What should I keep? (a blast from the past)

[Cinder]

I havent been around in, um, yrs? I see Martin is still around, and still residing on this side of the pond...happily I hope.

I have a question. This past Dec here in the NW, we had a major power outtage...I didnt have power for 8 days.

I lost 4 tanks of fish. Including all my sids

I didnt think I could take that kind of disappointment again, but my 55 g is still sitting in the living room, with just live plants.

I dont really feel like doing much maintenance....I just want something pretty, colorful, and peaceful. What should I stock it with (lightly stock it)?

Rasbora hets, in a large group, might color up nicely and they're pretty hardy. I love cardinals, but I've had them get sick and take down entire tanks.

And what bottom fish? What loaches might do well? I do love zebras. No more sids or clowns for me tho. I cant take the losses...they have too much personality. Are kuhlis available again?

BTW, we have soft water here in the NW.

Cheers,

Laurie

[MTS]

German Rams are really beautiful. If you worry about a power out, perhaps goldfish which can survive colder temps and have great personalities.

[Cinder]

Thanks, German rams are beautiful, but much too sensitive. I want something I dont have to worry about really specific water quality, something low maint.

And goldfish are a good suggestion, except that I have a lot of live plants that I'd like to keep. But cold water fish is an interesting suggestion...what else is out there?

Unfortunately, even my cool water killies died during the blackout.

I could keep a couple of dojos....so then what would be pretty to go along with them in cool/cold water? I had some bitterlings...pretty, but total lawnmowers!

(My house isnt air conditioned tho, and my water does go up into the 80s in summer)

[Martin Thoene]

The trouble with a 55 Laurie is it's a bit too small for Dojos. They need a lot of space. If you're afraid of power outages then just about anything is at risk. Temperature is less of a problem than lack of oxygen and degredation of filter bacteria due to no water flow.
Having battery powered air-pumps is a good get you out of jail move. Theoretically, with some emergency backup you can keep anything. You could maybe even look at native fish?
While your place isn't AC'd I'm sure it's not overly cold in Winter months either. Something that enjoys slightly lower temps would work. You could think about Rosy Barbs, Whiteclouds.....or there's lots of new Danio species available now that will be quite ok in an unheated tank.

Martin.

[MTS]

Female betas or glo-fish (http://www.glofish.com/images/glofish_005_std.jpg) which are just colorful danios would give a planted tank some flashy color.

[loachmom]

I saw some hot-pink danios for the first time this past weekend. I assume that they were the glo-fish. They were very eye-catching!!!

Welcome (back) to the forum, Cinder.

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the gender poll sticky over in the freshwater forum!

[Cinder]

Glo fish? Hmmm. It has been awhile since I've been in a fish store, obviously! And I've always liked female bettas.

I guess I need to go shopping. So far, nobody thinks much of my idea of a large school of rasbora hets? I used to have a smaller tank with them and diamond tetras...very pretty. But the tetras ate the softer leaved plants...the books dont tell you that!

And how about for the bottom? Kuhlis?

[Cinder]

Welcome (back) to the forum, Cinder.

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the gender poll sticky over in the freshwater forum!

Thanks very much.

I'll go check it out.

Does anyone ever hear from Joe Loach anymore?

[Martin Thoene]

Rasboras would certainly work and be nice with kuhlis. Kuhlis are about but there are some problems with finding good ones.

Joe Loach pops up still on occasion and JD was over on the Off-Topic forum just yesterday. In fact there's a photo of him too!

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=6780&start=15

Martin.

[Cinder]

Those are great pics! I recognized JD's house from the past. And the canoe trip looked awesome.

Maybe I'll catch up with some of ya'll while I'm here. I'm still in the 'planning' phase for the 55.

And the biggest reason to get some new fish?.........Because I have a huge fish tank in my living room and it's too much trouble to get rid of!!!!!!!

Seriously! I dont feel like breaking it down and I cant afford a decent piece of furniture to put in it's place! So I want to stock with a few, hardy, purty fish.

Laaaaaammmmee! He he.

[Cinder]

Best bottom fish for my "low maint" 55? Is there a good, hardy loach that would be active and fun in a group of about 7?