Want Some More 'interesting' Fish.

[xamy_valox]

Yeah my trill's never stop, the pandas stick together but tend to hide under a cave that I made.
If I got lamb chop rasboras would they shoal with the harlequins? Or are they a different fish? They've always confused me as they are slightly redder from what I've seen.

Ok so change of plan then what if i were to go with:

1x betta
2 x apistogramma cacatuoides
6 x Neons
6 x Harlequins
6 x Platinums
6 x Cherries
12 x Cories

Would I then be overstocked as I also love the look of Blue Emperor Tetras!
Lol, I know I'm a nightmare...sorry =[

 

[soybean]

So many little fish!

The thing with apistos is I dont think they're going to add the interest, colour and impact I think you're after. They'll get lost among all those others! They're not exactly big themselves.

I think you've got about as many fish as I have, if not more, in a 180 litre and I think MY tank looks too busy. You'll struggle to add a fish that makes an impact with all that other activity going on.

 

[xamy_valox]

=[ I don't know what to do! I really don't want to get rid of fish as I'm stupid and get attached, but having the betta as my centrepiece fish isn't really working as he's so small =\
*sigh*

 

[soybean]

I get attached too, but the difference actually having FEWER fish can have on the overall impact can be surprising. I'm slowly upping numbers of neons as older stock of random fish begins to die off, and viewing the group of them looks so much nicer than all the different types of little fish in small groups. Less can be more.

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah I totally understand the logic, just don't like the thought of getting rid of anything =[
Just been watching some youtube videos of 125 litres and they have all sorts of fish in there! Just watched one with 3 small angels, a betta and 3 kribs amongst other fish, how do they get away with it?
xx

 

[soybean]

Angels don't stay small, kribs can be very aggressive during breeding...you don't know what happens in the tank when the video stops recording and the fish start growing up!

At the end of the day it's your tank and you can do what you like with it, but no one here has anything to lose or gain by offering the advice, it's totally impartial. If you want to keep all the smaller ones that's up to you BUT if you want a different image to the tank, you may have to compromise and streamline the contents.

Assuming you can rehouse the betta in a small tank in your room, for a 100 litre tank I would have as an example:

1 x male dwarf gourami
15-20 x harlequins or neons (or another small tetra, maybe the platinums)
8 x one type of cory (I think 12 is pushing it in a 125 litre tank)

Bottom dweller, midwater shoaling fish in an impactful group, and a slower moving colourful fish that adds a focus point.

 

[-FighterFishh]

If your betta is causing problems with your stocking, he won't mind being on his own in a tank, or, failing that, you could do something like I did with Chai.
Chai lives with 6 male endlers and a male platy in a 30L, and he's happy as larry

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah I wasn't saying it as in 'See they can do it, why can't I?' I meant it like, do they not realise?!?! Lol.
Hmm I do like the sound of that. I think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get my brother to adopt some of my fish, but deciding which ones is going to be difficult.
I'm guessing in the switching process I will be posting a lot of threads so would appreciate all the help I've been given this evening!
Thanks guys, keep on with any suggestions though, incase anything has slipped your mind =p
xx

 

[soybean]

It's good that you're open to advice and suggestions, nothing worse than people who have a strop because they don't like what they hear!

Just think about what colours you like, whether or not your tank is planted (harlequins really do look good in a planted tank, for example) etc. Don't have to do it overnight

 

[stu40]

If I got lamb chop rasboras would they shoal with the harlequins? Or are they a different fish? They've always confused me as they are slightly redder from what I've seen.

By lamb chop i think you mean T.Espei. They are different from Harleys but will shoal together i've been told.Advantage is that they're smaller (so you can squeeze i few extra in) & better looking (colour) IME

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah I'm definitely open to advice as I am keen to make sure I am keeping an eye out for the fishes needs rather than just what looks good or whatever!
Yeah I have quite a heavily planted tank at the minute, live plants as well as I think the fake ones look awful =\
I can only seem to get some of them to stay alive and looking healthy though, many of my reddish coloured or 'leafy' plants tend to die quickly.

And thanks stu40, I might look at mixing them with my current harlequins then to give a bit of variety.
I think a lot of planning is needed before I take the dive into a bigger tank!
xx

 

[Rickzayne]

check ebay for a small 20-30l tank in your area. I have picked up 2 for £4 and £15!

stick your betta and a few plants in a smaller tank with a few shrimp =]

 

[Seed_Lord]

gotta remember corys are on the bottom, so you can have a large group aslong as you have good filtration wouldnt worry bout the inch to gallon rule if you pick the right fish.

 

[james_fish]

The thing with apistos is I dont think they're going to add the interest, colour and impact I think you're after. They'll get lost among all those others! They're not exactly big themselves.

You are joking! They'll definitely add to colour, look at my male below! That's a triple red, which you may not be able to find in some stores.
Not sure i'd mix Apisto's with a Betta.

James.

 

[soybean]

The thing with apistos is I dont think they're going to add the interest, colour and impact I think you're after. They'll get lost among all those others! They're not exactly big themselves.

You are joking! They'll definitely add to colour, look at my male below! That's a triple red, which you may not be able to find in some stores.
Not sure i'd mix Apisto's with a Betta.

James.

I never meant they aren't colourful - but I've had a double red pair myself and while being lovely fish to look at they did spend a lot of time in the lower regions, in and out of bogwood and caves, and therefore didn't have an impact when viewed from any distance than very near the tank. The OP already has lots of corys adding activity to the lower tank, and I just suspect she's after something a little larger and brighter for the mid to upper levels, which the betta isn't quite managing.