Tropical fish suggestions?

[Rachel524]

Hello! I am new to the tropical fish world. We took on a 37 g aquarium from a friend which includes a 6-7 inch gold severum, an angelfish, and 2 flying foxes. I am really wanting to add another fish or 2 (that are not small enough for the severum to eat) and that are preferably colorful (not dyed).

Does anyone have any fish suggestions?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Can you tell us the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

Any idea what the general hardness (GH) and pH of your water is?

You could possibly add some rainbowfish but they need water with a GH above 150ppm and a pH above 7.0. They also need to be kept in groups of 6 or more.

One of the bigger species of gourami (blue, gold, pearl, pink kissing or snakeskin) might be alright. These are fine on their own.

You forgot to add the image too

 

[Byron]

I wold not recommend adding any other fish. There are issues with what are now in this tank. I realize this is not your doing as the tank came with the fish. A 37g will not be sufficient size for what is there now. In such cases it is often best to leave things as they are, though the fish are the losers. Or if you can re-home the fish to a reliable store or another aquarist with the facilities to house them perhaps?

 

[Rachel524]

I wold not recommend adding any other fish. There are issues with what are now in this tank. I realize this is not your doing as the tank came with the fish. A 37g will not be sufficient size for what is there now. In such cases it is often best to leave things as they are, though the fish are the losers. Or if you can re-home the fish to a reliable store or another aquarist with the facilities to house them perhaps?

Thanks for the response! What, if I may ask, are the exact issues with the fish in there now? They seem to all get along for the most part. The severum is just very much the dominant one in the tank, and I've noticed sometimes that the angelfish and severum pick on each other sometimes. But it's very mild behavior. And the flying foxes usually stay out of everyone's way and hang out mostly on the bottom.

 

[Byron]

As you have asked, I will detail as best I can, starting with the two Flying Foxes. Confusion abounds with this fish, Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus if this is a true FF. It is frequently confused with the true Siamese Algae Eater and sometimes the False Siamese Algae Eater; the Flying Fox has white-edged red and black coloured fins, not clear fins as in the afore-mentioned species.

The Flying Fox is solitary in its habitat and thus should be kept singly in the aquarium; it is very territorial with its own kind and should be kept as a solitary specimen as it will attack its own kind, and will get more aggressive with age. [I'll come back to this aspect.] Otherwise, it is a relatively peaceful fish that can be kept in a community of barbs, danios, gouramis, rasbora, and larger tetras. Substrate fish must be very carefully chosen, and even then the individual temperament of the subject fish may or may not tolerate them; catfish and any species in the related genera must be avoided. Near-substrate fish such as cichlids should not be housed with this species.

The Severum, Heros efasciatus, also has a confused naming. Many will call it Heros severum, but this species is very rarely seen, if ever, in the hobby. All varieties (gold, albino, red, etc) are derived from H. efasciatus. This fish will attain 12 inches (30 cm), though in the aquarium 8-10 inches is usual. But, that is still a huge fish for a 37 gallon tank. Some individuals become downright nasty as they age; it is reported that keeping them in a small group in a large tank can alleviate or reduce this, but there is never a guarantee. It should not be housed with angelfish, especially in so small (for both fish) a space. The "pick on each other" is not surprising, but this may suddenly--often literally overnight--become deadly.

Which brings me to the appearance that these fish all get along. This we cannot ever know for certain. Natural behavioural instincts are programmed into the species DNA, and we are not going to change them. However, we can influence them, always for the worse, in various ways determined by the environment. Environment meaning water parameters, tank size, décor, other species, etc.

Most fish react to adverse environmental conditions through increased aggression. However, sometimes this goes in reverse, and they become withdrawn. In some situation they may harbour pent-up stress until it suddenly becomes too much for them, and they either die or lash out. The "calm before the storm" should not be taken as "getting along" though it usually is. The fish are having problems not of their making, and we should attempt to alleviate this.

 

[Colin_T]

... What, if I may ask, are the exact issues with the fish in there now? ...

The main issue is the size of the fish and the size of the tank. Big fish in a possible smallish tank. Adding more fish could cause some problems to water quality (easily remedied with regular water changes and gravel cleaning), and territories that have already been established by the severum and angelfish. Territories being a big issue with big cichlids.

 

[Rachel524]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Can you tell us the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

Any idea what the general hardness (GH) and pH of your water is?

You could possibly add some rainbowfish but they need water with a GH above 150ppm and a pH above 7.0. They also need to be kept in groups of 6 or more.

One of the bigger species of gourami (blue, gold, pearl, pink kissing or snakeskin) might be alright. These are fine on their own.

