poefox

Well in a month or so I'm going to upgrade my tank. you folks are right, this IS addictive. I'm going to go for I think 30 gallons which is about the biggest my apartment can manage spacewise. I only have one definitely big enough and strong enough place where they are high enough above the floor, everything else is too small or too fragile or too near electrical things I can't turn off.

I'm just wondering: since I am hoping my platys and corydoras catfish will be going in along with them, what other fish would go good with those in a community tank? I'd like interesting and colourful fish but not ones that will stress out, eat or be a nuisance to those I already have.

RoboDude

I'm no expert, but I believe Guppies would fit right in.

EmpPleco

I believe you could also have a gourami or two in there. I'm not expert either though, and I also have no experience with platys

vin

Here is a great site for you to check out. They also have a nice compatibility chart as well......

www.liveaquaria.com

poefox

I found this site too,which is quite good: http://www.timstropicals.com/Compati...litySearch.asp

EmpPleco

Yes that last link, is pretty good - that's what I used when I was buying fish

atmmachine816

it depends on what you want in there you might be able to get away with some angels just done hope for any fry to live same with if you get a gourami just most gouramis except the dwarf are not good community fish once they get older

poefox

See,that's information you need. I really want a dwarf gourami but I'm constantly hearing mixed messages about them.

What I've been thinking for my community tank is this: my three platys, my corydoras pair, some exotic mollies and then something else, but I can't think what. I'm going to look up leoprinus fasciatus, which seem to be peaceful fish.

poefox

This is what I was thinking of for my future 30 gal tank, bearing in mind that I already have the platys and corys. Incidentally...here's the thing: the corys supposedly according to some sources need six roughly to be happy, but I've talked to people who have big, healthy fully grown corys in their tanks that seem to think that two to three is enough. So I thought this number for these fish might work...
Ideal Tank No. 1
Platys: 3
Corydoras: 2
Bloodfin Tetras: 6
Dwarf Gourami: 3

Tank No. 2

Platys: 3
Corydoras: 2
Bloodfin Tetras: 6
Mollies: 3

(latter if the Gouramis are really not a good idea.)

vin

I would recommend at least 3 corys.....They do better in groups of 3 or more, 5 is better. As shy as they are the fewer there are the more introverted they tend to become....I started with two and they were miserable....Added one more and they're much more social and at ease. They tend to stay together, but sometimes they will go off two at a time while the other stays in one of the caves.

As for the Dwarf Gourami's it's better to stay with pairs (one male, one female) or a single. They are a peaceful fish, but are highly territorial and need separate areas to escape to should they have a spat. So make sure you have high cover or floating plants. Be sure to get them at the same time so they bond quicker.

poefox

So if I got say two more corys and a single Dwarf Gourami that would be a better arrangement?

atmmachine816

yup and you could probably add other fish too want some ideas

vin

I would do one or two more Corys, and either a single or a pair of Dwarf Neon Blue or Red Flame Dwarf Gouramis or even the Honey Dwarf Gourami if you can find them. If you go with a single Gourami, you'll probably want to get a male as their colors are more vibrant. And you're probably going to want some sort of algae eater(s). Maybe a couple of Otocinclus cats?

The Otos will eat the algae off the plants, tank, decor, etc..., but won't compete with the corys for the leftover food.

poefox

Hm...so basically I'm being recommended Otos, 1-2 Gouramis and 2 more corydoras. The Otos and Gouramis I take it will get along with my platys. Are the Otos at all hard to look after?

atmmachine816

otos arent very hard to look after just very hard to establish i would suggest more of a pleco unless you dont mind some of them dieing on you and i would just suggest 1 gouramis and i would suggest getting sand

so what is your list of tank mates as of now and maybe since you are on we can work something out

vin

As long as the water is clean and there is enough for them to eat, Otos aren't difficult at all from all that I have read and heard. Plecos tend to get large (even the dwarf varieties get to the 4"-5" range) and I believe they are only planning a 30 gal. They've got a pretty decent wish list and would probably have to cut back on that list just to accommodate the pleco......Just my 2 cents.....

atmmachine816

no vin that is not true the way otos are shipped makes them very weak they are caught by putting chemicals into the water that slows them down so they can be caught then shipped without food and otos need to be constantly eating so when they arrive to the petstore they are almost starved and if you do decide to buy them make sure the store is supplementing there diet with algae wafers sinnce they clean the glass of algae everyday and wait at least a week if not two to get them as the weak ones will die and make sure there little white bellies are round

as for the pleco there are plecos out there that stay around 2" if you didnt know and 3-4"

heres a rough estimate on inches of fish
3 platys 6-7"
2 corys 6"
6 bloodfin tetras 12"
1 dwarf gouramis 2-3" i wouldnt suggest 3 as they will probably fight
total with 1 gourami 28"
with 3 gouramis 34"

so essentially your first wish list is fine minus 2 gouramis and the second is not ok since mollies thrive in brackish water not fw if you want an algae eater i would suggest getting rid of the cories but you already have them so i dont think you would want to do that and get a bristlenose pleco since thats kind of like a 2in1 deal but i would forget an algae eater with the cories and if you have good filtiration add one more cory and stick with what i gave you

atmmachine816

just out of curiosity what do you have your fish in now size wise adn what type of filteration are you planning for your 30 gallon