what are some good fish for breeding GBR tank mates?

**genocidex** · 08-18-2012, 03:57 AM

so i want the stock of:
2 GBRS (1 pair i think ill let them pair up ie buy 3 1 male 2 females and go from there)
6 otos i need some algae control in my planted tank....
1 striped raph cat.
and i want a med. school of top water fish. thats what i need for an idea.
would like either: haralquin rasboras or zebra dianos
would consider hatchets if i can find a good price,
cant find any ember tetras any where

any other ideas for top water fish? this is a 55g and should have enough filters (1 cheapo canister filter i estimate good for a 40g, and an AC 50 and a seeding AC 30 for the 20g i will house fry in.) heavily planted (or soon to be when the plants grow in a bit) and good lighting. i removed some drift wood due to it taking up loads of bottom space and i need caves.

any ideas for easier to find top water fish would be appreciated

on an unrelatedish note. did any one else know the fish at the top changed to an ram while in the dwarf cichlid section?

**Honey Badger 1** · 08-18-2012, 04:24 AM

I would go with the harly's because I think the danio's spastic activity would stress the breeding gbr.

**ScottishFish** · 08-18-2012, 09:35 AM

William said couldn't be bothered making different fish for different forums

Have a look at Golden Wonder panchax, I keep several. They are a true top water species but don't race about like danios.

If you look in the photo forum I have a thread with pictures of mine

**sheamurai** · 08-18-2012, 12:34 PM

Not sure they would be suitable for a breeding pair, ScottishF, unless he plans on a fry tank...? Golden Wonders will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. I don't think even otos would be safe, unless they were large.
Unless, geno, you aren't going to grow out the fry?

**ScottishFish** · 08-18-2012, 12:50 PM

Well they feed mainly from the surface and never venture near caves or the substrate

**genocidex** · 08-18-2012, 03:45 PM

i thought otos would be fry safe... i did want to grow out my fry but i was unsure if i should move the fry before they hatch and move the parents with them.... or if i should just grow them out in my 55g.... my raph might be a big problem tho lol....

**sheamurai** · 08-18-2012, 04:43 PM

Well, FWIW I had a pair of GW's in my early tankdom and at least the male had no problem scarfing down glasscats that were the same size as he was (and twice the price) and in the lower half of the tank - a tank deeper than a 55. I certainly wouldn't trust one with fry, especially in a shallower tank.

**genocidex** · 08-18-2012, 05:12 PM

GW? what are those?

**Taurus** · 08-18-2012, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by mommy1

I would go with the harly's because I think the danio's spastic activity would stress the breeding gbr.

I agree with Mom on the Harleys. I'm going to suggest that you start with a pair of Bolivian Rams instead of GBRs as they are a bit hardier than GBRs.

GW's = Golden Wonder panchax.

**genocidex** · 08-18-2012, 07:00 PM

no one around me sells bolivians, nor will i be able to sell off the fish when they grow out. i looked at my water parameters and i think its perfect for gbrs. 6.5ph and soft as heck. also i plan on stocking my tank with a big school (around 15 harlys if those are my choice) and my otos. with my raph but i might be rehoming her before i by the the gbrs. im going to let the tank mature for a few months before i ad the gbrs as it was sugested by most of my research.