Thinking about changing my schools up

[Hardy85]

So my zebra danio numbers have slowly been dropping off, and my cherry barbs aren't the most exciting thing in the world. So I am thinking of re-homing the danios, cherry barbs and platys and replacing them with two large schools

Current list:
3-4 Zebra danios
5 Cherry Barbs
approx 10 platy
1 Dwarf Gourami
5 German Blue Ram
6 Sterbai Cory
Lots of cherry shrimp

I would like something not very tough on the budget, and really am thinking about avoiding cardinals b/c of how fragile I've seen them.

These are a few that I have thought about - Black Skirts, Red Minor Tetra, Rainbows, Swordtails

Thoughts?

[jaysee]

Tank size?

[Hardy85]

my 55g planted tank, one in my sig

[jaysee]

my 55g planted tank, one in my sig

Can't see signatures on tapatalk :)

Perhaps swap out the cherry barbs for rosy barbs and the danios for dwarf neon rainbows.

[Hardy85]

The rosy's get a bit too big for what I'm looking, I like the neon rainbows. Only concern would be the temp differences between them and the germans....

hmm, that and finding a decent deal on a group of them

[Hardy85]

heck, even the bosemani (which would be better in my temps). I really like the red irians, but finding them would be tough i think

[mommy1]

In my opinion black skirts are kind of boring fish and swordtails are similiar enough to platys in behavior you might as well keep the platys. If you choose the serpae tetra (red minor) get a lot of them to curb their aggression, they would look nice in your tank. Have you considered black phantom tetra or one of my favorites, columbian tetra?

[fishmommie]

I tried neon rainbows and while they are attractive and active, I found them very sensitive. I had trouble keeping them alive. I've heard others say as much also. also, the females have much less color than the males.
I'm a broken record singing the praises of Colombian Tetras but they are such nice fish. Prettier than the neon rainbow, very hardy and totally non aggressive. they swim in loose schools at mid range. really nice fish. Saw them in petco listed as blue and red tetras.
just a thought for you.

[Hardy85]

I like the black phantoms, kinda look like the red minors too. Not a huge fan based on the pictures I've seen from the colombians, I've heard great things, but if I am re-homing the platys the fiance is gonna want some color. Her favorite is the dwarf gourami, and she is finally starting to enjoy the fish a little lol

yea, I am a huge fan of the pictures I've seen of the red irian rainbows.. but knowing my luck I'd get all females that had no color lol

[~firefly~]

Red minors might devastate your cherry shrimp.