Suggestions for mid to bottom-level fish?

[Gouramifreak42]

You probably want to go with 1 male and three females. I've heard that single rams of any type get lonely, and lose coloration and become jumpy and stressed.
But, if you are up to the challenge, German rams supersede bolivians in the coolness factor, in my opinion. However, Germans need better water conditions.

[FinalJenemba]

You probably want to go with 1 male and three females. I've heard that single rams of any type get lonely, and lose coloration and become jumpy and stressed.

Not true in my experience, all the GBR's I have owned have been single males. Best way to keep them in my experience as the aggression can be a hassle. Bolivians on the other hand can be kept in groups they're much more laid back.

[escamosa]

I have no problems with keeping just one Bolivian, if that's what you would like to do. But just keep in mind, that if you are to add another species of fish that shares the bottom area of your tank later on, then you will have to do your research really well, so that you don't cause any trouble between the Bolivian and the other species of fish. Quite often if you have a 1 male to 3 female ratio in your Bolivians, if they decide to do any bullying - which is very mild anyway - they will keep it amongst themselves, and not go after other fishes that share their space. Except if you're lucky enough to get them to spawn. Then they can protect their spawning area really well, and chase everything away.

[GoWild]

yoyo loaches http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...90&pcatid=1590 Id get a few of them. I have one for a yr now and though he hides alot cause he is in a semi aggresive tank. he has great colors and sometimes swims with my jack dempsey cichlid. You wont be disappointed

[pjaldave]

Yoyo loaches are not really ideal in his tank size, or am i wrong? They grow big, up to 6 inches, and need to have a school. Won't that pretty much occupy the whole footprint of the tank?

Just go with a bolivian. You'll surely love it :)

[ameliaaahx]

+1 to everything said. :) I'm getting Bolivians for my 70g in a few weeks, so excited!! Even though most people think the Blues are cooler I actually prefer the Bolivians. I love the pink fins -- I'm such a girl.

Just throwing it out there -- a gourami would be nice in your tank, such as a dwarf. They will inhabit the top level. Should be fine with the Rams too because they inhabit different areas.

And you could also add something like Bristlenosed Plecostomus. I have one in all my tanks and they're great. Also come in a pretty Golden or longfin form. They eat algae but if you don't have enough, mine just eat the regular sinking fish food (tried giving mine algae wafers but they hated them). Also would be compatible with your rams.

I also have Yoyos and have to agree that a 36 is too small -- sometimes I even feel like my 70g is too small for them, they're so active!

Also, I'd increase the temperature. Although they may be living at the temperature they're at now, most fish will be more active and colourful at a slightly higher temperature than that. I keep mine at around 78-79. Proof of this -- I went without a heater in one of my tanks because it cracked and their tank stayed around 71. They were all sluggish and just didn't look right. Added the new heater and the next day my neons were ZIPPING all over the tank, I couldn't believe the difference!

[kellyturner]

So after checking out the selection of dwarf cichlids at my LFS, I came home with a couple of Apistogramma viejita "red neck"! Thank you all for your suggestions, I'm already in love