Right... Selection Of Fish I Like...which To Avoid And How Many?

[Cheffi]

I'm setting up my first tank shortly it's a 66 uk gal tank. I have made a list of fish I like but would some kind person tell me any to avoid, numbers that I should have if I choose them and basically how many in total? I don't remember where I saw these but the site informs all of these are easy-mod easy and friendly. No doubt someone out there knows different Obviously I don't expect to be able to have ALL of them.

Dwarf Gourami
Kissing Gourami (olive green or pink)
Honey Gourami
Silver Shark
Zebra Danio
Killifish Aphyosemion Australi
Coolie Loach
Clown Loach
Zebra Danio
Rosy Barb
Red Rainbow
Boesemais Rainbow
Neon Rainbow
Banded Rainbow

 

[demonmagus]

I know the 'silver shark' needs to be in large groups, in a 125 gallon or up tank

 

[diademhill]

Kissing Gourami (olive green or pink) Too big -10"
Honey Gourami OK
Silver Shark Too big -14"+
Zebra Danio -ok
Killifish Aphyosemion Australi - species tank really
Coolie Loach -ok
Clown Loach Too big - look up Botia histrionica or Botia kubotai instead
Zebra Danio -again ok
Rosy Barb -ok
Red Rainbow - ok
Boesemais Rainbow -ok
Neon Rainbow -ok
Banded Rainbow -ok

I suggest you pick one or two rainbows & have a decent group rather than a pic'n'mix batch. You may like clown barbs instead of botias or clown loaches.
What are your tapwater parameters?

 

[demonmagus]

also, you may wanna try a biotope

 

[Cheffi]

Don't know my tapwater parameters yet as my test kit hasn't arrived that I ordered. Also water not even in tank yet so long way to go before fish go in but I like to be well prepared in advance.

Thanks for replies tho.

also, you may wanna try a biotope

Isn't that a discus? I would like to keep them eventually but I think for a beginner I might be a bit out of my depth with them.

 

[WayneVT08]

Don't know my tapwater parameters yet as my test kit hasn't arrived that I ordered. Also water not even in tank yet so long way to go before fish go in but I like to be well prepared in advance.

Thanks for replies tho.

also, you may wanna try a biotope

Isn't that a discus? I would like to keep them eventually but I think for a beginner I might be a bit out of my depth with them.

No they aren't. It's a type of enviroment. It's a region specific tank. Like amazon, you would have amazonian plants and amazonian fish, like a pirahna and such.

 

[demonmagus]

yeah, he is right, IMHO I think biotopes look much better than a jumble of community (with maybe one or two exceptions), however it is your tank

 

[dwarfgourami]

More important than a biotope IMO is the matching of fish temperaments. For instance, dwarf gouramis are fairly slow moving fish, who can be intimidated by very active zippy fish, like danios or rosy barbs. Also, gouramis are territorial, so one gourami male per tank is usually enough- but you can have several females in with him.

A 66 uk gallon tank is 79 US gallon (300 ltrs), is that really too small for clown loaches, diademhill? I suppose it might depend on the footprint.

 

[diademhill]

A 66 uk gallon tank is 79 US gallon (300 ltrs), is that really too small for clown loaches, diademhill? I suppose it might depend on the footprint.

Mine outgrew a 6'x2'x2' - about 180 US gallons.
They were 12"SL which meant they had to slow down to turn at the tank ends - too big for the tank IMO. I won't get any more until I have a tank of at least a 6'x30" footprint.
The 66g is large enough for a while but then what? Can the OP provide the tank they will need eventually?

Much better IMO to choose fish that will stay within the tank's capabilities.

Sue

 

[Cheffi]

[/quote]

No they aren't. It's a type of enviroment. It's a region specific tank. Like amazon, you would have amazonian plants and amazonian fish, like a pirahna and such.
[/quote]


Hmmmm now you've got me thinking. Didn't even know about this and yes it does appeal the thought of just having a couple of good specimens. Right now I'm off to find out what I can about biotope's altho pirhana are def out of the question I think they're ugly However if you wanna give me any advice please feel free as I'm very open to suggestions atm.

 

[annka5]

I personally think that tanks with activity in alll levels look best. So a mix of bottom, middle, and top dwellers always looks good.
You'd have that with Khuli loach (bottom) rainbows/barbs/whichever you go for (middle) and danio /gourami (upper levels).
Personally I don't find khuli that appealing, but thats purely my own taste (or lack of!!) - but I have heard that they tend to "vanish" into the substrate. Would you consider a different type of bottom-dweller instead to have more activity there?