What Small Colourful Fish?

[Ben M]

hi, i am looking for a colourful, peaceful little fish for my 4ft community tank. my final stocking is going to be: 5 SAE's, 20 copper harlequins (Trigonostigma hengeli), 12 otocinclus affinis, 12 corydoras (possibly panda or trilineatus) and possibly some shrimp e.g. cherry. but i would also like a group of bright coloured little fish to contrast with the others. i thought of cherry barbs, but would they eat the shrimp and possibly nip the fins of the corries?

any other ideas?

cheers

 

[Wills]

Ah so youve decided against the kribs then? I dont think the cherry barbs will eat the shrimp but Ive not got experience with them, they might eat the fry and possibly when the shrimp shed. You could try Von Rio tetras? Very nice looking

 

[Ben M]

yes, i'll get rid of the kribs if i'm allowed, i like the von rio tetras, but i'm looking for something a bit more striking.

cheers

 

[kizno1]

endlers? you could have just all male if you really dont want fry but most would get eaten anyway.

 

[Ben M]

hmm, i hadn't thought of them. they are a possibility.

any other ideas?

cheers

 

[fett999]

You shouldn't have any problems at all with Cherry Barbs going with shrimps and corries.
I've got 5 cherry's, a couple of shrimp and a couple of pepper corries with other fish and had no problems at all.
The Cherrys are pretty much the most peaceful fish in my tank, and don't cause any problems.
The only thing that I can't be sure of is if you have fry. I would think that they would probably go for the fry but then again there's not many fish that wouldn't.
Cherry's are great little fish and look stunning once they've coloured up.

 

[Ben M]

hi, i think i might stick with the cherry barbs then. i have 8 ATM, and the females are really fat; i'm hoping for some fry. i'll probably get some more of them then.

thanks for all the help.

 

[Gilli]

I dont think you can beat cardinal tetras for electric colour and movement - and they are cheap!

 

[Assaye]

Dwarf rainbows? Emerald eye rasboras? Neons? Green neons?

I think a massive shoal of ember tetras would look amazing

 

[Ben M]

hi, i do like the cardinals, but i've kept them a lot so i'm looking for something a bit different. i'm not that keen on the neon or green neon tetra. i think that the dwarf rainbows are a bit too big. i like the ember tetras, but i have never seen them in the fish shops. are they expensive?

cheers

 

[Truck]

All maidenhead aquatics have ember tetras and they're normally about 6 for £10, also the Boraras Genus holds some very pretty and small species.

 

[Ben M]

thanks, i'll have a look.

so how does this stocking sound?

216 litres. 120cm x 40cm x 45cm
20% water change weekly.

10 otocinclus affinis, 20 copper harlequins, 20 ember tetras, 10 corydoras panda, 10 corydoras trilineatus, 5 SAE's and a load of shrimps.

cheers

 

[Truck]

you could go up to 40 ember tetras if you wanted to, it would look fantastic.

 

[Gandelf]

Dont forget the Rummy nose tetra a good shoal of around 10 can look stunning (not too pricy neither)

 

[Ben M]

thanks, i'll see if my budget will allow for 40 ember tetras, and i'll consider the rummy nosed tetras. i am also thinking of getting another external filter. ATM i have a rena filstar xp2, and i don't think that is enough. so i am thinking of getting another similar one. so, are there any that are cheap and efficient. and about how much do they cost to run?

cheers