Which Fish to get? (30-45 gal)

[Yajimari21]

My mom has asked me to help set up a fish tank for her in her office (probably 30-45 gal), but I'm not sure what I should stock the tank with. My mom's a pediatrician, so the children would probably like colorful and active fish, so I was wondering if I could get a few suggestions.

(Probably a community tank).

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I was thinking about maybe stocking (as part of the community) neons, but from my experience they are quite boring fish despite their brilliant coloration. Are all tetras like them? I'm also thinking about a handful of male fancy guppies (their population is currently overrunning our 75 gal, but my local pet store refuses to take fry! [which is doubly bad since some of the older female fry now look pregnant!] :( )


Any other advice would be helpful as well since I still have to choose filters, decoration, substrate, etc.

Thanks!

[Lady Hobbs]

Both tanks are the same in length and width so I would go with the larger tank since the stand would accomodate either. And I agree that a community tank would be better for the office.

I think a nice tank is a tank with a lot of two or three species rather than a few of many species. Fish are more active and fun when they have several of their own. If you stick with male species you will have more colorful fish with less aggression since females will not be present. Gourami's, swordtails, etc. Rasbora's are very active fish. I have the red-tails and like those a lot. I recently bought the gold tetra and the black neons and also like those a bunch. (I don't know why they are called black neons when they are gold with a black strip.) The gold tetra is nuts. They go 30 miles an hour all day long in the tank and are awesome in a larger group. Very small little fish.

Frankly, after my last bit of buying fish and ending up with "Ick for Haties" I think I would add your new fish to the tank, add a salt treatment right from the get-go and when you find all is well after a week or so, then get some corys for the bottom.

I would also pick up some bio-spira right from the beginning and add it to that tank at the same time you add your fish. Some fish.....not all of them at once. Add as much as it says to add. If you have more than enough, add that as well, but always add at least the recommended amount and not less than specified. (I would start with no gourami's tho as they can not tolerate a tank not cycled at all.) Then add your guppies.

You may also want to just do a goldfish tank with some nice golds. Less costly as it would take less fish and goldfish are always a kid favorite.

[Algenco]

Kids like activity and color. I think tetras and guppies would be great

[Yajimari21]

Thanks to both of you, Lady Hobbs in particular! Right now I'm leaning toward getting one or two species of tetras in addition to some male guppies and dwarf gouramis + some corys for the bottom, any advice on numbers? We've finally settled on a 35 gal long.


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Would it be better to get 2 schools/species of tetras (like one of 9 and the other of 6), or just one of around 13/15? In my 75 gal my neon tetras are so boring and don't even school together!

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How long after the first fish (tetras) are added w/ bio-spira can I add the guppies, etc?

[Incredulous_Ed]

Rainbow fish. Fast moving schools and good color.

[Siamese Fighter 1]

if your looking for a fish with good colors and personality get a betta!!

[tropfish]

A betta wpuld'nt be a good idea, male bettas fins are to long to handle such a large tank. It MAY work, but it will exaust itself swimming around so much.

[Lady Hobbs]

I also agree no betta. Betta's are solitary fish and altho some have been able to be kept with others, the majority do best alone.

[Yajimari21]

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[smaug]

when I was a kid my favorite fish were always fancy goldfish,bubble eyes,black moors,lion heads etc.They really are an overlooked type of fish ,but still very interesting.