Hello, all. I'm brand new to this forum (first thread here). I've been using a different forum, but since this one comes up often in search results when I search the Internet on various fish topics, I decided to check this forum out, especially since I think this forum seems to be very well suited for what I'd like to do. I apologize in advance for the very long post, but I want to get a detailed version of what I'd like to do out there.
As the title of my thread suggests, I'm interested in a "Wet Pet" for my 55 gallon tank. I'm well aware that most fish that qualify as a "Wet Pet" would be better suited for a 75, but due to the space I have, I'm limited to the 55 for this tank. I'll also give fair warning that what I want to do will likely be very difficult, at best, due to several reasosn, which I'll explain in this post. This is a bedroom tank (so it's impossible for me to be near the tank constantly), and it's currently set up as an Angelfish community tank. Although I haven't made any decisions yet, I'm leaning toward changing directions with this tank because I haven't had very good luck with Angels. In the past, I did have a Jack Dempsey in this tank (before I converted it to an Angel tank), and it hid a lot. Because the fish hid so much, and because there wasn't much in the tank, it also seemed pretty empty, and between these two factors, the tank seemed very boring to me. I was completely uninterested in this sort of tank after the experience with the JD, until I recently saw someone's tank with a single Midas in a 75 (along with two Madagascar Rainbows). This tank didn't bore me at all because this particular fish had so much personality! I definitely want to explore such a tank again, but I know I'll be limited with only the 55 (so I know many of the larger cichlids will be eliminated just because of this), and because the tank is in my bedroom, and I won't be able to be around it all the time.
I wanted to get some opinions on here to see if there's anything I can do in order to have an interactive "Wet Pet" in my 55. I have a few fish that I like in particular, and a few ideas that I'd like to explore. I'll list these, but I'll also say that I'll consider other options as long as they're large, interactive fish (nothing Electric Blue Acara sized, etc. as I have one of those, and other fish of similar size in my 100 gallon community tank. Thanks in advance!
There's currently a Blue Phantom Pleco in the tank, and at least that fish must stay. Leading the way in my mind for a "Wet Pet" is a Green Terror (but, I've heard different things regarding tank size for these guys, and whether it would be shy or interactive, as well as what else I could have with it). I also like the look of Salvinis, but I know they can be very aggressive, and I noticed that these guys seem to be less interactive than the larger cichlids, and I definitely want interactive. part of me wonders if I can keep several SA/CA Cichlids in my 55 along with the Pleco in order to keep aggression in check, or at least to keep fish together than can handle each other and to not have the tank look too empty. Another option I'm wondering about (and by far my favorite option, if it's possible) is whether I could keep one or two "centerpiece cichlids" in my tank along with the Pleco, and a school of some dither fish to help with keeping the "Wet Pet" not be so shy. If I can do this option, I'd love to hear suggestions on exactly what I could do, but for example, I love Rainbows. and various types of Barbs. I know I'm throwing a lot out there, and I know much of it is going to be difficult to work with, but if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it; thanks in advance!
As the title of my thread suggests, I'm interested in a "Wet Pet" for my 55 gallon tank. I'm well aware that most fish that qualify as a "Wet Pet" would be better suited for a 75, but due to the space I have, I'm limited to the 55 for this tank. I'll also give fair warning that what I want to do will likely be very difficult, at best, due to several reasosn, which I'll explain in this post. This is a bedroom tank (so it's impossible for me to be near the tank constantly), and it's currently set up as an Angelfish community tank. Although I haven't made any decisions yet, I'm leaning toward changing directions with this tank because I haven't had very good luck with Angels. In the past, I did have a Jack Dempsey in this tank (before I converted it to an Angel tank), and it hid a lot. Because the fish hid so much, and because there wasn't much in the tank, it also seemed pretty empty, and between these two factors, the tank seemed very boring to me. I was completely uninterested in this sort of tank after the experience with the JD, until I recently saw someone's tank with a single Midas in a 75 (along with two Madagascar Rainbows). This tank didn't bore me at all because this particular fish had so much personality! I definitely want to explore such a tank again, but I know I'll be limited with only the 55 (so I know many of the larger cichlids will be eliminated just because of this), and because the tank is in my bedroom, and I won't be able to be around it all the time.
I wanted to get some opinions on here to see if there's anything I can do in order to have an interactive "Wet Pet" in my 55. I have a few fish that I like in particular, and a few ideas that I'd like to explore. I'll list these, but I'll also say that I'll consider other options as long as they're large, interactive fish (nothing Electric Blue Acara sized, etc. as I have one of those, and other fish of similar size in my 100 gallon community tank. Thanks in advance!
There's currently a Blue Phantom Pleco in the tank, and at least that fish must stay. Leading the way in my mind for a "Wet Pet" is a Green Terror (but, I've heard different things regarding tank size for these guys, and whether it would be shy or interactive, as well as what else I could have with it). I also like the look of Salvinis, but I know they can be very aggressive, and I noticed that these guys seem to be less interactive than the larger cichlids, and I definitely want interactive. part of me wonders if I can keep several SA/CA Cichlids in my 55 along with the Pleco in order to keep aggression in check, or at least to keep fish together than can handle each other and to not have the tank look too empty. Another option I'm wondering about (and by far my favorite option, if it's possible) is whether I could keep one or two "centerpiece cichlids" in my tank along with the Pleco, and a school of some dither fish to help with keeping the "Wet Pet" not be so shy. If I can do this option, I'd love to hear suggestions on exactly what I could do, but for example, I love Rainbows. and various types of Barbs. I know I'm throwing a lot out there, and I know much of it is going to be difficult to work with, but if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it; thanks in advance!
