Weighing Some Options--

[MeganL3985]

So i'm trying to give myself a few options other than deciding on just one right now, since I have some time on my hands (b4 my other tank actually gets set up). I really like the idea of a dwarf gourami tank, but as another option i'm thinking a community tank with a bunch of Small fish. So my questions--

Are there types of Small fish out there that can first of all go in the tank together and second of all, are very brightly colored (like saltwater fish bright).

I am just soooooo limited in my knowledge of all the types of fish out there......but another one of my big worries is whether or not I can find a store that will order them for me maybe?

[*Sarah*]

I saw some of the genetically modified Danios, glolight I think they were called, and they were bright pink. Cardinal Tetras are pretty colourful, and Congo Tetras, particularly males are pretty. Bosemani Rainbows are colourful, as are the dwarf rainbows...:)

[MeganL3985]

Thanks Sarah!

I saw the glofish danios but while they are pretty, I hate the idea that fish are altered, whether genetically or dye injected.

[AquaQueen]

Oh yeah hun, There are lots of freshwater smaller fish that can all be together. Let's see you have a good list to choose from I saved this link from someone posting it before so I hope it helps you [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] it's a Freshwater Fish Compatability Chart. Plus some of the ones they list as semi aggressive are iffy and can go either way they can be whimps or tuffy's that live to fight. You can also google the phrase "Freshwater Fish Compatability Charts" Good Luck!

[AquaQueen]

I just found this link right now...I dunno how accurate it is but seems informative.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

*UPDATE* here is another chart link you can zoom on the link by clicking on it once.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Drumachine09]

Guppies are awfully colorful. My favorites are the "tequila sunrise", the "yellow/green cobra guppy" and the "green cobra phantom delta tailed guppy"

[MeganL3985]

I really like guppies :) I wish they were a little bigger though. But thats a possibility....I dunno why they never really crossed my mind...lol

[MeganL3985]

Oh and they had some at petsmart last time I was there that looked like an oil spill.....lol not a bad thing! The really pretty mixture of bright metallic colors. I think they were a little more on the green side than anything though.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

rainbow fish can have nice colors n can go great in a community tank if im not mistaken

[AquaQueen]

I started out with 5 little babies then that turned into 10,000,000 guppy's. If you do get them I'd suggest getting only males besides the males are the ones with the big pretty tails.

What about platy's? You like them? They aren't as small as guppy's but they have some pretty colors.

Hey Erik love your Avatar...lol

[MeganL3985]

Hmm Rainbow fish sound pretty :) I'll have to take a look at them.

Btw, I just noticed your at McGuire! My uncle and my cousin work there. :) They're both A.F.

[MeganL3985]

Platys are pretty but I have had some wayyyyyyyy crappy luck with them! lol

[Incredulous_Ed]

Can't go wrong with cardinal or neon tetras. For info and alot of pics on commonly avalible fish, check out this link: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[MeganL3985]

neons and cardinals are nice, but my 5 gal is all neons and 2 otocats, I want something a lil different with the 29 gal. Though I do <3 me some neons Ed! :) lol

[Dave66]

You might try these: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Very pretty, and perfectly naturally colored.

Dave

[MeganL3985]

Wow those are pretty dave!! :D

[Dave66]

Recently put in an order through my normal suppliers for 48 of those beauties to go in my SE Asia tank. Can't wait.

Dave

[A340]

Rainbow fish are really nice, as well as many varieties of platies. Killifish are also absolutly amazing, but they may be (depending on where you are) hard to find. Here is a link for more information ....

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

.... lots of useful stuff if you're interested.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

For Aussie / New Guinea fish that stay at 3 inches or less, you always win with Blue Eyes (of which there are many species) - try looking at this:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

or do some searches on the internet for
PSEUDOMUGILIDAE (BLUE-EYES)

[RobbieG]

hese are pretty nice

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[tropfish]

apistogrammas are really beautiful, if you want to start out with cichlids.

[MeganL3985]

Oh gosh...Cichlids make me so nervous for some reason....lol I just feel like I am gonna get a bunch of fish who are gonna kill each other......and then i'm gonna feel horrible about it.....I know I take that risk with any fish, but for some reason cichlids bring out that feeling more so than others! hahaha **Shakes Head** Those Apistogrammas are sooooo pretty! So are the other fish........thanks guys and gals for all your suggestions! Your advice is greatly appreciated, as always!!!!! :)

[~Erik3.8.07~]

Hmm Rainbow fish sound pretty :) I'll have to take a look at them.

