Starting new tank, need stocking suggestions.

[Tek]

I just got a 55 gallon tank, but have no idea what to stock it with.
I do know what I don't want though:

1. No salt water
2. Nothing that gets bigger than 7 inches (not intending on moving the inhabitants to one of my bigger tank)
3. I am kinda bored with African Cichlids right now. I see them every where.
4. Don't really want a loner unless it can hold my attention

I have not kept store bought not for food live bearers in almost 20 years, was thinking of going back that way. Been seeing really nice Endlers and other Guppies lately. I had luck as a kid breeding swordtails in 1992 . A community tank would be great

I also love Silver Dollars, but couldn't decide on what I would keep with them.

In terms of lone fish, my friend caught a pretty yellow gar in the bayou but it was way to bug for my tank (about 20 inches) I told him if he caught a baby I would take it.

Any ideas???

The tank is already filled with water, but I am in no hurry. Might be working on it all summer. In the meantime I will keep some wild caught mollies, Gambusia and sheepshead minnows in there.


suggestions on where to get the suggested fish would be good too.

[eklikewhoa]

I like fish that have a shoaling behavior, do better in groups/numbers, etc. That or fish that are harem/colonial breeders. These show the most unique behavior I have witnessed.

[crazy42bmx]

What about a nice Amazon type setup with some rare discuss and some other rare wild schooling fish. Get some really badazz wood and dont over kill the tank with plants but have a few for natural look. I dont mind plant tanks but i think some just look bad when the entire bottem is cover in plant matter. Leave some open area and do and eye catching tank!

Thats just my input!

[cu0ngsayz]

rams are nice

[Ballinxalex]

Discus is nice with community tanks

[black_knight]

The tank is already filled with water, but I am in no hurry. Might be working on it all summer. In the meantime I will keep some wild caught mollies, Gambusia and sheepshead minnows in there.

The above fish sound like a cool combo already.
But have you thought of small & medium sized gouramis (like pearl gouramis=Trichopodus leerii and powder blue dwarf gouramis=Colisa lalia and or paradise fish = Macropodus sp.) They are quite under rated fish but can loof great in a tank planted with cryptocorynes. They are quite hardy. You can throw in some rasboras and cherry barbs.

[mistahoo]

Take this bad boy home!

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?49512-Senegal-Bichir

[troy tucker]

A south ameracin tank would look great. Angels Discus and Rams mixed with tetras for lots of color. add some cories and plecos. Silver dollars a ghostknife. all would look great.

Just my 2 cents

[Darbex]

I would do an Amazon tank with dwarf cichlids and and a ton of tetras with super easy plants like swords and annubias.

[aquabee]

Or a bunch of different Australian rainbows.

[Tek]

Thanks everyone for the replies thus far.

I like fish that have a shoaling behavior, do better in groups/numbers, etc. That or fish that are harem/colonial breeders. These show the most unique behavior I have witnessed.

Me too. I love the activity and movement. I think that is another reason why I got bored of African Cichlids. They are nice too look at but sometimes they just hover there.

What about a nice Amazon type setup with some rare discuss and some other rare wild schooling fish. Get some really badazz wood and dont over kill the tank with plants but have a few for natural look. I dont mind plant tanks but i think some just look bad when the entire bottem is cover in plant matter. Leave some open area and do and eye catching tank!

Thats just my input!

I should have mentioned this before in my OP but my 65g is an amazon tank. I have two tanks, an Amazon and a turtle tank. I don't have too many plants, in fact the tank is young (about a month old) so I don't have too much growth in there. In Fact I need more plants. There are open areas where my corys sift through the sand.

A south ameracin tank would look great. Angels Discus and Rams mixed with tetras for lots of color. add some cories and plecos. Silver dollars a ghostknife. all would look great.

Just my 2 cents

My SA tank does have angels and corys, I am thinking of adding rams, Discus I am not ready for. I have been keeping fish for about 20 yrs but don't think I am ready for discus yet. My tanks are over filtered but don't get changed that often. My previous amazon sat there for over a year with stable parameters, but then again that one was like a the jungle you described. Anyway when I get older I may try my hand at Discus, just not now. Plecos and Silver dollars would not work in the amazon because they eat plants.

I am thinking of silver dollars for the 55 though, just dunno what to put in there with them.

I would do an Amazon tank with dwarf cichlids and and a ton of tetras with super easy plants like swords and annubias.

yeah, my 65 is under stocked, I am going to add dwarf cichlids and more tetras in that tank

rams are nice

Love them.

Or a bunch of different Australian rainbows.

That's an Idea. I have some in my Amazon tank, I could remove those and start a rainbow tank. I have Praecox and Turquoise rainbows. I might get Boesmanis and Reds. those would stand out well in the 55.

Discus is nice with community tanks

They are, but I like admiring them from a far

[Tek]

Take this bad boy home!
http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...Senegal-Bichir

Ha ha, too aggressive. But my fiancee actually suggested I get one yesterday

The above fish sound like a cool combo already.
But have you thought of small & medium sized gouramis (like pearl gouramis=Trichopodus leerii and powder blue dwarf gouramis=Colisa lalia and or paradise fish = Macropodus sp.) They are quite under rated fish but can loof great in a tank planted with cryptocorynes. They are quite hardy. You can throw in some rasboras and cherry barbs.

Yeah, but those I mentioned won't be staying in the tank forever. They are just keeping the tank occupied for now.

I have had gouramis in the past, and I would consider them again. Paradise Fish were one of my first fish as a kid. I could probably keep some Gouramis with the Rainbows and throw in some rasboras and Cherry barbs. I saw some Cherry Barbs on sale somewhere yesterday. Can't remember where tho :o

[Tek]

okay, new dilemma. i was surprised with catfish this morning.

three pictus cats ( not the problem) and two shark catfish.
the pictus can live out their lives in the 55 with almost anything but the sharks are brackish, will get huge and eat anything it can swallow.

anyone have experience with these? thinking of keeping them till they outgrow the tank and then selling them. they look so darn cool and are so active.

what should i keep with them?

all cats are currently under two inches

[sunkenmetal]

Some type of fresh water puffer

[troy tucker]

Fig8 puffers and mono sebae.

Post a picture of the cats.