riot84

okay so i currently have 5 bloodfin tetras and 4 bronze cories and am trying to figure out what to add later (at least a month). I was thinking about adding a small school of silver dollars (3 or 4) to have some bigger fish, or maybe a school of black skirt tetras (6-8)....do black and white skirt tetras school together (maybe 3 or 4 of ea.) what do you guys think. I'm also open to other suggestions.Thanks.



FIRST POST!

Ekrindul

I believe the white skirts are just a color variation of the black skirts, so they should school together. I have a school of 4 variety of longfin danios that all school together.

Danios are very hardy, very active fish. Well worth considering. They get a bad wrap as fin nippers, but I kept mine with a betta for several months and they never bothered him, at all. They initially tried to nip at my Krib, but he has solved that problem by banning all of them from the bottom 3 inches of the tank. Your cories will take care of any eggs they lay, so even though they breed frequently, overpopulation isn't an issue.

Blub

It is not a good idea to keep danios and Bettas together long term, but for a few months it usually works out, Ekrindul. (Which seems to be what you had)

I can't say this for certain but I reckon black and white skirts would school together.

4 SD's would take up a lot of tank space, and completely dispell the idea of having live plants if you ever wanted them. 4 SD's would take up the same amount of space as 25 odd Neon tetras, so think seriously about them.

I think 5 Bloodfins, 4 Bronze corys, 4 White skirts, 4 Black skirts and 4 SD's would push it to the limit.

riot84

Yeah, I meant that I would add either the silver dollars or the skirts not both.

Blub

Oh right. It would probably work with both but you couldn't add anything else. Just consider that 4 large fish can outcompete small fish for food at feeding time though - there may be a few problems, there may not. Of course you could always drop the occasional live plant in to feed the dollars as well as normal food!

riot84

Thanks.

riot84

Anyone else have any other suggestions? Open to other fish not just the silver dollars and skirts.

bolivianbaby

What about dwarf neon rainbowfish? They're beautiful in a shoal!

riot84

Thanks, I'll take a look at those.

Blub

Well, if you can find them a Headstander would be cool!
I think the rainbows would be a good idea. They are great fish - if you wanted a school of larger fish then Boesmani rainbows could be the thing for you!

riot84

I don't have anywhere locally to find a Headstander and I haven't seen any dwarf rainbows but I have seen boesmani so I'll research those. Thanks.

Blub

I think they'd be an ideal fish - if you can find Red rainbowfish they would be another awesome large schooler.

riot84

Thanks.

dee34

hi there boe rainbows would be a great addition , they add great life to a tank and are generally piecefull ..

riot84

Thanks.

AlyeskaGirl

A shoal of Giant Danios would be nice. I like the Silver Dollar idea....I have 3 in my 55 gal. If you want more bottom fish....Pictus Catfish would be great...at least 2. They are active and peaceful!!!

Actually not sure if the Giant Danios would go with your Tetras....too active and big. lol

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10danio.htm

btate617

Pictus cats will put anything in their mouth that will fit...

Brian

Blub

Yes, I believe they often do. Bristlenose or Clow plecos are other cool bottom dwellers!

riot84

Thanks for all the ideas guys and gals. I have a lot of fish to look at now. Keep the suggestions coming.

Blub

What about a 'school' of large mollies or swordtails? They are not acctually schooling fish, but often swim in groups and enjoy each others company. Just be sure to get all males so they don't breed and over stock you.

riot84

I might add some of my brothers baby platys when the are big enough(currently 1 week old). Not sure the actual name of the platys but they're yellow with a black stripe at the top and bottom of their tail.

Blub

They sound pretty. No need to know the name of the variety - all platys are the same bio-load wise when it comes to stocking... Don't think I've heard of that variety before though. Just make sure only to add males so they don't breed and overstock you - unless you have the facilitys and time to look after the hundreds of fry you will get.

riot84

Yeah, I found out they are called yellow twin-bar.

riot84

Ok, so on Saturday I upped the bloodfin school to 8, and today my brothers girlfriend gave me 5 x-ray tetras (2 pristella and 3 albino pristella).These additions up my fish count to 17 (about 34 inches of fish). I think the silver dollars are out of the question as are the larger rainbows (would need a school).What do you guys think about a pair of angels (meaning 2, not a breeding pair).

Fish Addict

That sounds fine. Also, depending on who you are, it's possible to keep M&F platies together, mine don't breed, even when I try to get them too...

And yeah, angels sound great, and remember, the inch per gallon rule is just a guideline, you can go a bit over, it just might involve upping the water maintenance.

riot84

Thanks. I think I'll up the corys to 6, the x-rays to 6, and add a pair of angels. But still open to suggestions.

bolivianbaby

Sounds really cool!