Stocking My Tank... I Need Help!

[Fishkrazy1]

Ok here it is, a 55 gallon tank ready to go fully cycled and now I just need fish... The guy at my LFS recommended neons and harlequins and mabye some rams... I like the idea but here's my stock idea any comments and advice would be greatly apriciated and helpful!

15-20 Neon Tetra (regular or Cardinal)
15-20 Harlequin Rosbaras
1 Pleco
2 Clown Loaches
2 Yoyo Botais
5 Cory Cats
and 3-5 Blue or Bulivian Rams...

I wanted to get balas(2-3) instead of the rams, but somebody in the forums told me they'd be too big for my 55 gallon, what about silver dollars? They look nice and I was thinking about a school of 3-5 instead of the rams... would this work? or is a 55 gallon too small even for silver dollars? I know the tetras and bottom dwelers are fine, but I still need some help!! Another thought... Would hatchet fish be a good idea??

 

[tropicman]

You really want to get some Kuhli Loaches instead of yo-yo loaches because they are so much acer i put a piece of piping in my gravel buried and at first they would not go near it but once they settled in they are in there all the time and they are just so amazing they would be amazing fish trist me

 

[Fishkrazy1]

Kuhli loaches , although nice, don't compete to yoyo loaches in my opinion, Yoyo's are more colorful and they have the same basic personality and care requirements...

 

[stang1]

Clown loaches as far as I know are best kept in groups but you should have a minimum of at least three.

 

[Fishkrazy1]

They can be kept solitary aswell! please do research

 

[stang1]

I have done my research thank you! Maybe you should do yours.
We were looking at getting clown loaches for our 42g and realised that the tank was too small, but while researching, it has been said by different sites and our lfs that they are best kept in groups of at least 3 or more as they tend to do better in a group. I have also read posts on this forum where the same has been said again.

 

[n3ont3tra]

What kind of plec are you thinking of? It'll probably be okay if it's a bristlenose, but if it's a common, no way. They get up to 2ft and need HUGE tanks, because of the waste they produce.

 

[Fishkrazy1]

I already have a common pelco 10"-12" and stang... I work in a fish store, so I think I know a bit about loaches as Clown loaches are among my favorite... and I don't know why you took such offense, www.aqualandpetsplus.com, type it in and look up clown loaches, you don't see them over 1ft unless the tank is MASSIVE (ie like 300 gallons or more), this is also because in the wild they have more food than they do in captivity...

Anyways, I'll be selling my big pleco to my LFS soon enough, unless I get my 110gallon sooner than later... regardless, he's (my big plec) in the tank currently and staying in it for now.

 

[stang1]

I already have a common pelco 10"-12" and stang... I work in a fish store, so I think I know a bit about loaches as Clown loaches are among my favorite... and I don't know why you took such offense, www.aqualandpetsplus.com, type it in and look up clown loaches, you don't see them over 1ft unless the tank is MASSIVE (ie like 300 gallons or more), this is also because in the wild they have more food than they do in captivity...

Anyways, I'll be selling my big pleco to my LFS soon enough, unless I get my 110gallon sooner than later... regardless, he's (my big plec) in the tank currently and staying in it for now.

You wonder why I took offense? Maybe telling me to research!
Tropicalfish4u.co.uk one of our sponsors.
Freshaquarium.about.com.
Wikepedia.org
Thetropicaltank.co.uk
Shall I continue.....
Oh and looking at that website it also points out that they are best kept in groups.
I didn't question tank size, I pointed out that they should be kept in groups

 

[Fishkrazy1]

woops! sorry man read that like you were saying " you need a minimum of 3 and your tank isn't big enough" My bad BUT you also said that a 42gallon tank was too small for clown loaches... I've got 1 in a 29 gallon and he loves it! (he'll be moved to the 55 Friday) But anyways sorry man, so do you think that my stock is fine?

 

[Fishkrazy1]

Also, your listing these sites... well according to Freshaquarium.about.com... look at the specs of the clown loach...
Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus
Family: Cobitidae
Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo
Adult Size: 6 inches in captivity
Social: Peaceful schooling fish
Lifespan: 15+ years
Tank Level: Mid, Bottom dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon
Diet: Omnivore, eats most foods
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Intermediate

Notice the tank size??? so you did have room in your 42gallon for atleast 2... Also 2 is a school... not a very big one though lol

 

[stang1]

woops! sorry man read that like you were saying " you need a minimum of 3 and your tank isn't big enough" My bad BUT you also said that a 42gallon tank was too small for clown loaches... I've got 1 in a 29 gallon and he loves it! (he'll be moved to the 55 Friday) But anyways sorry man, so do you think that my stock is fine?

No problem.
I've read on a couple of sites that my tank would be too small but you'll have to double check with other members.
As for your stocking, it really would be worth getting at least one more Clown loach just to keep them happy. Harelequins and neons are a great choice of fish, I have some in my community tank and they all get along fine.
Yoyo's, cories and rams I don't have much experience with so I can't help you there.

 

[Fishkrazy1]

alright I know my yoyo's will school with my clown loach, I already have 1 clown loach and 2 yoyos and they're schooling so , also 5 corries right now going to get 3 more peppered as I have 1 peppered and 4 juliis... That just leaves me with getting the Cardinals and harlequins... then MABYE Rams, or something else that looks really nice... I've heard that cardinals get along nicely with angles because they grow bigger than neons and the angles won't eat them... is this true?

 

[stang1]

alright I know my yoyo's will school with my clown loach, I already have 1 clown loach and 2 yoyos and they're schooling so , also 5 corries right now going to get 3 more peppered as I have 1 peppered and 4 juliis... That just leaves me with getting the Cardinals and harlequins... then MABYE Rams, or something else that looks really nice... I've heard that cardinals get along nicely with angles because they grow bigger than neons and the angles won't eat them... is this true?

Do you know, I have no idea!
I've heard of people having their neons eaten but not really cardinals. Although with them being similar I would have thought the same problem would arise.
I'm not going to convince you about that Loach am I.......

 

[Fishkrazy1]

lolz... you might I'm thinking about it but I'll see how 2 fair for the time being (a little strapped for cash and they go for 7.99-10.99 here *rolls eyes* I want to try keeping my angles (I currently have 4 of them) in the 55, was going to put in tomorrow before I get the cardinals Friday, but still not sure hmmm I just posted a new topic to find out, hopfully someone will respond on that one