CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I've got a 35 gallon hex stand and all last week for free. the only thing in there now is a rosy barb(she told me it was a goldfish but it didn't look like one and it took me a week to find it on the internet) and a pleco which came with the tank. I've looked online and finally found out that the barb likes to be in a school so i'll get him some friends but I want other fish as well. I like the neon tetras, mollies and maybe some danios but they aren't that colorfull(mostly black white and silver) and are also small. I would like some larger fish but not to large that would be community safe and more colorfull like yellow, blue, or red but I haven't found anything yet so here I am looking for suggestions??

yes ......the rosy barb's like to live in a community.It's not a goldfish.perhaps you could get a couple of M.auratus which is kind of coulurful but at the same time only little aggressive.try searching for other cichlids as these are colourful fishes and at the same time not that big.

I've found thats it's hard to have med.-large fish in such a small size hex. The smallest tank that I run to have fish with any kind of size is a 38 gall. standard tank. they dont look as cool as the hex, but its much easier to get fish to grow to a considerable size.

Originally posted by guitrz6
I've found thats it's hard to have med.-large fish in such a small size hex. The smallest tank that I run to have fish with any kind of size is a 38 gall. standard tank. they dont look as cool as the hex, but its much easier to get fish to grow to a considerable size.

This is correct. The problem with a Hex is that it lacks the surface area of a standard shaped tank, so you're pretty much limited to smaller (and fewer) fishfaces than a regular aquarium. My suggestion is anabantoids -- "Labrynth" fishes -- like Bettas (only one male allowed, though --) and Gouramis. These fish have an organ called a Labrynth that allow them to breathe atmospheric air at the surface, if necessary, so it may be possible to stock it up a bit more than if you get livebearers like mollies, etc.

--Mark:cool:

Originally posted by renick
yes ......the rosy barb's like to live in a community.It's not a goldfish.perhaps you could get a couple of M.auratus which is kind of coulurful but at the same time only little aggressive.try searching for other cichlids as these are colourful fishes and at the same time not that big.

you could get a couple of M.auratus

Definitly dont get these !! They will clear out a tank in a few weeks after maturing[trust me i know//

I just ended up getting 5 more barbs another male and 4 females. They all seem ok now but the original male had to follow around each fish for 5-10 minutes each. I guess he was checkin out his new buddies no fin nipping or anything hopefully all will be peacefull together and play nice.