Stocking 38 Gallon Bowfront

[Nolan2424]

Hello everybody, i have been reading the forums here for a while, great site! but i just now created an account and really wanted some advice for possible ways to stock this tank. It has been cycling for about 5 weeks now and all the water stats are spot on. I really can't make up my mind as to what i want.. so i was wondering, What do you think would make a good fit for this tank?

I know the possibilities are less because of the bowfront. But in terms of Dithers/Top level, Bottom dwellers, and a sort of centerpiece fish/pair, what do you think would be some good combinations?? I enjoy some mild aggression, but nothing that will get too out of control ( which i know many times depends on the individual fish, but just speaking generalities. ) Thanks everyone so much for your advice / ideas!

 

[snowflake311]

I have a Planted 36 Gal bow front tank. Here is my stocking to give you an idea of what could work.

1 Keyhole
2 Bolivian rams
6 X-ray tetras
1 clown pleco
1 BN pleco


This set up works great. I also put my male betta in the tank because I had to use his tank for some tiny fry. He was freaked out at first but is doing surprisingly well now. Once the fry grow he will get his tank back.

Other fish you could keep are Golden dwarf, Smiling acara, and Apistogramma would be fine in that size tank.

 

[Nolan2424]

i decided to go with two oscars, a jack dempsey, and two severums.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Very funny.........

You were joking right? the Tank isn't big enough for any one of those fish individually!

 

[likescichlids]

i decided to go with two oscars, a jack dempsey, and two severums.

lol. i think not.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

lol...

 

[Joller]

might as well have bought a can of tuna from the supermarket

 

[Nolan2424]

huh? the man at petsmart said they only need 30 gallons.

 

[Joller]

well thats bad advice to give, they're all quite large territorial fish.

 

[likescichlids]

u could have a dwaf community tank with a dwaf pike, keyholes, Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid.

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

huh? the man at petsmart said they only need 30 gallons.

Didnt realise you were being serious!!

Oscars need 75 gallon for 1 fish
Severums 55 gallon for 1 fish (i personally think 75)
JD's 55 gallon for 1 fish

You will need a gigantic tanik to keep these guys together long term.

 

[holidayinn]

Hi, a nice stocking but really only suitable for a 6 foot tank 150gallon+ L/T. With the size tank you have, probably better to research smaller cichlids/dwarf cichlids then add more community tropical fish, cories etc.

 

[Nolan2424]

haha don't worry, i'm kidding. I got 6 tiger barbs, 6 buenos aires tetra, 2 keyholes, and a yellow spotted pleco? thats what it was labeled anyways.

But i am going to pick up a 75 gallon today, would a red blood parrot, severum, and green terror possibly work?

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

^ Yeh could work get the Green Terror alot smaller than the others tho....or get the Sev and parrit first and keep them for a few months.

Some Tiger Barbs would be a good dither for that tank to.