Amanda

I have a 55 gal. freshwater aquarium. This is what I'm thinking about stocking:
3 glass catfish, 1 albino pleco, 1 apple snail, 2 corys, 2 blind cave tetras, 1 female betta, 3 x-ray tetras, 3 mollies, 1 upside-down catfish, 1 angelfish (to keep the fry in check .

Chief_waterchanger

The betta and angelfish might not get along.

The blind cave tetras would probably need to be more numerous. Atleast 3, but preferably 5-6 of each tetra would be best.

Other than the points I mentioned I see no problem with it and would enjoy seeing pictures of that setup.

Good luck!

(Oh and, you have enough room, in my opinion, to add 2-3 of the x-ray and blind cave tetras without problem. )

Amanda

Thanks for your input!

sirdarksol

From what I've seen, the x-rays, as the cave tetras, should be in groups of 5-6. This is generally the defining line of "school" when talking about schooling fish.
Cories do better in larger groups. We have had members whose cories have died due to loneliness. 2 can survive together, however. It's just something to be aware of.

Looks like an interesting setup.

Blub

USD's tend to get lonely, as they are really schoolers and you won't see him if he's in a single. However, they are quite big, so I'd get rid of that idea.

By albino pleco, do you mean albino bristlenose? A common pleco would be to big IMO.

I think you should minus the Betta, USD, and either the mollies, Blind caves or X-rays in order to stop overstocking being an issue.

Amanda

I was thinking about taking out the blind cave tetras & putting in 2 dwarf gourami. I read that mollies do best in brackish water? Then that leaves them out also. So that leaves...
2 dwarf gourami, 3 x-ray tetras, 1 angelfish, 3 glass catfish, 2 corys, 1 pleco, 1 snail, & I'm not sure what else. I've been advised against the upside down catfish & female betta. The blind cave tetras are only available through a website I found, so I may hold off on them for a little while. What else would look good in my tank?

angelfish220

dwarf gouramis fight. I would only get one.

If your not getting blind tetras I would get 3 more x-rays that you have a full school

Amanda

Alright, 1 dwarf gourami. Does anyone know where I could find blind cave tetras? They-mseem inpossible to find. Oh, and this is a bit of a rant. I was at Wal-Mart today, the place I despise, adn they had red-tailed sharks there. Under the tank it said in their description - it said that they need to be in schools of 5 or more to be happy as adults. Don't these fish get aggressive towards each other as adults?

Shawnie

in a 55 gal, you could have more than one dwarf..theres plenty of room to get away from one another....I have 3 and they staked their own claims ...

Amanda

Shawnie - what do you ahve in your tank? What does everyone else have in their tanks?

angelfish220

that pet place used to have them, but I dont see them there now

Shawnie

which tank ? LOL

the community one with the dwarfs, has pictus catfish, SAE, convict fry, corys,

angelfish220

I have a school of zebra danios (around 10 now, they breed pretty regurally and the fry live in the plants so once it gets to around 15 I sell some) A trio of platies, striped rapheal catfish, 3 silver tipped tetras, soon an angel.

Thats in a 55 gal tank.

Amanda

Now I feel torn again what to have in my tank, lol.

Blub

I think the Dwarf gourami idea may not be the best, as right now most DG's carry a virus called iridivious, and the only way to avoid it is to get the fish from local breeders, not always easy! Gouramis and angels don't always get along, so I'd not do that.

Minus the pleco - they get WAY too big for 55gals. A bristlenose pleco would be cool, you can get albino ones as well!

You really should up the X-ray school to 6, and with your extra space add 3 more corys to the plan.

So, you would have...
6 X-ray tetras,
1 Bristlenose pleco
5 Corys (Get the same type for maximum appeal!)
3 Glass cats (These guys take up a large percentage of your stocking plan - almost half to be exact!)
1 Apple snail
1 Angel

If you took out the Glass cats you would have space for a school of 6 Blind cave tetras, and some room for a few other fish, perhaps 3 male guppys/platys?

Or, we coul develop an entirely new plan. I can brainstorm about 5 cool stocks if you want.

Amanda

I already have the pleco, they told me he's a rubbernose. He's housed with my betta at the moment - surprisely, they're best friends. If you have any ideas on stocking, post them, lol. I need ideas. I'm going to start cycling my tank tomorrow.

Amanda

What about having fewer fish - but having ones that get larger?

Blub

Rubbernose plecos are good - they only get about 4-5" long so you're safe.

You could have fewer large fish, although not many large fish fit in that sized tank.

I think a tank full of schooling fish would be cool. 5 schools equaling 12" each would be good. Something like:
8 Neon tetras
6 Cherry barbs
6 Serpae tetras
6 Dwarf neon rainbows
6 Harlequin rasboras

or...

6 Hatchets
6 Cherry barbs
6 X-ray tetras
8 Neons
6 Panda corys