Stocking Help

hanny93 · Jun 1, 2011

Right I need all your help! I have a 16 gallon tank that i was going to just dismantle, but someone has offered to take the current inhabitants tomorrow, and I know I'll miss them so ive decided to get some more

I'll just give you the names of some fish I like, and if you could give me some help/advice I'd be grateful!

Harlequin rasboras
Galaxy rasboras
Rummy nose tetras
Silvertip tetras

Chequer barb
Cherry barb

Dwarf neon rainbow
Threadfin rainbow

Or if anyone could suggest similar sized fish in each category (mid swimmers/top dwellers)

StandbySetting · Jun 1, 2011

If it were me I'd go for a shoal of Trigonostigma espei instead of the Harlequins, I'd just keep it simple with a group of T.espei in a biotope planted set up.

hanny93 · Jun 1, 2011

Mm I suppose so, it's getting them though, I've never even heard of those before, and my lfs isnt the most varied.

StandbySetting · Jun 1, 2011

They're sometimes called lamb chop Rasbora's, there's another member of the genus called T.hengeli.

hanny93 · Jun 1, 2011

I like the T.hengeli's, but again, are they readily available in the UK?

StandbySetting · Jun 1, 2011

Both are readily available, T.hengeli seems more common however.

Tokis-Phoenix · Jun 1, 2011

Personally i'm a fan of Cherry Barbs so i'd go for those. They're small growing shoaling fish which love planted tanks and spend a lot of their time swimming about around the plants. The males are cherry coloured while the females are brown (its good to have 2-3 females per male). While they can shoal, when chilled out they'll space themselves out across the planted areas with males taking certain planted area's as their own (they invite females into their area's though they may chuck other males out- overall though there is almost no fighting though, they're very peaceful fish). They enjoy living with other peaceful tankmates (corys, other chilled out small shoaling fish, guppys, a single gourami etc).

hanny93 · Jun 1, 2011

Any websites where i can order them from? google has thrown up nothing that i can see

StandbySetting · Jun 1, 2011

Your local Maidenhead Aquatics should carry one of the two.

eaglesaquarium · Jun 1, 2011

SBS,

What do you like so much about the "lamb chop" rasbora as compared to the harlequin rasbora? Are they bigger/smaller, more bold, better schooling, etc.? Any insights would be appreciated, as I am looking at harlequin rasboras, but the lambchops are a bit cheaper from one of the suppliers I am looking at. $2.99 vs. $1.99 each.

stu40 · Jun 1, 2011

Hi
i've got the Hengli.They school tightly at the top for about 80% of the time.They are slightly smaller than Harlequin Rasboras.
My Rummy nosed behave the same, but in the bottom third.
And my silvertips just charge around like exocets nearly all the time.On occasion, the whole lot just surf together in the flow from my powerhead.
With silvertips, i found getting the balance between males & females key.When I had 2 males and 8 females, everthing was fine.Took in a 3rd male and it lead to fighting (even though i moved wood and rocks around).
Now i'm back to 2 + 8, the whole tank get along fine.

StandbySetting · Jun 1, 2011

The colouring is a lot more intense, they're a very deep copper colour and the difference is noticeable, they're also slightly smaller in size fully grown, google the following: Trigonostigma heteromorpha, Trigonostigma hengeli and Trigonostigma espei to compare them.

eaglesaquarium · Jun 1, 2011

Thanks.

The T. espei look AMAZING! I see what you mean. The T. hengeli don't seem much more colorful than the T. heteromorpha. The T. heteromorpha has more muted color, but it is all over, while the T. hengeli has brighter color, but over less of its body. The T. espei though are truly brilliant!!! Unfortunately for me, the pictures from my supplier seem to be T. hengeli, even though they are listed under the name T. espei. :sad: