almost on the bottom (although not directly on it, maybe 2 inches above). If you're looking for orange ones though, the coral sunset platys are really active, good looking and bright orange.

Disclaimer: I AM A NOOB.

 

[The-Wolf]

Yeah I'd go with Killiefish
I have just got a pair of Aphyosemion australe ond they stay at the top/middle of the tank. they are also very orange, well the males is the female looks to be more orangy/yellow.