35 Gallon Stocking Ideas

[FJB]

I too agree with preferring a pair (not more) of opaline gouramis, and skip on the dwarfs, particularly the highly inbreed (and weak) color variants. Floating plants would be loved by the gouramis and will incorporate them into their nesting behavior.
I like the look of your tank, and very nice crispy Java fern and wood.
A couple of suggestions - If you place the heater vertically on a corner it would be less conspicuous and look nicer; you have sufficient water circulation for that not to be an issue. Finally, your tank's contents would jump alive if you attach black construction paper to the back of your tank, also hiding filters and cords. Good luck!

 

[Shark75]

Length is 36 in.

I agree with others that the opaline gourami is hardier and easier to keep than the Dwarf. And will be fine in this size tank. I didnt realize it was 3 feet long, was thinking it was more like 2 feet.

 

[Shark75]

Are you dead set on the Cardinals? Have you kept them before?

 

[trishmarie]

I wouldn't keep a single Pearl. Would either be too timid without more of its own kind or a male could be aggressive towards the Dwarf. Probably just one type of gourami makes sense in that aquarium.

Would a pair of Pearls and 4 Dwarves work? That’s my last question as it still depends on what’s in the store (and I like larger fish so I’m so willing to fight for one if my tank can have one with the requirements I want ?).

 

[trishmarie]

Are you dead set on the Cardinals? Have you kept them before?

And I’m not dead set, I’m just going in an hour or two to the LFS an hour away to get whatever smaller fish was suggested here of the two species I’m deciding on. I haven’t kept cardinals specifically, but I’ve had other species before.

 

[Shark75]

Would a pair of Pearls and 4 Dwarves work? That’s my last question as it still depends on what’s in the store (and I like larger fish so I’m so willing to fight for one if my tank can have one with the requirements I want ?).

I honestly don't think mixing two types of gouramis in that size tank will work. If you do purchase the Dwarfs make sure they are in great shape. If you see anything abnormal with them, like white patches or what looks like fungus, absolutely dont buy them. You might find it hard to find females as well. When I worked at an aquarium shop 25 years ago we only stocked the males because they were more attractive.

 

[Shark75]

And I’m not dead set, I’m just going in an hour or two to the LFS an hour away to get whatever smaller fish was suggested here of the two species I’m deciding on. I haven’t kept cardinals specifically, but I’ve had other species before.

The reason I asked about the Cardinals is that they can be somewhat more delicate to keep. If you buy some that aren't in great shape or great quality they most likely won't make it. A good substitute, if you're looking for red, would be the Red Phantom Tetra. They look similar to the Serpae Tetra but not nearly as nippy.

 

[FLA]

Lots of other options if your heart isn't set on cardinals. Colombian red and blues, serpaes, von rio, and bloodfins are all tougher/cheaper fish that will do well in there and add some of the red you are looking for redeyes are cool too, but may not be red enough for you. I would do 8 Colombian red and blues or 12-15 of the others.

I might pick either the super red or the blue phantom as 2 plecos that get fairly stout is a large bioload.

 

[Shark75]

So what were you able to find?

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

I disagree with that statement. A dwarf gourami isn't capable of eating a cardinal tetra unless you are talking about a full grown 3.5 inch gourami with a half inch cardinal. Which you aren't going to find that small anyway. Cardinals get up to 2 inches so a little larger than a neon. That must have been one large betta and some tiny neons. I would say that is the exception rather than the rule.

Where do Cardinal tetras get to 2 inches? Been looking all over for those big ones. Never ever seen them that huge. Im buying a huge group if thats how big they can get and put them in the tank with pleco growouts. I just never kept them around longterm they kept being gobbled up by catfish I kept. Max growout size before being ate around 3/4 of inch. Fast foward to many years later im back into fish keeping. My father kept swearing he have seen huge cardinals. I told him he crazy. Now you the 2nd person to mention them. Hence me asking where have you seen them that big