Compatability

**swamprat59** · 06-26-2008, 04:13 PM

Hi all. I have 2 tanks, one is 20g with 1 siamese fighter, 14 guppies, 2 BN catfish, and a shubunkin. The other is 55g with 1 medium sized angel, 4 baby angels, 1 siamese fighter, 2 siamese flying fox, 3 guppies, 4 clown loaches, 4 neons, 1 dwarf gourami, and 1 other gourami but not sure what type. I'd like to redesign both tanks but not sure which direction to go. I want to keep the angels, loaches, gouramis, and the bristlenoses. I do like convicts but feel they may be too aggressive. Any ideas?

**Sharkman** · 06-26-2008, 04:57 PM

I think your 55g will be overstocked in the future. 4 clown loaches is really too many for a 55g. They can get over 12'' long each. Also, are your siamese fighting fish getting along with the guppies?

**Lady Hobbs** · 06-26-2008, 10:15 PM

Loaches get big in time but they are rather slow growers. I have 5 in my 55.

I would be concerned with trying to keep 5 angelfish in a 55 gallon. They get very territorial with each other once they pair up. I don't know how safe guppies would be with them. My neons were eaten by mine. I also see you have a goldfish and a betta together. Strange combo, there. One is warm water and one is cold water fish.

**swamprat59** · 06-26-2008, 11:21 PM

Fighters and guppies get along famously. The goldfish hassles them more than anything else. The goldfish idea came from an "upmarket" aquarium shop and their theory was that they come from similar environments although you are all right, goldfish are cold water but she said she had been doing it for ages with good results so I tried it but sometimes there are "arguments" about certain areas in the tank but it is fun to observe their behavior. I know the loaches will get rather large but I may be able to swap them at my local fish shop later on. Guppies seem to be quite ok in both tanks although they were the original inhabitants. I like the way how the fighters interact with the other species. Sometimes its quite funny. On another matter, I want to change the substrate in my 55g. What I have is probably too big so can I do this without taking the fish out? Thanks for all your comments. Still don't know what theme to change the tanks to.