Suggestions For Fish?

[Winterlily]

Well, it's time to decide what fish are going into the 55 gallon. I just don't know enough of the fish out there, so hope you can help. I will probably only keep 1 or 2 types of fish, rather than a true community tank. I'd rather, I think, have a few bigger fish (or fish who will grow to bigger fish!), than a whole bunch of small ones. I would like, though, to have at least 4-6 fish in there. Anything that gets so big that I could only have 1 or 2 won't work out so well.

Any suggestions for fish that might meet these "wants" ?
--I love the flat-bodied, round fish, like discus. But I know discus are really difficult to keep well - so definitely not for me at this point. But, that's the kind of "look" I like, if you see what I mean? I'm always drawn to fish like discus, silver dollars, even gold severum etc. Even like, on a smaller scale, the black- or white-skirt tetra type shape.
--I love different color variations so that if, for example, I had 6 fish of the same type in the tank, they might all look a bit different.
--Colorful is a huge plus. I know little about cichlids or all the various types, but this guy is just gorgeous - a bolivian Ram? See, that's why I need you guys to suggest types of fish!
--I won't be thrilled with aggressive fish that push each other around.
--I very much enjoy fish that have a "relationship" with their person - whether for food or not, will come right to the front when they see you, nibble on your finger when you put it in the tank, etc (maybe a piranha isn't for me...), really get to "know" you.
--The tank will be in my living room and I have a 3 year old. I definitely don't want skittish fish that, when you go up to the tank, run and hide.
--A fish that requires a real experienced hand, like discus for example, won't be a good choice just yet.
--We have very hard water and a ph in the tap water of about 7.5. I suppose the ph could be messed with a bit by adding wood etc, but still, there it is.

Angelfish were on my list of possibilities, but now I'm reading that they like/need soft water and a far lower ph than we have. So not sure that's doable either.

But... perhaps you guys can suggest some others for me to consider?

Thanks!

 

[Wills]

If you want personable fish go for cichlids without a doubt. These are the same family as discus but they all look quite different in looks but you get some amazing colours - I would stick with what are called New world cichlids which come from south and central america. If you wanted to go with 4-6 fish there are a lot of options, cichlids generaly are all teritorial to some extent but there are ways to distract them quite easily a good simple way to do this is by adding some dither fish like rainbow fish which are gorgeous in their own right and as a school become pretty personable to you as well so maybe a school of 4-5 of the mediums like the Bosmani Rainbow, Turqoise Rainbows or Red iranian Rainbows but all of the same type then a few medium/large cichlids but im a bit stumped at the moment for ideas so ill pass it to someone else now hee hee. But possibilities might be somthing like firemouths, kribs, ellioti, keyholes or indeed the rams think you would be ok with 2 pairs of rams in a tank of that size. Hope ive been some help Wills


*just re read and saw the bit about angels - technicaly they do need softwater but generaly most can be kept in general water with no problems Ive had a pair spawn in regular neutral water before and they raised the fry without my intervention But angelfish dont do quite so well in with other bigger cichlids usually they have lots of delacate fins to grab and bite.

 

[meguro]

4-6 angelfish (since you're after different colours and non-identical looking fish, pick a few different colour morphs eg. black, striped, zebra, platinum etc.)
2 or 4 bolivian rams (3 could cause problems)
6-8 flame tetra (these can sometime be hard to find if that happens try black widow instead)
10-12 cardinal tetra
either
6-9 corydoras OR
5-7 yoyo loaches (all the fish listed except these loaches are from south america, and no it doesn't matter if you decide to mix localities)

Make sure you buy your angelfish at a smallish size (and all of them as close to the same size as possible), or the cardinal tetras will be lunch. Once both fish grow from being small you shouldn't have any problems. Avoid neon tetras with angelfish, they look like cardinals but they're much smaller. Make sure you can tell the difference so you don't buy the wrong ones (sometimes they're mislabeled in the shop, or mixed in with each other). Also, don't be disappointed if your bolivian rams (or the ones in the shops you have a look at) don't look like the one in the picture. They really only colour up when settled after a while and when mature. Plus that picture is probably shopped a bit.

Your water parameters are nothing out of the ordinary, the above fish will be fine. Although, just how hard is "very hard" water? And how are you planning to cycle your tank?

I suggest a temperature of anywhere between 25-27C.

 

[Winterlily]

Meguro & Wills, thanks so much - excellent suggestions!

Quick question - in place of the cardinal tetras, would zebra danios be okay? Or are they too small?

As to cycling, I'll be doing a fishless cycle, but with a donation of mature media so hopefully it'll go relatively quickly.

Thanks!

 

[waterdrop]

Zebra danios are a very similar size, shape and bioload as cardinal tetras I'd say, so yes, in terms of total load count for your stocking level, a pretty even swap.

They are, of course, very different fish. Zebras are kind of like a type of minnow. They like to hang out at the top and skim around right beneath the surface, potentially moving very fast and intertwining among each other. The are very fluid in their motion and can have yellow hightlights at their fin edges when healthy and happy and perhaps after getting larger. They do indeed do better in larger groups but their shoaling, if you can call it that, is very different in character than that of tetras.
They also will calm down at times and explore the tank, often moving in small groups and even picking around at the substrate and tank objects down low.

Cardinals, by contrast, are much more comfortable at mid-depth levels in the tank and will only take food at the surface reluctantly, preferring that it fall to their level so they can dart around and scarf up small specs. I usually grind fine flake food and put my fingers below the surface to make sure this happens some for them. Cardinals can form a much tighter shoal than danios, especially when they have some mutual concern, like being a little scared by something or perhaps just at various times of day when they enjoy shoaling together, who knows! Its something to behold though as their colors are so striking. Cardinal and Neon colors (neons have a third, silver, color and a little less orange/red than cardinals) are notable because they will catch the eye of people who see your tank from across the room, before they even come up close to look.

Both of these fish are old standbys that have been used in freshwater tropical tanks for years and are good community fish overall, although both can do a little nipping under certain conditions but its nothing compared to other types of fish in general. Both types are quite interesting in their own ways and well worth having, in my opinion.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Winterlily]

Hmm, as I'd rather the tank be more calm than frenetic, I think the cardinals would be better for me with that. I've seen them school, and I totally agree, they are stunning when they do.

Now, I don't have to have "small" fish at all (right now I'm thinking angels and rams), and since I will have angels, am I better off without the smaller guys like cardinals and their potential nipping? Or is it really, mostly, a non-issue?

 

[Cdarmychi]

I have angels and neons together. I cant stress enough that what works for one may not work for another, but I got these angels when they were about nickel sized when I first started out and knew nothing. Tossed them in with a school of angels, and it went well. As the angels have grown, they have never bothered any of the neons. I have no doubt an adult angel in the same situation would have have a big dinner...but as babies they grew up with them and never considered them food. So it CAN work, but still, plan B's are nice.

I have to say though, these particular angels follow none of the species stereotypes. So who knows. But I am testing this theory with a new pair of juvies, that a non fishkeeper friend bought me so Ill let you know if I have issues LOL.

**just reread your post: My larger angels are in with rummynose tetras, neon tetras, glow light tetras, von rio tetras, long finned serpae tetras and an assortment of platties. Ive not seen any nipping, other then when the angels were thinking about pairing off. (A major rescape of the tank solved the problem, though I had to rip out hundreds of dollars of carpet plants lol)

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks so much! Okay... I think I have the potential stocking for that tank down, finally! Now, to get it completely set up and cycled!