What To Add, What To Add?

[RobberyinCSharp]

I currently have a 20 gallon tank with 1 GBR, 1 Balloon EBR, and 3 Croaking Gouramis. I'd like to add top-dwelling fish that will be compatible with my current fish. I am thinking about a few neon tetras, but I am open to suggestions! What do you guys think?

 

[stu40]

go Asian T.Hengli or T.Espei ?

 

[Zante]

Rasbora espei. I have a dozen and they are active and beautiful.

They aren't very tight schoolers, but when they do school they are stunning.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

go Asian T.Hengli or T.Espei ?

Hmmm.... T.Espei is very tempting. I was contemplating rasboras as well!
I had a bad incident buying harlequin rasboras, where they basically tried to kill each other. I have no idea, but the larger ones went all-out on the smaller ones. I was so discouraged that I've been terrified to buy rasboras ever since.

I'm probably the only person in the world that could find aggressive rasboras XD

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Rasbora espei. I have a dozen and they are active and beautiful.

They aren't very tight schoolers, but when they do school they are stunning.

Have you ever seen aggression between various sizes?

...I'm so scared I'm going to have another incident like last time. Seeing rasboras without eyes is pretty traumatizing

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

 

[Zante]

Rasbora espei. I have a dozen and they are active and beautiful.

They aren't very tight schoolers, but when they do school they are stunning.

Have you ever seen aggression between various sizes?

...I'm so scared I'm going to have another incident like last time. Seeing rasboras without eyes is pretty traumatizing

Not really. I do have some different sizes, and I did see some "aggression", but nothing fatal, and probably in line with perfectly normal hierarchy sqabbling.

Even with my rams spawning, when the parents had corralled them in a corner they were quite peaceful with each other.

 

[Bugdozer]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

 

[Zante]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

Yeah, and to be honest, hatchet fish have always kind of scared me. I don't know why, but they freak me out.....

Rasbora espei. I have a dozen and they are active and beautiful.

They aren't very tight schoolers, but when they do school they are stunning.

Have you ever seen aggression between various sizes?

...I'm so scared I'm going to have another incident like last time. Seeing rasboras without eyes is pretty traumatizing

Not really. I do have some different sizes, and I did see some "aggression", but nothing fatal, and probably in line with perfectly normal hierarchy sqabbling.

Even with my rams spawning, when the parents had corralled them in a corner they were quite peaceful with each other.

Hmmmm...I think you've sold me! one thing though - I've watched some videos and done some reading and it seems like this fish is a mid-level swimmer? I've already got 3 of those sorry for being picky...

Where could I find Espei rasnoeas? They're not sold at my LFS

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

I *love* cardinal tetras. I was thinking about a few of those as well!

 

[Zante]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

Yeah, and to be honest, hatchet fish have always kind of scared me. I don't know why, but they freak me out.....

I wouldn't say scared, but I must say I don't like them either.

Hmmmm...I think you've sold me! one thing though - I've watched some videos and done some reading and it seems like this fish is a mid-level swimmer? I've already got 3 of those sorry for being picky...

Where could I find Espei rasnoeas? They're not sold at my LFS

Sorry, can't help you there.
Try asking the LFS to orders them.

Yes, actually you're right. They are mid-swimmers, but you'll find there are few species that are strictly top level swimmers, bu mine do spend more time in the higher part of the tank than in the lower part.

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

I *love* cardinal tetras. I was thinking about a few of those as well!

I have a shoal of cardinals in my bigger tank, and they are not much of a top level swimmer fish. Also they are larger than espei rasboras, you'd be able to fit fewer in. Also, before cardinals I'd suggest rummynoses. They are tight schoolers an are very active. When you have a 15+ school they look BEAUTIFUL. Pity you can't fit that many in your tank.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

Yeah, and to be honest, hatchet fish have always kind of scared me. I don't know why, but they freak me out.....

I wouldn't say scared, but I must say I don't like them either.

Hmmmm...I think you've sold me! one thing though - I've watched some videos and done some reading and it seems like this fish is a mid-level swimmer? I've already got 3 of those sorry for being picky...

Where could I find Espei rasnoeas? They're not sold at my LFS

Sorry, can't help you there.
Try asking the LFS to orders them.

Yes, actually you're right. They are mid-swimmers, but you'll find there are few species that are strictly top level swimmers, bu mine do spend more time in the higher part of the tank than in the lower part.

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

I *love* cardinal tetras. I was thinking about a few of those as well!

I have a shoal of cardinals in my bigger tank, and they are not much of a top level swimmer fish. Also they are larger than espei rasboras, you'd be able to fit fewer in. Also, before cardinals I'd suggest rummynoses. They are tight schoolers an are very active. When you have a 15+ school they look BEAUTIFUL. Pity you can't fit that many in your tank

I love Rummynose tetras! There was an interesting type of Danio I saw the other day with red fins and a yellow streak. Absolutely beautiful....was thinking about getting some of those but I have no idea about their habitat. Hmmmmm......rummy nose is tempting. Aaahhhh! So many beautiful fish!!!!! I wish I could get a bigger tank!!!!!

