Picking My Fish

[BloodRed]

Hi guys, just found this forum and this is my first post here, so looking for lots of advice over the next few months/years on the wonders of tropical fish

Looking to get started with a Tropical tank sometime this year and need to start looking at fish for it. Obviously I will be getting these over a period of time (wont be throwing them all into the mix togeather) but was wonder about peoples opinions on the following:

I'm getting a 180 ltr (40 Gallon) tank and am looking at the following fish.

First Choice fish

Catfish
Flagtailed Catfish 5"
Clown Pleco (catfish) 5"

Cyprinids (2)
Burmese Border Loach, Botia Angelicus, Polka Dot Loach 5"

Livebearers
Guppy 2" (5) because they come in 5s
Black Molly 5" (2)

Characins
Neon Tetra 2" (5) because they come in 5s

I know there are too many fish here, but these are 'first choices', but it also depends on what I can get and when.

Other possibles Alternatives to above

Catfish (Instead of Clown Pleco)
Banjo (catfish) 6" or
Yellow-Spotted Pleco 6"

Livebearers (Instead of Guppy)
Butterfly Goodeid 3.5"

Characins
Black Widow Tetra 2"

Other
Red Zebra 4-5"

Was also thinking of trying to make the base half gravel half sand based for the catfish (especially if I get a Banjo) and just the usual plants and rocks etc.

Final question, can Siamese Fighting Fish live with any of the above? I know they can be aggresive and known to attack small fish, or are they better left alone?

 

[AmberMc]

By clownfish do you mean clown loach? The only clown fish I know of are saltwater.

 

[Matty P]

By clownfish do you mean clown loach? The only clown fish I know of are saltwater.

Yeh clownfish are saltwater.

 

[BloodRed]

Well spotted, it's late and I had a 3y/o climbing all over me. I think I was thinking of the clown loach, but they grow to about 12" i believe, shame because they are really nice.

PS Would love a Clown fish, but he wouldn't last long in a freshwater tank

 

[AmberMc]

Bettas (Siamese Fighters) are probably best to stay away from. Yes, they're personality really does determine whether they are safe community fish or not - but it's best not to test it.

 

[monica]

IF you do get guppies. Do not get females, get only males. Otherwise, they will take over the tank.

 

[BloodRed]

These are just generalisations, as I say it depends on what I can get from the store (they have quite a bit there though), mainly based this list on whats on this forum though.