small fish, big tanks...it's a different but interesting transition

[Magnum Man]

so, I've always had bigger fish in bigger tanks, after all I thought that's what they were for??? but over time I've come to like some of my bigger tanks with smaller fish... you have to learn how to look at them, but it may have started with my Hillstream tank, as I have several thriving tiny fish it that tank, that are easy to see, when they are "out", so you have to look for them... several are under or about an inch... this includes the cherry shrimp in that tank as well... choosing a bigger fish or two for these tanks, can be challenging... angel fish do not make good small fish tank mates despite their smaller mouths, as I found out in my 55 gallon South American Tetra tank ( another example of tanks of this type )

 

[Magnum Man]

my lil panda loach ( Yaoshania pachychilus ) is growing, but still just over an inch long, is highly active in the morning, and being as vibrant as it is, easy to see, and I really enjoy seeing it out... I'm thinking about adding a couple little Stiphodon goby's... this is a cooler tank, and I think there are a few that like the cooler temps

 

[GaryE]

My 120, 6 foot, 2 metre tank is a tetra tank. If you plant well, the tank seems livelier with small fish. There is stuff going on, and the tetras and Corys react the environment less as a trap and more as a place to live as they might in nature.

The Corys are the only fish above 3 cm in the whole large tank.

I used to keep Geophagus in it, and that was nice. But this is far nicer.

 

[Magnum Man]

I might be closer to a breeding group of cherry shrimp in my 55 gallon Hillstream tank, than I thought... they got shrimp cocktail tonight, and that brought 3 adult cherry shrimp out of hiding, and into the roots... funny the mature panda garras don't try to eat them

 

[plebian]

I have a group of blue neons (sometimes called false neons or green neons) in my 180 (along with a pair of discus). Cardinals used to be my favorite small fish, now it's blue neons. If it wasn't for my extremely likable discus pair, I'd seriously consider going small fish only.

 

[Magnum Man]

once I set up my 250, I'll be gently moving my angel that is in my 55 galllon Sourh American Tetra tank, and it's companion spotted silver dollar, and replace them with a large school of cardinals... while the angel doesn't mess with any of the other tetras, it just can't help itself around the bright colored cardinal, or brightly colored neo shrimp... I love the look of a dozen cardinals in that tank, unfortunately the angel loves them too, but to eat...