Wavering yet again

[BirdOfPray]

Having heard from a couple of sources now that marbled hatchetfish would probably be crowded in my 30-gallon hex, I'm trying to come up with other ideas for a surface dwelling fish or school of fish. If possible, I think I'd like to stick with a South American theme... but I'd certainly consider other suggestions.

Other planned inhabitants are 6-8 pygmy corys, one of some sort of apistogramma, and a school of neon tetras. I have some corkscrew vals getting started toward the back of the tank, and a couple of aponogeton bulbs just starting to sprout. Depending on how tall those get, I'll probably add a floating plant of some sort. Also planning to get a nice piece of tall driftwood, but still looking for the right piece.

The end goal is to have a healthy, happy, good-looking mix of fish distributed throughout the aquarium. I guess I don't need a strictly surface-dwelling fish, but I don't want the top several inches of my tank to look empty, and I think the mid-levels will be pretty full with the other fish I have planned. Colorful is a bonus, but definitely not necessary.

Sorry to keep coming back for more and more fish suggestions -- I just really want this to work well and all of the fish to be happy. I'll only have the one tank, so I can't move things around if they don't do well where they are.

[rangur1]

a pearl gourami would fit the bill perhaps. it gets to 4-5 inches,gentle and mine spent most of its time at the surface.

[lef22]

perhaps you could consider a betta.if you think it's too risky browse through labyrinth fish.I'm sure there are plenty that may meet your standards.However i'm also a beginer so don't trust my ideas too much:P

[jaysee]

You could do a golden wonder killi for the top, especially if you want something to stay at the top.

[mac]

How about some Hatchet fish. They are great. And would look great.

mac

[BirdOfPray]

Went yet again to the LFS (the good one with happy fish and intelligent employees) and for the umpteenth time asked them a bunch of questions and left without buying anything. I figure it's ok, since I do intend to buy all of my fish and probably food and other stuff from them. They thought that marbled hatchets were worth a shot in my tank since it's 18" wide all around. Hopefully I won't regret it, but as much as I've looked I haven't seen anything I like nearly as much. So, hatchets, corys, a blue ram and a handful of neons or cardinals. Done! At least until next time I get paranoid and start researching and second-guessing everything...