My new 45 Gallon

[freshwaterfishlover]

I bought a 45G today to replace my 38G. I am using a new Marineland 250w Submergable Heater plus the Gravel and Aquaclerar 70 filter from the 38G

I thought I was going to use all the fish from my 38g in my 45G and get no new fish. today I decided some of the fish in my 38G are boring and want to get rid of them.

This is my new stocking list for my 45G. What is everyones opinion?

4 Huge Sterbas Cories 3" max size
1 Pictus Catfish 4" now
1 Clown Loach 3" at start
2 Banned/Stripped Gouramis 3"-4"
6 Black Skirted Tetras the big size 3"
If still room Bristelnose Pleco, but I can live without it.

Heavily plated with real plants.

Side note, I talked to a guy at the fish store today that has a 44g tank with a full grown Oscar and was buying another full grown Oscar today for his tank. Some people will never learn.

[cocoa_pleco]

that single clown loach will be lonely, you need at least 3

[freshwaterfishlover]

Is there room for 3 in a 45g with my stocking? I can leave out the briselnose pleco if neede.

[cocoa_pleco]

they dont grow super fast so they should be okay for a while. i have 4 small ones in my 55g and they all stick together

[freshwaterfishlover]

So Stocking

1 Pictus Catfish 4"
4 Huge Sterbas Cories 3" Max sized
3 Clown Loaches Starting at 3"
2 Banned/Stripped Gouramis 4" max sized
6 Black Skirted Tetras Big 3" size
1 Briselnose Pleco if possible

This is ok? Will the Briselnose be ok?

So Cocoa or anyone My stocking list is ok?

is'nt it to much with 3 Clown Loaches or no?

[Lady Hobbs]

What black skirt tetra's get 3 inches? Full grown they are half that.

Clowns need to be together with their own kind, as well, and I see cocoa has already advised that.

I would not have so many bottom feeders as they will compete with one another for the food. I would either have the clowns or the Cory's but not both together. Loaches are ravenous eaters and your Cory's will be left out, I believe. A dozen cory's would be nice.

[gm72]

I advise against the pictus cat. They also like to be in at least small groups and are VERY fast and active swimmers. I think they would much rather be in a larger tank, one that is more like 4 feet long.

Lady is right--Black Skirts do not get 3". Maybe they are mislabeled at the store?

Your clown loaches will eventually need a larger tank, but as previously stated they are very slow to grow.

[freshwaterfishlover]

Couple things.These cories are diffrent they actually swim to the top to eat.

I went to someones house and they had Black Skirted at 3" huge ones. Also on line they say max size 2 1/2".

I understand what your saying, but my Pictus is very unactive. Just sits under his favorite plant all day unless it is feeding time.


I don't want to give up my Cories. My Cories are Sterbas 3" each and cost me $25.00 each and I have 4.


What size would you say Black Skirted Tetras get? 2"

[gm72]

That is precisely empowering my point that pictus like to be in at least small groups. Your fish is not happy if he is just lying around. That is not common behavior for a happy and healthy pictus.

Max size for the black skirt may be 2.5 inches, but you usually won't see them get to that size. Of course there will be exceptions though. More like 1.5-2 inches on average.

[Lady Hobbs]

Max size means the very largest they will grow. Mine are nearly 2 years old and lucky if they are 1 1/2". They are great little fish and very hardy but really like groupings. I have 9 with 9 rasbora's and my loaches.

What really makes for a nicer and friendlier tank is more of one species and less of many species of only a few.

What you may like to try is a large school of rasbora's. I have the red-tails and love them. I would have about 6 cory's, the gourami's you mentioned, the bristlenose and that way you will have your top, bottom and mid level fish instead of a bunch trying to compete with one another.