Working out what fish

[Metermaid]

Ok - so this tropical to look like marine tank I am just starting to set up - looking good so far with white fine gravel, plain blue background and rocks - so now getting down to thinking about what I might stock it with. My wish list only has three members at the moment - Pictus, Cory Davidksandsi and shoal of metallic rosy barbs - now would these a) be happy together and B) be happy in this environment? Also would like something medium sized and striking - years ago I had a Severum in a large tank - would that be a possible candidate.

Please feel free to berate me if I am getting it all wrong - this is the best bit because I am only stocking on paper - so no mistakes to harm the fish !!!

Thanks

Rita

 

[Fishy411]

im not so sure how big those barbs grow but the pictus's need to be kept in groups of 3 and get to 6" so they might finish off yur barbs. Maybe a Dwarf syno would work

 

[sylvia]

Don't forget to fishless cycle before getting fish! (read links in my sig if necessary)

How big is the tank?

Rosy barbs get to about 3" (as do most cories) so they'd be half the size of the pictus cats - probably large enough to avoid getting eaten. However, I'd suggest you go for some smaller synodontis cats instead or skip the cories and get some larger schooling fish instead of the barbs.

If you want it to look saltwater, you will want to look for truly brightly colored fish. I suggested rainbows earlier and I still think they are your best bet for color.

 

[Metermaid]

Hi Sylvia - thanks for the input - I have been busy today (mostly washing gravel !) but also transferring some filter medium etc from my established tank into new tank (180litres, 48 gallons) - so I am getting the cycle underway. I am now off to surf for info on the Rainbows you suggest as I don't know much about them - thanks again

Regards

Rita

 

[OohFeeshy]

I think a few Khulie loaches would be quite good. They look like eels, very cool for your 'marine' tank.

 

[Metermaid]

I had Kuhli loaches a few years ago - but since re-joining the hobby I haven't seen them in any of the lfs - they are a great fish !

 

[nshockeyplaya]

So you wouldnt want to try african cichlids? They are the most colorful freshwater fish in my opinion.