Disclaimer: I am totally new to fish-keeping. Aside from lurking on here for a couple weeks, and the Siamese Fighting Fish I had as a 12 year old, I lack first hand knowledge. So help 
I currently have a 75 gallon tank with a 7" adult Red Eared Slider in it. I plan on getting a 55 gallon tank as well (no room for anything bigger). I want fish for both tanks, but I'm not certain which. To go in with the turtle I don't want anything expensive or slow, because it will be harassed and potentially eaten. I've read that aggressive cichlids the same size as the turtle can usually hold their own, which brings me to the 55. I don't want a single fish tank for the 55. Ideally I want a fish or two with character, and then some busy colourful fish (dither?) to be moving around.
So here is the idea I had. In the 75 put a school of guppies, or some other baby-making school. In the 55 put an EBJD, a pair of convicts and 7 or 8 tiger barbs to liven things up. When the convicts breed and become jerks I can move the male in with Myrtle (or even the EBJD, when he's big enough. Are JD's as fast as convicts? Will he be able to swim away from the turtle? I'm hoping with the guppies flying around the turtle will have trouble focusing on one targer). Any baby guppies or convicts I can just use as food for Myrtle.
I know there is only one way to see if it would work, but is it possible? Is the 55 going to be full, or will I have room for more?
I currently have a 75 gallon tank with a 7" adult Red Eared Slider in it. I plan on getting a 55 gallon tank as well (no room for anything bigger). I want fish for both tanks, but I'm not certain which. To go in with the turtle I don't want anything expensive or slow, because it will be harassed and potentially eaten. I've read that aggressive cichlids the same size as the turtle can usually hold their own, which brings me to the 55. I don't want a single fish tank for the 55. Ideally I want a fish or two with character, and then some busy colourful fish (dither?) to be moving around.
So here is the idea I had. In the 75 put a school of guppies, or some other baby-making school. In the 55 put an EBJD, a pair of convicts and 7 or 8 tiger barbs to liven things up. When the convicts breed and become jerks I can move the male in with Myrtle (or even the EBJD, when he's big enough. Are JD's as fast as convicts? Will he be able to swim away from the turtle? I'm hoping with the guppies flying around the turtle will have trouble focusing on one targer). Any baby guppies or convicts I can just use as food for Myrtle.
I know there is only one way to see if it would work, but is it possible? Is the 55 going to be full, or will I have room for more?