You forgot to add the image too

Thanks for the response! I tried loading the image but it kept saying the file was too large . And I couldn't edit my post to take that part about adding the photo. Maybe cause I'm on my phone?

Anyways. Tank dimensions are 30 x 12 x 22. GH is 60 and pH is between 7-7.5. So probably no rainbow fish .

 

[Rachel524]

As you have asked, I will detail as best I can, starting with the two Flying Foxes. Confusion abounds with this fish, Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus if this is a true FF. It is frequently confused with the true Siamese Algae Eater and sometimes the False Siamese Algae Eater; the Flying Fox has white-edged red and black coloured fins, not clear fins as in the afore-mentioned species.

The Flying Fox is solitary in its habitat and thus should be kept singly in the aquarium; it is very territorial with its own kind and should be kept as a solitary specimen as it will attack its own kind, and will get more aggressive with age. [I'll come back to this aspect.] Otherwise, it is a relatively peaceful fish that can be kept in a community of barbs, danios, gouramis, rasbora, and larger tetras. Substrate fish must be very carefully chosen, and even then the individual temperament of the subject fish may or may not tolerate them; catfish and any species in the related genera must be avoided. Near-substrate fish such as cichlids should not be housed with this species.

The Severum, Heros efasciatus, also has a confused naming. Many will call it Heros severum, but this species is very rarely seen, if ever, in the hobby. All varieties (gold, albino, red, etc) are derived from H. efasciatus. This fish will attain 12 inches (30 cm), though in the aquarium 8-10 inches is usual. But, that is still a huge fish for a 37 gallon tank. Some individuals become downright nasty as they age; it is reported that keeping them in a small group in a large tank can alleviate or reduce this, but there is never a guarantee. It should not be housed with angelfish, especially in so small (for both fish) a space. The "pick on each other" is not surprising, but this may suddenly--often literally overnight--become deadly.

Which brings me to the appearance that these fish all get along. This we cannot ever know for certain. Natural behavioural instincts are programmed into the species DNA, and we are not going to change them. However, we can influence them, always for the worse, in various ways determined by the environment. Environment meaning water parameters, tank size, décor, other species, etc.

Most fish react to adverse environmental conditions through increased aggression. However, sometimes this goes in reverse, and they become withdrawn. In some situation they may harbour pent-up stress until it suddenly becomes too much for them, and they either die or lash out. The "calm before the storm" should not be taken as "getting along" though it usually is. The fish are having problems not of their making, and we should attempt to alleviate this.

Very informative reply! Thanks so much for the info. I think I may take your advice and just keep what's in there for now. And maybe get some new decor to satiate my desire for something new. Would love some live plants, but the severum just eats/destroys them.

 

[Colin_T]

If you set the camera resolution to 2MB, the images will be smaller and should fit on the forum. Don't forget to increase the resolution afterwards tho or other pictures you take will be small too

If the tank is only 30 inches long x 12 inches wide and 22 inches high, then do not add any new fish unless you move the angel and severum into a bigger tank.

Small rainbowfish could live in this size tank but they would be too small and probably get eaten by the severum or the angelfish.

-------------------------
You can add plastic plants and the severum won't eat them.

If you feed the severum lots of plant matter, green leafy vegetables like spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, etc, it will be less inclined to eating the live plants. Make sure any fruits/ veges are free of chemicals and wash well before using.
Do not feed onion or onion relatives (leeks, spring onion, shallots, garlic) or potatoe, because these can poison the water.

You can grow duckweed on the surface or outside in a pond and the severum will eat that too.

You can also use goldfish pellets or vegetable flaks/ pellets for them. Spirulina and Wheat germ pellets are sold by some petshops.

 

[Rachel524]

The main issue is the size of the fish and the size of the tank. Big fish in a possible smallish tank. Adding more fish could cause some problems to water quality (easily remedied with regular water changes and gravel cleaning), and territories that have already been established by the severum and angelfish. Territories being a big issue with big cichlids.

Ok, this makes sense. I told my tank size and fish I have to the guy at the fish store and he didn't think adding more fish would be overstocking it at all. He had recommended an electric blue jack dempsy, parrot fish, and a few others. Tried both the EBJD and the parrot, both of which I ended up returning. The severum would've easily eaten the EBJD and the parrot was getting antagonized by the severum. Pretty sure the guy just wanted to sell some fish.

 

[Colin_T]

Yes the pet shop just wanted to sell you stuff.

I used 30 inch tanks to breed fish and keep a single pr of dwarf cichlids in them. The cichlids I kept only grew to about 4 inches. You have a 6 inch severum and an angelfish in that tank and that is really pushing it for space. Adding more fish, especially cichlids, would probably lead to a mess.

