Top Dewelling Fish

ghostshrimp101 · Jan 8, 2009

k so here is my problem i have alot of middle to bottom swimming fish. i was thinking of adding a top dwelling fish. this is what i have in their already 1 BGK ( about 4-5 in), 2 blue white tipped rainbow sharks, 6 black skirts, 6 lemon tetras, six or so ghost shrimp, and 3 synadontis. what could i add that is colorful and stays on the top?

shroob · Jan 9, 2009

What size tank have you got? I can see problems with the rainbow shark as they are aggressive towards each other (atleast mine were).

Pure surface dwellers could be hatchet fish, african butterfly fish or yellow panchax. Though beware the hatchet fish spook easily and will jump, so will the butterfly fish so a tight fitting lid is essential. The butterfly fish and panchax are also predatory towards smaller fish so something to consider. The ghost shrimp might also become snacks depending on which synodontis you have.

Anguilla82 · Jan 9, 2009

The BGK is also predatory so as it grows might snack on some of the other inhabitants.

as far as surface dwellers go, i've got danios in mine which are constantly moving so might be less of a snack for your BGK and catfish.

ghostshrimp101 · Jan 10, 2009

its a 50 gal, yeah ive heard that so far they are not too bad i haven't noticed and squobles. i'm not too worried about the tetras or the ghost shrimp ( i got the ghost shrimp for the BGK as a snack if it wanted)
im not a huge fan of the danio's. i hatchet fish could be an idea, i had orignally wanted to get a needle nose gar, but it seems like they don't do well in the tanks.
thanks for your ideas

oakes · Jan 10, 2009

I used to have some wrestling halfbeaks which stay right at the surface. They are not very colourful though or noticeable unless you have a tall stand with your tank at eye level.
Alot of the livebearers guppys/mollies/swordtails spend a fair amount of time near the surface.

Jazzzz · Jan 11, 2009

the sharks get agressiv as they get older fine when babies

ghostshrimp101 · Jan 11, 2009

yeah i know about the sharks i'll play it out if they get to aggressive i will will hopefully have a larger tank set up to move the other fish and add more aggessive fish with the sharks or find a new home for one or both depending. they were a spur of the moment buy it a bad habit for me.