Bedside Freshwater Tank Ideas

[Glabe]

I have a thriving semi-aggressive tank in my living room for everyone to enjoy with some lookers in it: Tiger barb school, gouramis, blue rams, albino longfin bristlenose.


Now I want a tank with one or a few fish who I can enjoy, even if my family thinks they're ugly. My top choice at the moment is a Fire Eel, but I'm open to suggestions.


Any ideas are appreciated =) (I don't want anything too delicate)

 

[Glabe]

Also, I'd like something with a personality and maybe a mean streak =)

 

[fhawk362]

What size tank, firemouth cichlids are cool and good for 30 gallons plus, I would say a pair jack dempsey if you got a 75 plus, even a 55 will do good for a decent while.

 

[Fat Homer]

Considering you said bedside, i'm not sure if you want to setup a fire eel tank, since they would basically require a 200G+ tank which i don't know qualifies for a bedside tank

Not to mention, that they have been known to thrash around at night some times when they are trying to escape which may wake you up in the middle of the night with a panic attack?

Otherwise, one of the many freshwater puffers could be an interesting addition? they are aggressive eaters, and very interactive

 

[J.Lake]

shell dwellers make excellent bedside tanks. There are some real mean ones

 

[Glabe]

thanks for the quick reply! I'll probably get another 30 gal, but I may break the budget and get a 55. Cichlids do sound fun, especially when the babies pop out

 

[Glabe]

what are shell dwellers? And i could try puffers again. I put them in my normal tank a couple years ago... but returned them when they decided to make meals out of everyone's fins

 

[Fat Homer]

^ yeah, that is one problem with puffers, for the most part they need to be alone in a tank, unless you get something like south american puffers which require regular dentistry, but can be kept in groups...

 

[fhawk362]

Puffers are awesome but they are a pain, I dont like keeping them cause i dont like solitary tanks, had a gsp for a while in a 20, cool fish but I like atleast having a pair. check craigslist for a used 55 or larger, depending on where you live they can be quite cheap, florida and cali get a lot of good deals.

 

[J.Lake]

Shell dwellers are a tytpe of cichlid whos life revolves around shells. They sleep in them, they breed in them and they raise their babies inside them. Great and super intresting lil colonies, constant digging of sand. They are contstantly moving their shells around. Honestly they make ideal bedside tanks. I keep 20 longs in my room filled wioth shellies, I also have a shellies tank in the guest room.