JennDFK

I have a 55 gallon with 6 rainbow fish. The rainbows are all Melanotaenia genus... but different varieties. I have two Goyter river, one Bosemani, one parkinsoni, one Austrailan (some type of hybrid I think), and one Turquoise. They all shoal together and seem to get along great. I also have a red tailed shark... and right now I have two killifish in there... but they will soon be going back to their original tank.

My problem is that I tried to put some threadfins in with my other rainbows and... well the rainbows tried to eat them... Of the 6 I put in I managed to save 3 and they are currently in the tank where the killifish once resided (with my livebearers and otos).

My plan is take the threadfins back... or find a home for them... and then put the killifish back. I want to find a smaller shoaling fish to live with my rainbows and RTS that won't be seen as a snack. Since my rainbows are varied I really wanted a more uniform looking shoal (Possibly some type of tetra or barb)... I also want to get some type of algae eater... since my snails have also been lunched on.

OK fishlorians... what do you suggest?

Jenn

alicem

I've been waiting for someone else to answer this, so I'll bump it up, offer a few suggestions and see if it will get some more from others.
If I understand stocking "schools" or "shoals" correctly, with tetra or barb you'll want to get 6 or more.

What types are available to you?
There are several that will grow to about 2".
They may stand a better chance with your rowdy rainbows if they were grown to near that size already.

Diamond tetra (2.5") were suggested to me for my tank with an angel, but I picked up black emperors at a fish auction instead.

One other thing you might consider is expanding on your Praecox rainbows for the "school" look.

Again I'm not too familiar with the RTS, so you'll want to find out about compatibility with other bottom dwellers...
A bristle nose (or bushy nose) plecostamus (ancistrus) will grow to about 5" max and you'll only need one.
I like the albino BNs best, but that's just me.

I've found the little otto's to be sensitive to new tanks.
If you choose them for your 55G, you'll need a pretty good size "herd".

hth and that you get more ideas from others too,
alicem

JennDFK

I looked at the praecox rainbows... and they are certainly lovely fish... but they look so much like my other rainbows that I went with something different.

I had been looking at barbs... some of the larger tetras like suggested (congo, buenes aires, diamond)... but what we decided on was the celebes rainbows.... and I am so glad we did. We got three of the biggest size they had available and they are getting along great with the larger rainbows. Like the praecox they max out at 2.5-3 inches so I think they are a perfect match. They are beautiful too. I think we will finish out our stocking with 3 more in a few weeks.

I also got a rubberlip pleco (they didn't have the bristlenose)... It is a cute little guy.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try and post photos of the tank soon.

Jenn

alicem

I've had the celebes before, very pretty.
I was afraid to suggest them since they fall in the category of being a small rainbow...
Congrats and yes, please, post photos when you can!

alicem