 

[Welshweeks]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

Yeah, and to be honest, hatchet fish have always kind of scared me. I don't know why, but they freak me out.....

I wouldn't say scared, but I must say I don't like them either.

Hmmmm...I think you've sold me! one thing though - I've watched some videos and done some reading and it seems like this fish is a mid-level swimmer? I've already got 3 of those sorry for being picky...

Where could I find Espei rasnoeas? They're not sold at my LFS

Sorry, can't help you there.
Try asking the LFS to orders them.

Yes, actually you're right. They are mid-swimmers, but you'll find there are few species that are strictly top level swimmers, bu mine do spend more time in the higher part of the tank than in the lower part.

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

I *love* cardinal tetras. I was thinking about a few of those as well!

I have a shoal of cardinals in my bigger tank, and they are not much of a top level swimmer fish. Also they are larger than espei rasboras, you'd be able to fit fewer in. Also, before cardinals I'd suggest rummynoses. They are tight schoolers an are very active. When you have a 15+ school they look BEAUTIFUL. Pity you can't fit that many in your tank

I love Rummynose tetras! There was an interesting type of Danio I saw the other day with red fins and a yellow streak. Absolutely beautiful....was thinking about getting some of those but I have no idea about their habitat. Hmmmmm......rummy nose is tempting. Aaahhhh! So many beautiful fish!!!!! I wish I could get a bigger tank!!!!!

I have rummy nose and they are a great addition to the tank but mine mainly stay mid/lower levels. I'm currently looking for some top dwellers, I did have some harlequin rasboras but tbh I found them pretty boring, they shoal well but just sort of "hung" in one location virtually all the time. i'm thinking of some cardinal tetra but will probably have a look around my lfs on the weekend. Good luck.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Would a few Hatchet Fish work there? They definitely inhabit the top and are small.

Not a bad idea, but they are jumpers, so you'd need a lid on the tank or you'd start finding carpet surfers.

Yeah, and to be honest, hatchet fish have always kind of scared me. I don't know why, but they freak me out.....

I wouldn't say scared, but I must say I don't like them either.

Hmmmm...I think you've sold me! one thing though - I've watched some videos and done some reading and it seems like this fish is a mid-level swimmer? I've already got 3 of those sorry for being picky...

Where could I find Espei rasnoeas? They're not sold at my LFS

Sorry, can't help you there.
Try asking the LFS to orders them.

Yes, actually you're right. They are mid-swimmers, but you'll find there are few species that are strictly top level swimmers, bu mine do spend more time in the higher part of the tank than in the lower part.

Cardinal Tetra will do far better than Neon Tetra at the high-end tropical temps (27C plus) needed for your Rams.

I *love* cardinal tetras. I was thinking about a few of those as well!

I have a shoal of cardinals in my bigger tank, and they are not much of a top level swimmer fish. Also they are larger than espei rasboras, you'd be able to fit fewer in. Also, before cardinals I'd suggest rummynoses. They are tight schoolers an are very active. When you have a 15+ school they look BEAUTIFUL. Pity you can't fit that many in your tank

I love Rummynose tetras! There was an interesting type of Danio I saw the other day with red fins and a yellow streak. Absolutely beautiful....was thinking about getting some of those but I have no idea about their habitat. Hmmmmm......rummy nose is tempting. Aaahhhh! So many beautiful fish!!!!! I wish I could get a bigger tank!!!!!

I have rummy nose and they are a great addition to the tank but mine mainly stay mid/lower levels. I'm currently looking for some top dwellers, I did have some harlequin rasboras but tbh I found them pretty boring, they shoal well but just sort of "hung" in one location virtually all the time. i'm thinking of some cardinal tetra but will probably have a look around my lfs on the weekend. Good luck.

Yeah I've been told that Rummynose tetra are very much a mid-swimming fish. Which is a shame seeing as how I like them so much. I WISH my old harlequins were boring. They were demons in disguise. And honestly not that impressive color-wise. I thought about sticking to my color combinations of blue/orange/beige fish with my red and green plants for a while but for some reason I've got this itch for red fish. The Espei rasbora has a really interesting body color which appeals to me. I've also found myself drawn toward galaxy rasboras and cherry barbs for that reason, but I am not risking any compatibility/aggression problems right now. My tank is established and peaceful for once, and the disaster with my tank recently has caused a bit of tension in my tank that's causing my fish to be more aggressive than usual just added more plants and driftwood so there is more hiding places and I've been feeding them lots of bloodworms to try and calm their nerves again. I really want to pick this fish carefully!!!!