LOL I hear ya man. I've been through quite a few of them myself but seem to have them somewhat figured out now. Mine are all approaching a year old now. I could never get them to live more then 3 months.
They are with bg jacks, severums, geophagus's, tiger barbs, bala sharks and zebra danios. The barbs and danios help them alot with not being skittish. When I walk through the door coming home from work and walk over to the tank, every EB is at the front top of the tank waiting to greet me. There personalities are just simply awesome.