Btw, I just noticed your at McGuire! My uncle and my cousin work there. :) They're both A.F.

rly? maybe my dad knows them, hes a civil engineer and the supervisor of about 50 people

abd heres a lil info on rainbow fish, not sure if u saw this or not yet
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[MeganL3985]

My uncles a Master Sergeant and my cousin just graduated from her AF training program, I think she's in the dental field or something like that.

[zackish]

That is cool you are setting up another tank. How big is it?
You could always go with my favorite, Cardinal tetras.

[MeganL3985]

Yeah i'm excited about it :) I don't have the money to do it yet, since i'm trying to pay most of my bills off before the holidays come rushing up on me. But most likely will start picking up the filter, heater, decor and substrate around october. Its a 29 gal.

Love the tetra's, but I think I want something different. The cardinals are a little too similar to the neons I have in my other tank. Not that you can't have more than one tank with tetra's, i'm just thinking about a different variety. Hey who knows though, could end up with a few in there in the end anyway. lol Everythings very up in the air still.

[hungryhound]

You've gotten some great fish suggestions!

We actually have both Rainbowfish and Celesterial pearl Danios (CPD, once known as Galaxy Rasboras). The Rainbow fish have the most amazing coloring, but I would worry about them in a 46 g. They tend to be a schooling fish and like to be in groups of at least 6, which might make thigns a bit tight in the 46 g. One option might be the Dwarf Rainbow (Melanotaenia praecox), which only gets about 2 inches.

Now onto the CPDs. These are also amazing fish. We're curretly trying to breed ours, but they aren't being really cooperative, in fact, they spend most of their time hiding in our 20g long tank (I've heard other people say theirs also hide, but then their are those folks whose CPDs love to be out in the open). My understanding is that they should be fairly easy to breed, as they reproduce much like the zebrafish, which is in the same family. CPDs can also be a bit difficult to find, but I think they're slowly becoming more available as they're captive breed.

If my wife were sitting here she'd suggest the Ender Livebearer (preferably a pure strain that has never seen guppies since they can interbreed with guppies). The males are absolutely gorgeous (check out my blog to see a picture of one of ours) and they are a fun little fish (we have ours in with red cherry shrimp).

[MeganL3985]

I checked out those killifish, pretty little buggers but too expensive. Not the fish alone but shipping them would be horrid. lol I'm gonna look around a bit and then talk to my local LFS (the only non-chain thats not a complete s.hole).....and see if they could order for me if they're not available there at the store.

[freshwaterfishlover]

3 Spotted Gold gouramis are very nice looking or go with Goldfish they look very Colorful.

[A340]

I checked out those killifish, pretty little buggers but too expensive. Not the fish alone but shipping them would be horrid. lol I'm gonna look around a bit and then talk to my local LFS (the only non-chain thats not a complete s.hole).....and see if they could order for me if they're not available there at the store.

That's the same problem I have, our LFS rarely gets them, so far I've only managed to snag one (Gold Killifish) for $15, and until they get more I would have to mail order them and that can get very pricey.

Hungryhound mentioned the Celesterial pearl Danios, I saw an article in a magazine on them a few months back, and they are gorgeous. Unfortunatly, I haven't seen any in our stores yet.

[zackish]

You can do a lot with the 29 gallons, I have one.

[cocoa_pleco]

what? killies here are 5 bucks and petsmart is loaded with them. i have a few in my 55g

[MeganL3985]

I've never seen any killi's at my local petsmart and have not seen any at the other LFS i've gone to before and they usually have a pretty good variety of fish. We really dont have very many fish stores around here though, so i'm pretty much S.O.L......I've just gotta keep an eye out and ask the stores when they get their "stock" in.

[naiku]

I don't think anyone has suggested this yet, but how about moving your current 6 neons and 2 otos into the 29 gallon and upping their numbers? I am sure both would be happier in a larger number, you could up the neons to around a dozen, add 2 more otos and then still have room for some other school of bright fish like the guppies.

That way you could then keep the 5 gallon hex as a hospital / QT tank / fry tank.