2nd school or bump up my tetras

**mizzoutank** · 10-16-2012, 04:49 AM

So I think I like the Orange Von rio (flame tetra) and the bloodfin tetra's the best.
cherry barbs are cool, but not sure their ability in my current set up.

i'd also like to keep in mine the centerpiece fish to get. oddly enough petco is having a steal deal on the firemouth's

**steeler1** · 10-16-2012, 05:01 AM

I realy like Bloodfins, they are one of the best schoolers you can buy. They stay close to each other even when thier not threatened.

The Firemouth will get to 6" and supposed to be peaceful to tank mates except during spawning but it sounds like you only going to keep one so that won't be a problem. I don't know if you wanted a fish this big.

**mizzoutank** · 10-16-2012, 05:10 AM

I'm looking for a good school in terms of #'s but also colors. so just something that contrasts the golden brown of my silver tips, so either of these two seem the best IMO. but if others have experience with any others on the list i'm all for that.

I did see how big they get, and not sure if thats good or bad w/ my tetra's. I dont want them to be snacks later on down the road.
But i'm very open to a bigger fish. and ya, only 1 of these. i've had bad luck w/ pairs and not attempting that right now.

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-16-2012, 05:13 AM

Have you considered an angelfish for a centerpiece? They are out and about all the time versus firemouths who spend most of their time in a cave.

I have cherry barbs and not too excited about them lately. However, they are in a tank with a few rainbows (that I am getting rid of this week) so maybe they will come out of hiding more when the rainbows are gone. You don't want the boesemani. They are nice fish but rainbows are wonky fish and need a bigger tank. I only have 3 in my 55 but too wild in there so they are going to my sons house.

So that will leave you with:

14 silver tip tetras
7 spotted cory's
1 rubber lip pleco
2 male swordtails
flame tetra's......what.....10-14 maybe?

I actually think that enough fish myself without a centerpiece fish.

**mizzoutank** · 10-16-2012, 11:22 AM

i've contemplated the angel, but doesn't it eat plants? or like to chew on them?

i'm also willing to sacrifice the 2nd school for this centerpiece fish.

good point on the rainbows-some reason I had in my head these were the smaller variety, but the do need way more space than I have.

**Goes to 11!** · 10-16-2012, 11:54 AM

Angels IME do not bother plants.

I do have a math question:

40breeder=45gallons

= What?

**mizzoutank** · 10-16-2012, 11:57 AM

Great math question cuz it confuses me. lol
The tank is called a 40gallon breeder, but you put in the dimensions of that tank and it come out to be 44.9gallons.

and good to hear on the angel not bothering my plants!

**Goes to 11!** · 10-16-2012, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by mizzoutank

Great math question cuz it confuses me. lol
The tank is called a 40gallon breeder, but you put in the dimensions of that tank and it come out to be 44.9gallons.

Yeah, I like those and wish I still had mine but I had never run the dimensions before and it is 44.9

.

I learned something today, TYVM

**mizzoutank** · 10-16-2012, 01:22 PM

Not a problem! It was a nice discovery about the tank.

are there any suggestions besides the firemouth and angel?

**KevinVA** · 10-16-2012, 07:17 PM

If you still want a recommendation on schooling fish, I'd suggest Serpae Tetras. I've kept them in two tanks (a 10gal and now they're in my 75gal). They were fine in both, very beautiful and very active. They seem to love to play.

However, if you're going with an Angel, I've heard that they could be a problem with Serpaes, due to their being nippy. However (again), I've never seen my Serpaes get nippy with anything, besides each other - and that's in a group of 3-4 and a school of 9-10.