School/Shoal Recommendations?

[Belly up]

There are a lot of mid sized barbs that can swim circles around your cichlids, a couple have been mentioned. I would add Arulius and Clown barbs to that list. I currently have Arulius barbs with some JD grow outs right now.

If I was doing a biotope tank then I would want fish found with the cichlids in nature. Otherwise I like something that can hold up to the potential abuse the cichlids can dish out.

Nice pics guys!

 

[celebrist]

I understand loyalty to biotope I'm a strong believer in that what I've done with my 450 as I call all of the inhabitants the UN they are from all over the world they Mill about and do nothing

 

[tiger15]

Some of the larger tetra and barb that can go with cichlid include Roseline barb, rosy barb, congo tetra, bleeding heart tetra and diamond Tera, which can max out between 3.5 to 6 inch. Tiger barb, swordtail and Molly can reach 3 inch at full grown so are sizable option. Unfortunately, stores usually sell them at 1 to 1.5 inch size so they need some grow out to be safe with large cichlid. I currently have roseline barb, tiger barb, and rosy barb with my mid to large size cichlid, and growing out some Congo tetra and Molly in a separate tank for later introduction. Although my large cichlid were raised with dry food, fish too small can self scare and get skittish, triggering their lost predatory instinct.

Another consideration is what level the schooling /shoaling fish will stay. Live bearer , Congo tetra and Rosy barb stay on top, Tiger barb all over, and roseline barb, bleeding heart and diamond tetra stay near the bottom.

 

[AKBlueJacks]

Another consideration is what level the schooling /shoaling fish will stay. Live bearer , Congo tetra and Rosy barb stay on top, Tiger barb all over, and roseline barb, bleeding heart and diamond tetra stay near the bottom.

That is a good thing for me to take into consideration. The Jack Dempseys will mostly occupy the bottom portion of the tank. I was also thinking of a group of Odessa Barbs. I think they would stay more in open areas and near the top.

 

[tiger15]

Not sure about Odessa barb. Rosy barb, a larger relativ of Odessa, stay on top all the time. Males are in battle with one another all day long, so they are bad schooler.

 

[celebrist]

My denison barbs tend to occupy the lower half of the tank

 

[celebrist]

That is a good thing for me to take into consideration. The Jack Dempseys will mostly occupy the bottom portion of the tank. I was also thinking of a group of Odessa Barbs. I think they would stay more in open areas and near the top.

I found my Odessa barbs beautiful but short lived 2 years on average