compatibility help

[scarlet_shade]

Hi, I need some help with stocking in an 80g tank.

Currently in it is:
1 Jack Dempsey 3"
1 Weather Loach 8"
6 Pictus Catfish 3-5"
2 Common Pleco 10"

I want to add a school of something but I am unsure if there is anything that would work with these fish. I was thinking Rainbowfish or Denison Barbs but they're much too expensive at $10+ per fish. Does anyone know of any larger schooling fish that are at least somewhat cheaper?

 

[A201]

You might try Giant Danios, or Buenos Aires Tetras. Both species grow fairly large. No guarantee they will survive long term with a full grown Jack.

 

[Velvetmaggot]

Severum? That Jack Dempsey would worry me as well. They can be real a-holes.

 

[Velvetmaggot]

I just saw the schooling part. I’m a loach fan. I like yo-yos very much but they can be too rowdy for pretty fins. A school of dwarf chain loaches could probably hold their own if they are bigger than all of the mouths.

 

[Velvetmaggot]

...also, the weather loach prefers cooler waters, anything too warm is going to stunt them. I have one in a tank that I keep at 77.5f that has reached 12” which seems to thrive. I consider it too warm, but my yo-yo loach is extremely bonded with my dojo’s so I have to just try to find a happy middle.