What Should I Get?

[Fremlin]

I have just bought my first tank since I moved from home. I have kept all sorts of things in the past and am looking to get a little community tank. My tank measures 85cm x 35cm x 45 cm. I was thinking of getting some nice tetras(Possibly Congo or Emperor Tetras) and a few little peppered catfish. I was also thinking of getting some Pearl Gouramis but I now think that the flow of water might be too much for them. Anyone have anything interesting I could get instead?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

congo tetra's are a good choice, i really like them, I'd have a shoal if I had room for them.

I'd go for some more interesting cory's than just peppereds, there's loads around I'd rather have but that's personal preference.

I'd be dubious about not havign the gourami's based on the water flow. I know the post you've seen this morning and it's the first I've heard of it. Plenty of people keep them with no problems so no reason you can't. You can always fit a spray bar if the flow is too much.

Two of my favourite things you could look into are rainbows or apistogramma's, quite a bit of variety in each and both are relatively easy to look after and hardy.

Also I'd consider a fancy plec, one of the smalelr ones, something that'd just get to 6" or so.

 

[Fremlin]

At the moment my tank looks like this

I am going to get some live plants to go with the plastic ones shown here.

Would Pearl Gouramis be ok in with the larger tetras I mentioned before?

 

[b.c.f.c]

emperor tetras ive found to be a bit nippy but it could work for you, i dont see why not , though congo tetras are a better choice imo.
the tank looks great , maybe a back ground, i find a black back ground to be best and most effective.

 

[Silverlady]

If that is a Fluval filter, you can adjust it so that the current hits the back wall of the tank, that wouldn't be be quite such a strong current.

 

[Fremlin]

Yeah I have a background to put on it, just need to find some tape to get it up. I will change the filter settings once I get the fish, I just figured it would be best to leave it on this way for now.

 

[Medionsaturn]

Awesome looking tank, not sure what to reccomend you as I'm not that experienced. I just thought I'd comment on the tank.

 

[Kuhni]

Good to see you medion come visit the live chat again

 

[Fremlin]

I was thinking of getting some Pearl Gouramis and some Emperor tetras, would they be ok together?

Also what kind of catfish/plec would be suitable?

 

[Fremlin]

Ok so the Pearl Gouramis and Emperor tetras are in and I have also added 4 Black Widow tetras. Everything looks great and they are doing really well. I am looking to get some kind of plec/catfish now and am not sure what I should get. I always liked peppered catfish and I know they don't get too big. Should I go for that or add some sort of plec. I just don't want to get anything too big.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Peppered corys get to between 2 and 3 inches: my males have stayed in the region of 2 and my females are around 3. I think they're lovely, anyway: their cory behaviour is just as good as that of other corys, and when they are well looked after (and particularly in breeding condition) their bodies take on a lovely almost metallic sheen. Being common in shops doesn't make them boring to my thinking, and if they look dull in the shop- then you should blame the shop for that, not the fish.