jprime84

Looking for a middle swimmer species for my new larger tank. I really like the pristella tetras that I got. The always hang out together and very attractive. I had read that many species of tetra can be fin nippers, and I want to avoid that happening with my gourami. Recommendations? I would like something with color. Does not necessarily have to be a tetra.

Lucy

My cardinals never bothered my Dwarf Gourami. I've never seen them nip anything, not even each other.

jprime84

The LFS I go to has some cardinals in a not-for-sale display tank. They are beautiful. Unfortunately they only have neon tetras for sale. I will check around for cardinals.

What about cherry barbs?

Lucy

I've never had Cherry Barbs, so I can't say if they'd be ok or not.
When I had neons they were pretty nippy.

Jaysee

Cherry barbs are wonderful! I highly recomend them.

jprime84

I like the look of loaches and RTS, but I already have plenty going on in the substrate level with the cories and the pleco. Plus there is the potential for aggression in a RTS.

Jaysee

The cherry barbs will also be able to handle the killi. I think they're a great fit. I have gold barbs with my pearls, which are just like cherry barbs but bigger.

jprime84

Do the cherrys display some good color when its not time to mate? Do they school closely like the tetras?

Jaysee

Barbs in general don't tightly school - cherry barbs are loose schoolers. They ALWAYS display color cause they always want to mate. The males range from a bright red to a darker blood red, while the females have a different coloration. The school should be split evenly m/f, or a couple more females than males.

heather84

We had neons---they were good but they died

We now have cardinals, they are nice to have. They never bother my other fish (even babies that i just put in there)

We also have silver tip tetras, I heard people say they are nippy but mine arent AT ALL I think people confuse them with serpea or whatever it is.. And they are really pretty i think when they get bigger.

jprime84

What about swordtails?

Diggly

Cherry barbs seconded or thirded here!! very peaceful fish and get a strong current going to watch them play in it!! hours of fun for you and them!