55 gal Community Tank

[Bunse]

I am looking around to see what fish I could add to my take after I get it moved to a new location, and ready for new fish. The fish that I have that are moving with the take are
1 Bala Shark
1 Pictus Catfish
2 Clown Loach
2 Giant Danios (I dont know that I want any more, which is why they are so few)
1 Chinese Algea Eater
4 Cherry Barbs

Color and Activity are great (as the clown loaches add that very well)
Also I was wondering if 2 more pictus catfish would be fine to help bring my one out durning the day because he tends to be very shy if he sees anyone in sight. (there are lots of hiding places in the take he's just always been that way)

[Amanda]

Welcome to Fishlore! Just keep in mind the general rule of 1 inch of adult fish per gallon of water. I see that you have live plants in your tank - that does relieve some of the bio-load. Good luck with the move!

[Blub]

All the fish listed there are bad idea fish, except the Cherry barbs and pictus cat. Why?

Bala shark:
Gets to 60cm, needs the be social (So other Bala sharks must be in its tank) and is very active. It needs a really big tank - much bigger than 55gal I can tell you.

Clown loach:
Gets 30cm, and needs to be social. http://www.loaches.com/articles/information-posters
http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus

Giant danio:
Will be nippy unless you get a school - only keep them if you are going to get a school.

CAE:
As a baby, it's a great fish, but as an adult, it becomes aggresive and sucks onto the side of fish - literally sucking them dry!

The pictus will get quite big as well BTW.

[platy ben]

Bala shark:
Gets to 60cm, needs the be social (So other Bala sharks must be in its tank) and is very active. It needs a really big tank - much bigger than 55gal I can tell you.

They only get to 35cm, i used to have 2 in my 65Gal and they were fine, they lived for around 7 years.

[Blub]

Originally Posted by platy ben

They only get to 35cm, i used to have 2 in my 65Gal and they were fine, they lived for around 7 years.

Oops, wrong shark I was talking about! Even so, these fish still need a HUGE tank. Just because they can survive it does not mean they can thrive.

[Bunse]

I have spoken with one of my lfs and she is a very smart lady that has raised many fish. She says that as long as the Bala shark acts fine he should be just fine. (She said if he were to have trouble it would have been when he was younger) She also said the clown loaches would be perfectly fine and she always has clown loaches in here tanks including the 55 gal. Thats just what I have been told. I am probably going to be getting rid of my Giant Danios sometime soon. I did have 6 at one point in time. I know about the Chinese Algea eater and I keep a close eye on him for that reason. I am thinking about a Chinese Butterfly Algea eater (any thoughts?)
So Right now I am looking at
1 Bala Shark
2 Clown Loaches
1 Pictus Cat
4 Cherry Babs (2 more in the future)
1 Chinese Butterfly Algea eater (Possible future fish)

Would one more schooling fish be ok? Like Zebra Danios

[Alessa]

Most of the people at the LFS dont know what they are saying, no matter if it sounds like they do.

bala sharks DO need a school to have a happy, healthy life. Same for the loaches. I would listen to Hatechehaven. and yes... one thing is surviving, another one is thriving.

[Blub]

Originally Posted by alessa1235

Most of the people at the LFS dont know what they are saying, no matter if it sounds like they do.

bala sharks DO need a school to have a happy, healthy life. Same for the loaches. I would listen to Hatechehaven. and yes... one thing is surviving, another one is thriving.

Even if a person at an LFS has had lots of fish - it does not mean they kept thriving fish. Most (Around 95%) of all fish store employees n the US are total idiots when it comes to fish - even if they've been doing it for 30 years...

A chinese butterfly algae eater is just a CAE with a different name. Same fish!

[David C]

Originally Posted by HatchetHaven

Even if a person at an LFS has had lots of fish - it does not mean they kept thriving fish. Most (Around 95%) of all fish store employees n the US are total idiots when it comes to fish - even if they've been doing it for 30 years...

A chinese butterfly algae eater is just a CAE with a different name. Same fish!

Remember: 72% of all statistics are made up 56% of the time. LOL

I agree though, the LFS people tend to be pretty stupid, although they think they know EVERYTHING about fish.

[Bunse]

Im sorry. Its a Chinese Butterfly Pleco. It is different I did see one.

[Blub]

Originally Posted by Bunse

Im sorry. Its a Chinese Butterfly Pleco. It is different I did see one.

Ah. They do exist! Let's look them up on Planet catfish:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=983
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=706

Seems 'Chinese' was just an add on the store added. They do that a lot...

Cool fish! Nice alternative to a BN. I think he was the second one - since they seem to be more common.