Amanda

The only thing that I KNOW is going in my tank is the pleco. I want a very active tank.

Blub

Then try this:

8 Neon tetras
2 BN Plecos
6 Serpae tetras
6 Dwarf neon rainbows
6 Harlequin rasboras

Activity like no tommorow!

Amanda

I def. want angelfish. I already have the pleco - I know he's going to get biger; I'll cross that bridge when it comes. What other fish could be kept with these? Maybe I'll just have fewer larger fish. Not sure yet - I still have time; I haven't even began to start cycling the tank yet.

Amanda

How about a pearl gourami, some dwarf gourami, the pleco, and an angelfish?

Blub

Angels and gouramis aren't the best mixers - both territorial.


Best bet is to take pleco back to the store now. Its incredibly hard to find a store that will take a full grown one, it's easier to get them of your hands whilst they are young.

If you want an angel, then you need to make sure all yous=r other fish are to big for it to eat. Look into Congo and Bleeding heart tetras.

Amanda

I'm kind of attached to the pleco - I mean I've already had for about 2 weeks. I named him & everything! lol.

Blub

Get him to a store ASAP then - it will be harder to let go of him when he's older, plus he'll be harder to find a home for him! Or, get him a 100gal tank.

Amanda

The store isn't going to take him back - I had 7 days if I wanted to get rid of him. How can a 55 gal. not be big enough for him?

Blub

A 60cm long fish needs a big tank...

Amanda

I understand that. But these fish are slow growing - don't you think that he'll be okay in a 55 gallon for now? I've seen other large plecos in 55 gal. tanks

Blub

Well, it's best to get rid of them as soon as possible unless you can guarantee a larger tank in the near future! Like I said, if you can't accommodate the full grown thing, you can't keep the baby. There are lots of alternative plecos out there - Bristlenose is a nice one.

Amanda

Too bad the only fish store around me is a Petsmart - they will not take the pleco back & they don't sell bristlenose plecos. Plus I really don't want to see him killed at that store.

Amanda

This is off of Fishlore fish profiles about the common pleco.

BigJoe

15 cardinals or neons (really bring out the schooling look)
6 albino cories
6 your choice of hatchets, serpae tetras or like sized tetras, rasboras, cherry barbs, gupies, etc.

or knock off 1-2 cories and put in 2-3 otos and some shrimp maybe some cherry and ghost...

if you are going to keep the pleco take out the smaller school altogether or the cleanup crew (may want to leave it overstocked with 2-3 otos just to keep small stuff cleaned...)

Amanda

Would a gourami or angel eat neons? I have a feeling they would, lol. That's what is going to be the centerpiece of my tank. Either 2 angels or a gourami.

Amanda

OK - I'm thinking of getting 3 angels & either a small school of large tetras, a bala shark or 2 dwarf gourami. This is what the fishlore profile says angels are compatible with. Vote for which combo you thiink is best!

Blub

The average 55gal tank is a metre long... A full grown pleco would have trouble moving around without curving in one. I've seen full grown Plecos and they are HUGE!

Balas are BIG! They are also hyperactive and sociable. There is much debate about minimum tank size - but the smallest is about 100gal, which is probably to small.

3 Angels
8 Bleeding heart tetras
8 Congo tetras

Gouramis and angels tend to fight over territory - because they are both territorial.

Amanda

Have YET to get to the fish store ... drat. My mom & I are having disagreements about what should go in MY tank . So these are some set-ups I've come up with:
Mom's mix:[various amounts of] male guppies, neon tetras, x-ray tetra, cherry barbs, platys, glofish (my mom's fave), and kuhli loaches
Semi-Aggressive Community: 1 angel, 2 dwarf gourami OR 1 kissing gourami, 2 bolivian rams, 1 rainbow shark.
Giants: 1 angel. 2 kissing gourami, 1 pleco
Angel tank: 4 angels, 1 pleco, 2 dwarf gourami
ANd is there anyway to have the best of all the worlds in one awesome set-up? lol, I'm so indecisive!