for the last time, how many fish?

[edkrueger]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

I'd suggest you drop the rams and endlers. 5 Glow lights. 15 cardinals. 5 ocats. 10 cherry shrimp (or 4 amano). Shrimp add almost nothing to the bioload.

However, this might be a boring setup in one of two ways:
1: cardinals stay at middle of the tank, glow lights stay at middle, ottos and shrimp rarely seen. To fix this I'd put 7 Cardinals and 7 Columbian [surface schoolers].
2: This scheme may distract from the plants. If you care, I'd replace the cardinals with gold neon tetras and cardinals.

As you can tell I really like cardinals. This is because their coloring is interesting but slight and because they multiply.

[finfan]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

well, i want those rams bad, so i have to get the rams, its one of those things i have my heart set on

now, the glowlights i already have (so nothing to decide there)

the decision is should the rest of the fish be just cardinals or cardinals and something else

i do want ocats and shrimp

it almost seems like if i am not close the tank i don't really see any fish because the cardinals and glows are just under the "tree" line of the tank, so i was really wondering something that would be upper/upper middle and somewhat active of course have to be small size too

decided
2 rams (don't have yet)
5 glowlights
3 - 5 ocats. (don't have yet)
10 cherry shrimp (or 4 amano) (don't have yet)

undecided
15 cardinals and 8 to 10 of another small fish (not more than 2" adult size)
OR
15 cardinals and 3 pearl gouramis (or something of that sort?)
OR
25 cardinals

i would lean towards 25 cards but i would also love something upper lever

decisions decisions

[supaflyz]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

Get the cardinals or neons.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

The rams will eat the cherry shrimp.

[finfan]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

will they eat amano/yamato shrimp too?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

No but they will give them a hard time

[finfan]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

so shrimp is out of the question unless i guess my plants get heavy, or is there another type of shrimp that will do ok?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

You could probably do wood shrimp but those are freaking ugly and more like crawfish.

Being plant heavy isn't going to help much either cause they will be hiding all the time.

[finfan]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

ok, i guess i will wait on the shrimp, now lets hope i find some good cardis and a nice pair of ram and some good ocats, i heard ocats are sensitive and not easy to acclimate

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

Poor Ocats are hard to acclimate but good stock will be fine....I have bought tons and never lost any.

Mike has a ton of Neons that he has had for a awhile and they are healthy and cheap! I might be using them in the planted tank but who knows.

[AK-71]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

3 pearl gourami in 30 gal could be too much - they grow fast.
I have 2 females + 1 male in 55gal and think it's about the smallest tank for them. Mine are not freindly to each other (all 3), but not other fish. I will try to separate 1 female when I have space and see if they calm down. But as it is - 3 seems is too much for me.
I really like how cardinals look in numbers.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

If you plan on having anything breed keeping the numbers down on the different species will help you have a higher success rate.

Honey gourami's or even sparkling gourami's is a much better alternative....I personally like the sparkling gourami's.

[finfan]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

you guys are right, the pearls are way too big, so they are off the list, now ek i had never heard or seen sparkling gouramis, i just googled them and they are amazing looking fish, i feel like i was living under the rock for all these years!!!!  anyway, have you seen them in LFSs? if so, which one's?  i love them, i would love to get them, it would give me a gourami and betta fix

i think i will stick to my 2 rams, 5 glows, 15 cardis, 3 to 5 ocats, and other things i will add if i find interesting stuff - like the sparkling gourami maybe, maybe keep 3 or 4 of the sparkling gouramis

[eklikewhoa]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

Fish Gallery had some not too long ago and they might still have some. I am sure it's something Mike will be able to order as well but if not speak with Don at FG about them.

[edkrueger]

Re: for the last time, how many fish?

I would go with 5 ocats. Have a look at Columbian tetras for small surface fish. I would leave out the gouramis they are somewhat agressive.