Stocking Suggestions

K_Hedin · Jul 28, 2011

Any suggestions for fish to go with 1 columbian shark (6-7 inches), 2 green sailfin mollies, 2 black mollies, 8 platies, 1 swordtail, 1 guppy, 6 peppered cory and 5 black skirt tetra. It is a 55 gallon tank. I would like to get 6 more peppered cory at some point and try and breed them in a 10 gallon that I will setup in the future. Looking for something that is a little larger and could be a centerpiece fish or a pair to make the centerpiece.

thanks.

N0body Of The Goat · Jul 28, 2011

Is a ~20cm adult Columbian Shark not large enough for this setup?

Don't these sharks need a progressively more brakish (perhaps even ending in marine) levels of salt in their tank water?
http

/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/4b.html

While some livebearers do well in mildy brakish setups, those Peppered Corydoras will not.

K_Hedin · Jul 28, 2011

The shark generally hangs out in the back of the tank and hides. I have read he needs a brackish setup but he seems ok for now. I want to get rid of him but the wife won't let me. At some point I am sure he will have to go though. I don't see myself running a 120 gallon brackish setup anytime soon.

minnnt · Jul 29, 2011

I would rehome him tbh. Just because he 'seems' fine doesn't mean he is... Living in incorrect conditions will shorten his life and leave him open to illness and disease. I would rehome him then look for a proper centrepiece fish.

A nice Cichlid of some sort maybe the way to go. I wouldn't go with an Angel or something like that though as your Black Skirt Tetra's can be quite nippy from my experience and their long flowing fins may be too much of a temptation for them.

Personally (and i am biased!) i would look at something like a Thorichthys Ellioti or a Jade Eyed Cichlid. You could also look at a Honduran Red Point. All of these aren't particularly aggressive and aren't particularly shy either so should be a nice centrepiece fish in a 55 gallon setup. These should pose no threat to your livebearers. I would definately up your numbers of Corydoras to 12, they will thank you for it!