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What fish-person are you?
- Thread starter Art
- Start date
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I can’t choose between fish or plants. I’ll start out with a plan and see something new, buy it, and I’m off to the races. I end up with a lot of plants and a lot of fish
love them all. I do think Rainbows are the best (can’t afford discus),but there is a new fish that is THE SHOW STOPPER. Look up Red Cherry Tetra. Hard to find and VERY expensive.
love them all. I do think Rainbows are the best (can’t afford discus),but there is a new fish that is THE SHOW STOPPER. Look up Red Cherry Tetra. Hard to find and VERY expensive.Dave
New Member
Are you talking about the Aleste Red Congo,or the smaller red tetra.I can’t choose between fish or plants. I’ll start out with a plan and see something new, buy it, and I’m off to the races. I end up with a lot of plants and a lot of fish
No, this is a recent new fish from western Brazil. Google Red Cherry Tetra. Look for videos. Not easy to find (in stock) and very expensive(20 to 50$) ea. colors are amazing and may look different under different lights.
Jellopuddinpop
Active Member
Don't forget about Madagascar Rainbows =)For me right now, Rainbows are out, since I have smaller size setups, but once I go big they're definitely on the list. Oh wait, there's the Threadfin Rainbows. Are they considered "real" Rainbows by the "Rainbow Gurus" here or are they frowned upon
Nice fish, but I think might still be too big for my current setups. Another really nice fish is the Coral Red Pencil. Had these once when my LFS got some in and mixed them in with a thriving school of Beckford Pencils but they didn't live long.
GreggZ
Moderator
LOL they are "real" rainbowfish. They are the genus Iriatherina.For me right now, Rainbows are out, since I have smaller size setups, but once I go big they're definitely on the list. Oh wait, there's the Threadfin Rainbows. Are they considered "real" Rainbows by the "Rainbow Gurus" here or are they frowned upon
What you are probably referring to are the "blue eyes" species Pseudomugil. Some say they are related to Rainbowfish but are not actually Rainbowfish. But who cares, they are also cool colorful little fish and are bred by many Rainbowfish breeders. Also a great choice for a smaller tank. I would keep some but they would have a hard time feeding with my active large Bows.
And then there are the Rhadinocentrus. Also small and very colorful. Also bred by Rainbowfish breeders and also very cool little fish.
Regardless of some fine DNA analysis and occasional arguments that come up they are all commonly referred to as Rainbowfish in the hobby.
Just making sure, LOL.
Good info, definitely going to look into them. Haven't had a problem with carpet surfers so far, but want to make sure these will be OK in open top.
Dave
New Member
While not Rainbows,the blue eyes (pseudomugils) are nice little fish with great personalities.For me right now, Rainbows are out, since I have smaller size setups, but once I go big they're definitely on the list. Oh wait, there's the Threadfin Rainbows. Are they considered "real" Rainbows by the "Rainbow Gurus" here or are they frowned upon
I also love Rainbow but a different kind. Rainbow shiner (Notropis chrosomus) is a mid size nano fish. The male has more blue patches while female is red. Very active as well, like to swim against flow. Sorry for the blurry image. My phone can’t capture these fast moving shiners.
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
When I started out a few years ago with planted tanks I thought I wanted small schooling fish with plants as the focus, but I’ve done a complete turnaround. Couldn’t resist all the fish!
I’ve switched to easier plants with less maintenance and filled my tanks with fish species that I love.
One tank (68g) is still all small schoolers and other shrimp and snail friendly inhabitants. The other tank (84g) is black and yellow themed - black angels, yellow gourami, black mollies, yellow danios, black cories, yellow apple snails - not to everyone’s taste, I’m sure, but a dream combo to me!
I’ve switched to easier plants with less maintenance and filled my tanks with fish species that I love.
One tank (68g) is still all small schoolers and other shrimp and snail friendly inhabitants. The other tank (84g) is black and yellow themed - black angels, yellow gourami, black mollies, yellow danios, black cories, yellow apple snails - not to everyone’s taste, I’m sure, but a dream combo to me!
What got me into keeping aquariums was fish, so naturally fish are what I tend to focus on. I chose smaller fish simply because when I think of a natural environment, like one that we're trying to emulate with keeping plants, the first image that comes to mind are schools of small fish.
Keeping schools of fish is a newer thing for me since whenever I've kept community fish it's always sort of been the Noah's Ark stocking methodology lol. I'd get a couple of these, a couple of those, etc. But this was always in tanks that featured plastic plants, decor, etc., although the last time I had a planted tank which was about a decade ago, I did the exact same thing.
I've had friends with reef tanks with barely any, or no fish in them. I was the opposite with my reef tanks...my goal was to make them look like an actual reef with fish, within reason of course lol.
These days I just enjoy seeing a school of fish swimming around, with some fish scattered in that serve to keep the tank looking clean.
A planted tank without fish just seems like it's missing something.
Keeping schools of fish is a newer thing for me since whenever I've kept community fish it's always sort of been the Noah's Ark stocking methodology lol. I'd get a couple of these, a couple of those, etc. But this was always in tanks that featured plastic plants, decor, etc., although the last time I had a planted tank which was about a decade ago, I did the exact same thing.
I've had friends with reef tanks with barely any, or no fish in them. I was the opposite with my reef tanks...my goal was to make them look like an actual reef with fish, within reason of course lol.
These days I just enjoy seeing a school of fish swimming around, with some fish scattered in that serve to keep the tank looking clean.
A planted tank without fish just seems like it's missing something.
Johnson18
New Member
I seem to alternate between not wanting any fish and having Apistos and pencilfish. So I usually end up with otos & shrimp because you have to have something. The other side was having like 7 tanks each with a different Apisto/pencil combo. There are a ton of fish I would love to keep but those less common apisto species get me every time.
Never had a tank I thought was large enough for actual Rainbows.
Never had a tank I thought was large enough for actual Rainbows.
GreggZ
Moderator
A three foot tank can work for many smaller species. There are quite a few that only get to about 3" or so if you know how to find them. But you really want a four foot tank at least for the bigger ones. They are active swimmers.
Do I remember you from TPT? Your username sounds awfully familiar.
Johnson18
New Member
Had a 55 for a long time, never seemed like enough space for swimming once I packed it full of plants.
Yes, I have used the same user name on TPT, APC, and other forums for years. I started to just sign up using my name, but figured I'd keep it consistent.
