Wet pet for a 35 hex

[FreshyFresh]

How about an angel fish? They can be wet-petish and would be ideal for a cylinder of water like this. You could do an angle and 6-8 cardinal tetras for color, or maybe some danios for activity/personality.

To me, the size and footprint of a 35g hex isn't intended for anything that requires footprint, which is pretty much everything IMO.

 

[ehh]

Honestly, there isn't much you can put in there. The shape of it really units your options.
It's way too small for angels. Have you ever seen a big angel? They're like floating palms lol. Most of the fish that are really interactive and usually really big.
I think kribs or Rams are the way to go.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Different footprint, but I've had saucer sized angels as center piece fish in 29g tanks.. Single angel with a few small fish in there.

 

[Frank Castle]

The tank is about 18 inches across, I would like a single hardy specimen that will interact with the students and not get stressed about all the faces up close. All of you have given me some excellent ideas, thanks

a Firemouth probably be best choice for a Wet-pet, with a Male Convicts/HRP or Jewel as 2nd. I have seen some FMs full grown at 5", BUT it was certainly a husky, BIG 5" ......Pictus might be a better bottomfeeder than Corys for the 3 I just suggested or Raphael even better yet, Hoplo equally suitable

For dithers, I'd go with Mollies, maybe 2 M, 6 F ....of all my dithers the Mollies certainly seem the hardiest and healthiest w/ best appetite, and live-bearers provide feederfish for carnivorous tankmates when they breed. You should be able to find them already gravid at the LFSs. Fancy Guppies too, Platys are a little more delicate though, IME