Centerpiece fish?

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#1
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#1
The 47g looks really empty with just a bunch of small fish, and I was wondering what I could add as a centerpiece. I was thinking of maybe a small angel or something I saw at Petsmart that I think is called a ghost.
Current stocking:
Tons of guppies (several going to a new home soon)
10-20 juvenile platies (giving away at least 5)
2 common plecos (looking for a home)
2 neon swordtails
7 harlequin rasboras
hundreds of baby snails

I plan on getting at least 2 female platies (my water temperature was too high and most of the fry turned out to be male and are now chasing the only female) and another female swordtail, as well as a bristlenose pleco when I find a home for the common plecos. If possible, I'd like something that eats snails or guppy fry. Thanks!
 

DesignsOnYou

DesignsOnYou

Large Fish
#2
Jun 21, 2008
493
0
0
#2
If it was a black ghost knife, they can get pretty big, and they do tend to cause mysterious overnight disappearances of other fish. I'm not sure if they eat snails or not. They probably get too big for your tank though, you can do some research on max size, temperament, etc. I think that most fish will eat guppy fry, probably including angels. Some loaches eat snails, but I don't know of any that do well alone, so that wouldn't really fit your "centerpiece fish" requirements. An angel sounds promising for what you're looking for. A dwarf gourami is a possibility too.
 

misterking

misterking

Superstar Fish
#3
Aug 12, 2008
1,124
0
0
Manchester, UK
www.facebook.com
#3
I like the idea of the angel, and agree with Designs, if it is a black ghost knife fish (google it to see if we're right, or describe it for a positive ID) it'll be too big eventually. As for temperament I think they're pretty docile but have been known to eat small fish as Designs said.

Alternatively, a gourami of some sort could work, maybe a couple of pearl gouramis (I know people don't generally suggest putting more than one gourami together but pearls are much more peaceful and can be kept together successfully).
 

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#5
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#5
Yes, it was a black ghost knife, and I decided against it when I saw the price. My LFS has small angels for about a dollar each. I visited a different LFS in search of plants and found a new centerpiece option, which unfortunately wasn't labeled. It was a bright red fish with a body that looked like a swordtail, but with really long frilly fins. The ones they had were about three inches, not counting the find, which were about as long as the body. The tank was in the same area as the platies and swordtails. Any ideas?
 

RexyTexel

RexyTexel

Large Fish
#7
Apr 29, 2009
179
0
16
Maryland
#7
I always choose bettas for my centerpiece fish. They're pretty and flowy when they swim through the tank. None of my bettas are that aggressive with eachother. Seperate tanks but I put them in cups near eachother during tank cleanings. I think they just tolerate eachother now. But they're always a good choice for tanks. I think they look really nice with a school of neon tetras.
 

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#11
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#11
My male betta terrorized the rasboras when I had them together, and four ended up dying. I considered females, but they would get lost in my tank. I will try to find out more about the red fish I saw, unless anyone knows what they are. Right now I'm trying to decide between an angel and a pair of the red fish, if I can find out what they are. I don't want another agressive/hungry centerpiece fish situation, because I don't have an extra tank this time.
 

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#14
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#14
Update:
The bad news: the LFS where I found the mystery fish (long-finned red swordtails) doesn't maintain their tanks. The pineapple swordtail tank had a fish skeleton being scraped clean by an albino pleco and two other fish dead. The red swordtails also looked sick, and the angels had shredded fins. The employees are pretty unhelpful unless you are buying something. Unless I start a saltwater tank (their saltwater fish look okay) I probably won't be going back.
The good news: I did some research and found a new LFS nearby. All good reviews, healthy fish, low prices. I'll probably go sometime today to see for myself.
Final stocking decision: 3 female platies, 1 female pineapple swordtail, 1 angel
 

RexyTexel

RexyTexel

Large Fish
#15
Apr 29, 2009
179
0
16
Maryland
#15
I'm glad you found a better LFS. I've been trying to find a new fish store other than the ones in my area. I'm not having any luck..Maryland stinks sometime.

Angels are pretty and good choice as far as looks go. My grandmother had a black and white one for about 9 years that ate every fish she ever tried to put into that tank. It had the entire 30gal to itself. They can get kind of aggressive when they get older but it may just depend on the fish. Sort of like how male bettas can be more aggressive than others males.
 

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#17
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#17
I went to the LFs and got 1 red swordtail and 1 platy. Not as good of a selection as I expected, but over 20 kinds of mollies. Their angelfish are more expensive than the other LFS, which I will have to visit anyway because I only got 1 female platy and it hasn't helped my crazy males. However, this new LFS trades for fish (goodbye, guppy fry and oversized common pleco) and I found a 5.5g tank with a top for two dollars less than the tank I saw at Petco. They also have a lot of big bettas. I think a nano tank may be in my future, as soon as I finish stocking my 47g.
Thanks for all the advice.
 

tropicalcrazy

tropicalcrazy

Large Fish
#18
Nov 19, 2008
702
0
0
Des Moines, Iowa
#18
Greendragon1128 said:
I went to the LFs and got 1 red swordtail and 1 platy. Not as good of a selection as I expected, but over 20 kinds of mollies. Their angelfish are more expensive than the other LFS, which I will have to visit anyway because I only got 1 female platy and it hasn't helped my crazy males. However, this new LFS trades for fish (goodbye, guppy fry and oversized common pleco) and I found a 5.5g tank with a top for two dollars less than the tank I saw at Petco. They also have a lot of big bettas. I think a nano tank may be in my future, as soon as I finish stocking my 47g.
Thanks for all the advice.
Click to expand...
in your signature it says how much cost for 5000 gallon, and my answer is a TON of money. i hope your rich. heres a link of 1 place that does it Acrylic Aquariums Acrylic Fish Tank Fish Tanks Manufacturing
 

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#19
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#19
Tropicalcrazy:
That was a joke from when I first started. I wanted pretty much every fish in the store and knew I would need a huge tank. Now I realize how much work it is and how much time it would take to even find a fish in such a huge tank. My max would be about 100g, if that. Though I would like to be rich. Maybe the children's book I'm writing will be a bestseller.

As for stocking, I noticed the date and realized the six months my parents agreed to help me pay for the tank is over. I am now on a tight budget. Hopefully those platies and swordtails breed fast so I can trade the fry for store credit.
 

tropicalcrazy

tropicalcrazy

Large Fish
#20
Nov 19, 2008
702
0
0
Des Moines, Iowa
#20
ahhh i see. oh dont get me wrong i get a chance to build something that big and i have a house with a big enough basement i wouldnt mind building a acrylic tank of around 1000 gallons and build it into a false wall. i think if i went that big it would be one HUGE cichlid tank. i think otherwise the biggest i will go will be between 180 and 300. they just end up getting so expensive to buy. i found a good 180 w/ stand setup at my local LFS for $800 and even comes with filters lights and all.
 

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