What fish should I get?

[parker313]

Hi! I have a 46g tank with 10 cories and 6 rainbowfish. I had 2 angels, but lost one to the rainbowfish and took the other back to the lfs before they got him too.

Yeah, I know, rainbowfish are supposed to be peaceful, but mine are very nippy. So, I'm looking for some suggestions as to what I should get. My water pH is 6.7...

The lfs guy suggested geophagus jurupari (bottom dweller, have enough of those) or maybe even a severum. He also said maybe a couple discus, but they're kinda slow moving and I don't want the rainbows to target them.

Size really isn't too much of a factor if it's a fish I really want b/c I can return it to the lfs when it gets too big, which is OK with me.

I'm kinda thinking about 1 or 2 bigger fish, rather than a school of smaller fish, but have thought about maybe serpae tetras......

All thoughts and opinions welcomed, thank you!!
--Kristin

 

[parker313]

What about 3 bala sharks?......... I've liked their looks for a long time...

 

[Fiddlesticks]

I had a similar problem with my rainbows nipping. One by one they went back to the lfs except for 3 that dont do it much at all. I was not about to lose my 6yr old angelfish to a bunch of newcommers. I think rainbows will be fine with anything that doesnt have long fins.

 

[parker313]

I had a similar problem with my rainbows nipping. One by one they went back to the lfs except for 3 that dont do it much at all. I was not about to lose my 6yr old angelfish to a bunch of newcommers. I think rainbows will be fine with anything that doesnt have long fins.

Honestly, if I hadn't thought that catching all 6 of the rainbowfish wouldn't have entailed taking every decoration out of the tank and a half hour of fruitless netting (I'm really bad at it!), I probably would have brought them back instead of my beautiful angel...

The rainbowfish also made short work of my Turquoise Rainbowfish that I had in there with them - I had 3 of each species and the splendids and boesemanis schooled right up and got all the turquoise

 

[parker313]

Here's the list I've come up with so far - just looking to choose one, not the whole list

Kissing Gourami
Tiger Barbs
Serpae Tetras
Severum
Krib
Firemouth
Blood Parrot
Keyhole

Some of those species I am not overly familiar with so any insight is appreciated

 

[David]

Don't get the blood parrot... they are ugly, and I don't like hybrid fish. That's just my opinion however. I also wouldn't suggest gouramis, as they have the same trailing ventrals that the angels did. Severums might be too aggressive, although the tiger barbs might be just perfect. They would help to keep your rainbows in check. I think you should get a RTBS or rainbow shark, the rainbows wouldn't dare pick on it.

 

[parker313]

Thanks David

I ended up getting 2 severums - if my rainbows get them, then I've got serious problems

 

[David]

Hehe.. good luck with the sevs, they are beautiful fish, even if they are a bit aggressive. Be thankful you didn't ge balas; they would not fit in your bowfront. (I wanted them too for mine )