New centerpiece for 40g

[Rtc/tsn]

That is a good looking FM. The other members advice is good. They prefer sand, I have kept them in gravel tanks for what it's worth and they have been OK.
He is schooling with the barbs because they are pretty much "schooling cichlids", like to be in groups more than most species do. I do think yours will be OK without a group, and don't have room in the tank for any more.
My advice is rinse the sand well before putting it in especially if using play/home depot sand.
I would probably wait a couple days and let him settle in before swapping the gravel, it will be stressful for the fish in the tank.
Best of luck

Thank you. I was worried about doing a water change yesterday with it being the same day he was introduced but he’s doing just fine. Extremely and I mean EXTREMELY active and already showing great personality. I agree with you on waiting to change gravel to sand. First he’s being chased by a net to be put in a bag and a new tank. I already tested my luck by doing a water change the same day as well. Last thing this fish needs right now is a hand in his new home ?

 

[Tripping Willow 91]

Lovely colours on that little guy. Definitely remove the majority of that gravel and replace with sand, I've recently started keeping a group of T.meeki and I cannot imagine them without sand. They're always sucking up mouthfuls and filtering out food particles through their gill rakers, you can see this is obviously a natural behaviour for them and it's also very interesting to watch