I feel the calling... what to get next ?

Here’s what’s in my tank. I feel like I need new fish. Maybe just 1-2 big ones, or maybe a small schools (5-6). I don’t want to add any bottom dwellers or algae eaters. I love platies but the ones I find around aren’t very healthy so I shouldn’t buy anymore.

My tank is a 45 gallons bowfront, it is heavily planted and it has :

1 platy (he was born in my tank)
3 rosey tetras
8 cardinal tetras
2 neon tetras (the other ones died, no more of those)
1 loach clown (it is small at the moment, I will rehome when needed)
3 SAE
1 CAE
1 otocinclus (I will probably get him a friend)
3 corys

Thanks for your input !

 

Before anything else you need to up your schools. Ottos, cories, neons, clown loach, and rosy tetras all need at least 6.

 

I have to agree with the comment above. All the fish will be much happier in more appropriate sized schools. Especially the ottos in my experience. Mine seemed to stress very easy in small numbers. I started with 2. Then I ended up adding another 8 and they seemed much happier and healthier.

 

Hmm, that 1-2 big ones makes sense but it depends on what you are willing to remove. I would probably keep the cardinals (meebe neons will hang out with them) and/or rosey tetras as the schooling fish, but better to have more of one kind instead of both. I would get rid of the CAE (trouble brewing) and the clown loach (you already know). Would either add more cories or get rid of them. One oto may be a miserable thing, but it will be OK. A single platy doesn't make much sense. If doesn't start picking on others, you could keep him. Then you could add something like a ram/apisto (more towards filling the botttom) or angelfish as your big guys. This is how I would think about it but you have the last word.

 

Before anything else you need to up your schools. Ottos, cories, neons, clown loach, and rosy tetras all need at least 6.

In the best of worlds they would, but it’s not going to happen. I would be way overstocked if I did that. Neons cardinals and tetras are schooling together in a group of 8, so they’re fine. I won’t buy anymore neons, their quality is so bad, you buy 10 and only 2-3 are alive a few months later.

I will get 1 or 2 otos.

 

Hmm, that 1-2 big ones makes sense but it depends on what you are willing to remove. I would probably keep the cardinals (meebe neons will hang out with them) and/or rosey tetras as the schooling fish, but better to have more of one kind instead of both. I would get rid of the CAE (trouble brewing) and the clown loach (you already know). Would either add more cories or get rid of them. One oto may be a miserable thing, but it will be OK. A single platy doesn't make much sense. If doesn't start picking on others, you could keep him. Then you could add something like a ram/apisto (more towards filling the botttom) or angelfish as your big guys. This is how I would think about it but you have the last word.

The CAE has been minding its own business since I got him, maybe 6-8 months ago. It’s not it’s full adult size but maybe 80%. It’s doing a good job at eating algae for now. He will go if need be though.

I like the cories because they keep the ground clean. They will eat food that falls on the bottom and I think it’s an important part of my tank maintenance.

I will get a friend or two for the oto, I‘ve been meaning to for a while, but with COVID fish are hard to come by.

The single Platy, poor guy... he was born in my tank but all others have died since he was born in april. Since they all die on me, I don’t want to get more.

The Roseys I wouldn’t mind giving away to someone who has more.

The loach came to fix my snail problem. And it did a very good job ! I’m not planning on addind any new plants for now so he could be rehomed as well.

I really love the idea of having angelfish, but I’ve read it’s hard to form a couple with them and you often have to get rid of one of them because they don’t bond and they attack each other. I’ll look more into those.

 

[QUOTE="Dechi, post: 4770456, member: 102796"}
I really love the idea of having angelfish, but I’ve read it’s hard to form a couple with them and you often have to get rid of one of them because they don’t bond and they attack each other. I’ll look more into those.
[/QUOTE]
Angel fish are really nice, but not a good idea in your size tank. I have mine in a 55 gallon and will in the near future move them to a 75 gallon. I was surprised at how fast they grow, and how big they get. Angels are semi-aggressive, but mine seem to be doing good in my community tank. But I feel a 45 is too small for them.

 

Angels are semi-aggressive, but mine seem to be doing good in my community tank. But I feel a 45 is too small for them.

Hum, that’s what most people say. No angels then.

I love Boesmani rainbow fishes. I had a couple in my 75 gallons but I’m afraid a 45 gallons is too small for them too.

Too bad my house is now too small for more than a 45 gallons. :-(

 

Hum, that’s what most people say. No angels then.

I love Boesmani rainbow fishes. I had a couple in my 75 gallons but I’m afraid a 45 gallons is too small for them too.

Too bad my house is now too small for more than a 45 gallons. :-(

There are quite a few species of dwarf Rainbowfish, but like the others they need to be in schools.