Stocking a SE Asia Community tank.....

[Muillinaust]

I've started a 55g tank to keep SE Asian tropicals, but am having a hard time trying to figure out what all to get. Eventually I will have these for sure:

Pearl Gouramis
Snakeskin Gouramis
lots of Clown Loaches
Red Tail Black Shark
Giant Danios
possibly Balas (I have a 75 for them to go into if they get too big)

I'm just not sure what to put in to occupy the middle layer of the tank, other than Balas. Also, I've been told by a couple people that groups of sharks (Epalzeorhynchos) greater than 6 will cohabitate and not be overly territorial. Is this a crock or is it true? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JCA]

id say skip the balas because they like to be in large groups thus needing a much larger tank than even a 75 gallon

 

[DeLgAdO]

id say skip the balas because they like to be in large groups thus needing a much larger tank than even a 75 gallon

yep

my 180 barely cut it when i had them

and i just had 3

 

[HarleyK]

Furthermore, I strongly recommend against the clown loaches, since they - if properly cared for - get quite big, too. How about a nice group of Botia lohachata or Acanthophthalmus kuhlii

HarleyK

 

[Pink-Floyd]

Asian Upside Down Catfish