Fish Suggestions?

RoyalRaccoon · October 2010

Right now my aquarium just has my striped Raphael catfish, and my mother's angelfish. The angelfish is just temporary though, and will eventually go back into his own tank when my mother purchases the stuff needed to fix it, and when I get around to cleaning it up for her. Once the angelfish is gone, the only activity in my tank will be late at night when the cat fish comes out. I'm thinking I'd like something a bit more active, even if it's small, to also be in the tank. Tank: 46 gallon bowfront. I believe the dimensions are roughly 36"L x 16.25"W x 20"H. Tank type: Freshwater. Can be cold water or tropical. Inhabitants: 1 striped Raphael catfish. What I'm considering: 1. Rummy-nose tetra <a href="http://www.somethingsphishy.com/images/Rummy-Nose Tetra.jpg" target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 2. Blue Ram Cichlid <a href="http://www.freshwater-tropical-fish-care.com/images/german_blue_ram_2_flickr_sapienssolutions_Leonardo_DaSilva.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 3. Convict Cichlid <a href="http://diszhal.info/halak/Archocentrus_nigrofasciatus.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 4. Chocolate Gourami <a href="http://rare-tropicalfish.com/Common_Tropical_Fish/Gourami/chocolate_gourami.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 5. Leopard Ctenopoma <a href="http://www.aquafish.spb.ru/axelrod/get_photo/5523"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 6. Small cory catfish(I'm not picky about type) <a href="http://www.sydneycichlid.com/gallery/d/132-3/corydoras-melanistius"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 7. Emperor Tetra <a href="http://www.inet.hr/~rciler/images/ribe/emperor_tetra.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 8. Cockatoo Cichlid <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ckBlasgNSzg/SVHHcvYa_TI/AAAAAAAAKKs/z24PXHklNts/s400/Double+Full+Red+Cockatoo+Cichlid.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Picture</a> 9. ....maybe a pair or single angel for myself. This is just what I'm considering thus far. I'd love more suggestions, or your opinion on the above fish. No livebearers. I really can't stand the way they look, except for black mollies. A goldfish is my back up plan, since I'm most experienced with them.

Mossflower · October 2010

I really don't know anything about fish, we've only ever had goldfish in the pond outside xD That Cockatoo Cichlid is gorgeous though, I'd get one of those

Trianna · October 2010

I agree with Mossflower. Oh, and you have the same pic for 3 and 4.

Kazuko · October 2010

I like the looks of the Blue Ram Cichilid and the Cockatoo Cichilid. But I also know nothing about fish- I'm more the "ooo pretty colors!" sort of person. xD;

Maxxy · October 2010

I like the chiclids, but they're pretty aggressive. I wouldn't put them with angelfish or tetras..

RoyalRaccoon · October 2010

Mossflower wrote:

I really don't know anything about fish, we've only ever had goldfish in the pond outside xD That Cockatoo Cichlid is gorgeous though, I'd get one of those

They are lovely. It's hard to find really pretty ones at pet stores though. The most gorgeous come from quality breeders and hobbyists, so I'd probably get stuck ordering some if I decided on those guys.

Trianna wrote:

I agree with Mossflower. Oh, and you have the same pic for 3 and 4.

Thank you for pointing that out!

Kazuko wrote:

I like the looks of the Blue Ram Cichilid and the Cockatoo Cichilid. But I also know nothing about fish- I'm more the "ooo pretty colors!" sort of person. xD;

I love rams, and if they pop up around here, then they will most likely be what I buy. I've wanted blue rams for ages, but I've never had a place to put them until now. My old stock was either goldfish, bettas, or large aggressive fish, none of which can be housed with small rams.

Maxxy wrote:

I like the chiclids, but they're pretty aggressive. I wouldn't put them with angelfish or tetras..

I've seen chiclids like rams, cockatoos, and angelfish all do pretty good with the small, fast tetras under the right conditions. Nonetheless, it doesn't matter, because I'm not housing them together. The only other inhabitant of the tank will be the striped Raphael, who should be good with anything as long as it's not another aggressive or territorial doradid. I'm only planning on one more type of fish to contrast the elusiveness of the catfish, not a butch of different kinds. For example, if I decide on the rams, then it will just be the rams and the catfish, or if I decide on the rummy-nose tetras, then it will just be the rummy-nose tetras and the catfish. I've never been one of those people to love dozens of different fish in a single tank.

ImportsandLines · October 2010

Me personally would invest into the catfish. They are so cute xD!

RoyalRaccoon · October 2010

The cories? Yeah, they are cuties. I love watching them when they are kept in groups. Only problem is that they are bottom dwelling, so if I got them then the middle and top area of my tank would be lifeless. I haven't decided if I'm okay with that, or not, which is why I'm still considering them. I just love bottom dwellers.

Signa · October 2010

They are all beautiful! I really 3 and 4 though! I have a peacock eel in my tank and that has been my favorite fish :]. He is extremely active and fun to watch.

RoyalRaccoon · October 2010

Signa wrote:

They are all beautiful! I really 3 and 4 though! I have a peacock eel in my tank and that has been my favorite fish :]. He is extremely active and fun to watch.

Eels are cool and I use want one, but I don't think my tank is big enough for the majority of them, and it worries me that they would try to steal the hiding spot of the catfish. Do you have pictures of your eel? Is he an adult?

Shibagirl · October 2010

I like the Cockatoo Cichlid, I love Cichlids and have had them since I was very little. Right now I have an orange Parrot Cichlid.

Mileysmybaby · October 2010

I like 1,2,7, and 8 =] they are beautiful! I love the looks of #8!

RoyalRaccoon · October 2010

Seems like a lot of you like the cockatoo cichlid, which is actually a good choice to go with the catfish. Both are South American species, and require about the same conditions. If I could find a breeder/dealer that sold them for a good price, with inexpensive shipping, then they I may choose them.

Howdy, Stranger!

Fish Suggestions?

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