Suggest New Tank Mates Please

by **Zambize4899** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:21 am

I'm starting my first tank and am currently in the 5th week of cycling. I have 6 Guppies and 2 Swordtails currently. They were added slowly, seem healthy, and are behaving. I need to stick with easy fish, so what next? I'm considering adding 6 Glowlite Tetras and 2 Dwarf Blue or Red Gouramis. I think that would fill my tank. However I may go with 6 Glowlite Tetras and one Red-Finned Shark instead. The shark is maybe just a fantasy of mine. One day maybe a species tank of sharks, so I'm considering sticking with the Gouramis instead. But, I want to check the logic of my current idea and some suggestions for better choices. My tank is 29 gallons, we have hard water, high-ish pH, and the tank temp is kept around 80 degrees. Oh, and it's well planted with artificials.

Thank you in advance

by **Poetic_Irony2267** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:37 am

strike the shark off the list, add a few glowlight tetra, and one of the gourami, and your tank will be about maxed out. with smaller tanks, less is more as far as fish go, more fish means more waste and more waste equals more cleaning... unless of course you over filtrate the tank than you can move up to stocking a few more glowlights and another gourami, overcrowding in small tanks seems to happen more than not, i would wait awhile and let the tank mature. other than that you should be fine but the shark once it gets bigger will start eating your guppies, my rainbow shark loved feeder fish.... (aka nondescript guppy, bred for the purpose of feeding other fish)

by **Zambize4899** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:06 am

Yeah, the shark was already off my list. I've been reading about it and it is definitely wrong for my tank. I'm planning to add 6 Black Neon Tetras and 1 or 2 slightly larger fish. I had picked the Gourami, but I've read that they become aggressive as they age. (?)

My tank is 28 gallons, but seems even smaller because it is densely planted, and my Guppies are active, active, active! They are very underrated fish... Anyway, Maybe I should just stick with the the 6 Tetras I'll add and call it done. I'd sure like to get one more larger fish in there...something to contrast all my smaller fish.

Thanks,
Zambize

by **Poetic_Irony2267** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:56 am

dwarf gouramis would not be a bad choice or a wag tailed, or sword tail, maybe even a few ballon belly mollies. they will get along with your guppies just fine. the black neon tetras may be a bit much for your guppies as they may pick at the tails of your guppies.
hope this is of some help.
Brandon

Suggest New Tank Mates Please

4 posts