Question For You Experts ?

[WendyinWichita]

I bought a 55 gal yesterday through the classifieds. No I didn't need a third 55, but the price was good, so now I just have to move some furniture..... Anyway, there are fish included ande my initial reaction is to trade them in at the LFS, but thought I would get some advice first. The tank came with 2 (big) corys (keepers for sure), 2 5" clown loaches (questionable), a couple of sorry painted glass fish (poor things) and some really ugly lemon tetras and 3 or 4 neons (keepers, if they survive the move.) It is the Loaches I am wondering about keeping. My current set up are primarily community (see my signature) How would these loaches integrate with the type of fish I enjoy? I would like to plant this new tank, so the loaches would most likely be rehomed into the tank with the Rainbows, there is a Pictus cat in there, (I would rehome him if i could only catch him). That tank is pretty well stocked, but I have recently added a Magnum 350 canister in addition to the Emperor 400 that is already there, so filtration isn't an issue. So what do you guys think. Keep em, or rehome em. They aren't very pretty, I believe the guy I bought the tank from didn't feed them properly as they are drab colored. He was feeding flake only.

 

[jkrekord]

clown loaches should be ok with the rainbows and pictus but theyre best kept in groups of 3+ and can grow to about a foot

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Lol i really like my lemon tetras! Unless you just have very bad specimens you will grow to like them when they colour up. The dark yellow and black in the finnage is quite wonderful!

 

[ncjharris]

As jk said.
The clowns will be ok, if kept in a bigger group and a big enough tank. I think you'd be pushing the stocking limit if you got enough clowns in your 55 gal
The neons should be kept in a bigger school.
From what I have read, LFS are keen to sell dyed fish, but less so to take them back (short life expectancy).

Good Luck

 

[WendyinWichita]

Thanks to those that replied. I decided to trade the Loaches in at the LFS. They were 6" at least. I got $10.00 for them, which I promptly spent + another $20 LOL. I know a lot of people like their loaches, but they just aren't my thing. The Lemon Tetras will get a chance, since the guy didn't give them any attention at all, I bet they will color up nicely. He couldn't remember the last time he did a water change. Poor fishies. Mine get 10 to 20% twice a week.