Help me pick my fish!

[kimberly]

I'm not quite at the point of putting fish in my planted aquarium, but I am getting closer to the time and I would like to plan what I am going to put in there. It is 58 gallons.

I think I would like a clown loach (is one good?), a handful of angels (4-6), a pleco, and then I don't really know. I like some of the gouramis, long fin guppies, danios, mollies, tetras, white clouds, bala sharks and swordtails. I know that I can't have them all, of course! I will add a cleaning crew at a later date as need arises. Right now there is no sign of algae anywhere and of course I am not feeding a fishless tank.

Also, I need to have fish that aren't known for jumping out of tanks since I no longer have a full lid.

I would like suggestions on compatibility and appropriate numbers of each (school, keep alone, etc), I prefer easy to care for fish. I am not that interested in breeding them so easy to breed is not a requirement.

Thanks!
Kimberly

[dax29]

I like clown loaches and angelfish. Both could go in that tank. I'd get at least 3 clown loaches as they are schoolers and very social. I have heard that clown loaches jump out of tanks but I had no problems with mine. I covered the bare areas with plexiglass I had cut in a pattern that fits around everything. I personally like gouramis and I'd get an opaline and/or a pearl. Congos are my favorite tetras and a school of 5 would do well. That's my 2 cents worth on fish.

[malkore]

I wouldn't recommend gourami's. they have a tendency to pick algae off plants, damaging them in the process, particularly fine-leaved varieties: mayaca, rotala wallichi, foxtail, etc.

[Andos99]

Mollies love to breed so if you're not interested in babies, steer clear unless you only have females. Angels will eat anything small, but a school of zebra danios would be fun (8-10) to watch but that wouldn't leave you much room for anything else. Maybe through in a red tailed shark or some rainbows which are my personal favorite.

[BrianNY]

That no lid is a very limiting factor. Most fish can and will jump. Especially if startled.
Swordtails are notorious jumpers. Gouramis, being air breathers, require a stable air surface temperature.