If you could move the fish into a bigger tank then you could add some new tank mates but it would need to be quite a bit bigger. Tanks that are 6 foot long or bigger, make great homes for adults severums and angelfish and give you space to add a few tank mates. However, not everyone has space for a 6ft tank

 

[Rachel524]

Yes the pet shop just wanted to sell you stuff.

I used 30 inch tanks to breed fish and keep a single pr of dwarf cichlids in them. The cichlids I kept only grew to about 4 inches. You have a 6 inch severum and an angelfish in that tank and that is really pushing it for space. Adding more fish, especially cichlids, would probably lead to a mess.

If you could move the fish into a bigger tank then you could add some new tank mates but it would need to be quite a bit bigger. Tanks that are 6 foot long or bigger, make great homes for adults severums and angelfish and give you space to add a few tank mates. However, not everyone has space for a 6ft tank

Yikes. Well I definitely won't be getting any more fish unless I do get q bigger tank down the road. How many gallons is a 6 foot long tank approx?

 

[Rachel524]

If you set the camera resolution to 2MB, the images will be smaller and should fit on the forum. Don't forget to increase the resolution afterwards tho or other pictures you take will be small too

If the tank is only 30 inches long x 12 inches wide and 22 inches high, then do not add any new fish unless you move the angel and severum into a bigger tank.

Small rainbowfish could live in this size tank but they would be too small and probably get eaten by the severum or the angelfish.

-------------------------
You can add plastic plants and the severum won't eat them.

If you feed the severum lots of plant matter, green leafy vegetables like spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, etc, it will be less inclined to eating the live plants. Make sure any fruits/ veges are free of chemicals and wash well before using.
Do not feed onion or onion relatives (leeks, spring onion, shallots, garlic) or potatoe, because these can poison the water.

You can grow duckweed on the surface or outside in a pond and the severum will eat that too.

You can also use goldfish pellets or vegetable flaks/ pellets for them. Spirulina and Wheat germ pellets are sold by some petshops.

Good to know about changing the MB for smaller photos! And thanks for the tips on plants for the severum. I actually have a couple pothos plant stems dipped in the water (not planted), and have the stem clipped onto the filter so the severum can't pull it down. I've read that pothos plants are good for water quality and keeping algae down once they start growing roots. So thought I'd give it a shot! I may try some of the others you've mentioned as well.

 

[NickAu]

Ok here's a problem

Colin says

You could possibly add some rainbowfish but they need water with a GH above 150ppm and a pH above 7.0. They also need to be kept in groups of 6 or more.

One of the bigger species of gourami (blue, gold, pearl, pink kissing or snakeskin) might be alright. These are fine on their own.

Byron says.

I wold not recommend adding any other fish. There are issues with what are now in this tank. I realize this is not your doing as the tank came with the fish. A 37g will not be sufficient size for what is there now. In such cases it is often best to leave things as they are, though the fish are the losers. Or if you can re-home the fish to a reliable store or another aquarist with the facilities to house them perhaps?

Now can somebody tell me how the f**k a novice knows whos reply is right and what advice to follow?

Just for the record I would listen to everything Byron says and ignore everything Colin says.

I also want to know why Colin keeps giving bad advice like this and nobody says anything.

Small rainbowfish could live in this size tank but they would be too small and probably get eaten by the severum or the angelfish.

Small rainbows? Will they remain small or will they grow like all fish do.

When stocking a tank always make sure that it can accommodate the fish when they are adults.

 

[Rachel524]

Ok so I have kind of an emergency situation. I think it was Byron that told me it could turn fatal overnight with the fish I have in my tank currently. Well, it did unfortunately. Woke up this morning with my bigger one of the two flying foxes (or some type of algae eaters) dead. Well, now my angel fish looks like it's in the process of dying. Swimming weird, almost looks like a leaf blowing in the wind. And the severum keeps nudging it. I've also noticed the fish have not been eating much the past several days, especially the severum. The angle fish was eating fine a couple days ago and would pretty much eat all the food I'd put in the tank. We did switch from pellets to flakes about a month ago and they were eating fine for awhile then suddenly stopped eating as much. I did change the substrate out a few weeks ago from sand to gravel, but not sure what that would have to do with anything. I also put a pothos plant in the tank (just the roots dangle in) a few weeks ago. I just checked the pH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, etc and all came back normal with maybe a little high with the nitrates.

I just did like a 75% water change like an hour ago hoping that helps with whatever is killing my fish. So, we shall see....

Please help as I'd liketo save the angel if possible and want the severum to start eating again! The other smaller flying fox seems to be doing the best.

One more thing, I've noticed my heater doesn't seem to be working properly. Like the light will be on and then off for awhile. And the water does seem colder than usual...

Help!