Hoplo cats

[NoodleCats]

Mine were with rummy noses and Colombian tetra and didn't have any drama. I personally wouldn't put them with neons as they are small enough for them to eat. Hoplos aren't fast and neons are so it might be ok but I wouldn't take the risk.
I always laughed when people said how ugly they were, they were so cool and friendly, even eating from my hand that it wasn't worth worrying what others thought.

Well, then after my neons is when id think of those. If not, then ill go with porthole catfish (smaller hoplo cousin, reaching only 3-4 inches). Ill have to see if my neons are still kicking around when we move into a bigger place (no clue exactly when, so... lol).
But this has been very helpful, thanks!


Or is there a larger south american upperlevel schooler that can be put in a 5 foot tank that wont eat my cories? A longshot but hey lol. If not, ill choose a larger tetra species.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Or is there a larger south american upperlevel schooler that can be put in a 5 foot tank that wont eat my cories? A longshot but hey lol. If not, ill choose a larger tetra species.

Hatchet fish. Relatively hard fish to keep.
there are: skirts (you already have those), coulmbians, black phantoms, serape, rummy nose, emperors etc. There are tons

 

[NoodleCats]

Eh not really interested in hatchets. But emperors are gorgeous... i have skirts... i like them but not quite what im looking for in the big tank. Theyre not as hardy as id like (hilarious because i have no trouble with neons!)

I saw archer fish babies at my lfs and oh they were sooooo cute. But i think theyd eat my cories at full size haha

 

[MatteoTheEnder22]

Eh not really interested in hatchets. But emperors are gorgeous... i have skirts... i like them but not quite what im looking for in the big tank. Theyre not as hardy as id like (hilarious because i have no trouble with neons!)

I saw archer fish babies at my lfs and oh they were sooooo cute. But i think theyd eat my cories at full size haha

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I say go with the archers if you have enough hiding places maybe they can cohabitate with each other

 

[Ogertron3000]

Well, then after my neons is when id think of those. If not, then ill go with porthole catfish (smaller hoplo cousin, reaching only 3-4 inches). Ill have to see if my neons are still kicking around when we move into a bigger place (no clue exactly when, so... lol).
But this has been very helpful, thanks!


Or is there a larger south american upperlevel schooler that can be put in a 5 foot tank that wont eat my cories? A longshot but hey lol. If not, ill choose a larger tetra species.

There's plenty to choose from, if you want true upper level fish go for pencilfish. Any of the round bodied tetras will be fine like serape, columbians or bleeding hearts.
I wouldn't get the archerfish, they won't eat the cories but get big and can be aggressive to each other. Maybe a few African butterfly fish if you want something unusual?

 

[NoodleCats]

There's plenty to choose from, if you want true upper level fish go for pencilfish. Any of the round bodied tetras will be fine like serape, columbians or bleeding hearts.
I wouldn't get the archerfish, they won't eat the cories but get big and can be aggressive to each other. Maybe a few African butterfly fish if you want something unusual?

Going for South American biotope. Though, the ABF are really neat.

 

[Iamfish]

If you like archerfish but worried about cories you could go with Toxotes Microlepis, they only grow to 5 inches. Aqua Imports has them in stock right now, I got mine from there https://www.aqua-imports.com/shop/product/freshwater-small-scaled-archerfish-toxotes-microlepis/

 

[NoodleCats]

If you like archerfish but worried about cories you could go with Toxotes Microlepis, they only grow to 5 inches. Aqua Imports has them in stock right now, I got mine from there https://www.aqua-imports.com/shop/product/freshwater-small-scaled-archerfish-toxotes-microlepis/

Gorgeous little guys! But im in Canada, so that source is a no go for me. Plus theyre not actually south american, now that im thinking about it... hm.

 

[Fishman Dave]

They should be fine with neons. Yet to meet a hoplo cat after 30 years of keeping them that could be bothered to chase a meal. More than happy for their meals to land on the bottom beside them or take flake from the surface. Not one for chasing fish.
But your call.

 

[NoodleCats]

So i am updating this...

We ended up getting a 55 gallon, standard 4 foot footprint, and my online store ended up getting some new stock in...

And surprise surprise, they had hoplosternum punctatum! A hoplo that only grows to 3 inches! I can keep them with my neon tetras without any worry at all.