Top of tank dwellers?

[wrmiller]

Greetings!
I'm wondering if anyone can help to point out some fishes that are interesting and would get along okay with my existing fishes but also dominate the top level of the aquarium?

Right now I have a 37 gallon which is 30x12x22 (inches). the fishes I have stay either at mid-level or below almost all of the time. I am going to be getting a 60 gallon which is 48x13x24 (inches) hopefully this week. That's 2 inches taller than the tank I have now which means more wasted space at the top. I know I could go with a 55 gallon which is only 20 inches tall but I really like the look and extra height of the 60 gallon tank. So, I want at least a couple of fish that will dominate the top of the tank but will get along also with the fishes I already have. I would appreciate any and all replies.

My current stock is this and yes, I know the Bala's are not suitable for my 37 or the 60 gallon I will be getting. Right now they are only 2 inches and seem perfectly happy. When the time comes they will be going to a buddy of mine who has a 180 gallon semiagressive tank, so don't flip out on me.

- 2 bala sharks
- 3 clown barbs
- 4 tiger barbs (i will be getting more to bring the number to about 7)
- 1 chinese algae eater
- 3 cory catfish

I'm excited to see what you guys throw out there at me for top dwellers.
Thanks in advance, folks!

 

[absolutangel04]

Dwarf gourami or hatchet fish are the first species that come to mind.

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Chinese algae eaters will become a problem once they reach full grown. They only eat algae when they are small and will eventually turn on your fish. They are highly aggressive, I have had the first had experience of this.

Other than that, killifish and hatchet fish stick to the top pretty religiously.

 

[absolutangel04]

Chinese algae eaters will become a problem once they reach full grown. They only eat algae when they are small and will eventually turn on your fish. They are highly aggressive, I have had the first had experience of this.

Other than that, killifish and hatchet fish stick to the top pretty religiously.

I had a CAE do that too. I got one before I knew better and it chased my guppies compulsively. Definitely a species I avoid now.

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Oh, by the way, you will need a top if you don't already have one. Both killis and hatchets are jumpers. All of my killis have jumped out. Used to have three in my 55g.

 

[wrmiller]

Chinese algae eaters will become a problem once they reach full grown. They only eat algae when they are small and will eventually turn on your fish. They are highly aggressive, I have had the first had experience of this.

Other than that, killifish and hatchet fish stick to the top pretty religiously.

Thanks for the information on the algae eater. Isn't there an albino or white version that doesn't lose it's appetite for algae?

 

[wrmiller]

Oh, by the way, you will need a top if you don't already have one. Both killis and hatchets are jumpers. All of my killis have jumped out. Used to have three in my 55g.

Thanks for this advice. This should not be an issue though. I will have full glass canopies as well as a wood canopy.

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Nope. All of the variations are like this. Now, Siamese algae eaters/flying foxes are great. They look very similar to the CAEs, but are algae eating beasts. I picked up mine after my initial explosion of algae and those guys have chomped it down like crazy. All of them have bellies.

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Thanks for this advice. This should not be an issue though. I will have full glass canopies as well as a wood canopy.

Alrighty, was just making sure.

 

[wrmiller]

Nope. All of the variations are like this. Now, Siamese algae eaters/flying foxes are great. They look very similar to the CAEs, but are algae eating beasts. I picked up mine after my initial explosion of algae and those guys have chomped it down like crazy. All of them have bellies.

Excellent! I will definitely look in to these. I will have to find a good home for the CAE when the time comes. When should I expect the aggression to start? He is only about 1.5 inches right now so I think he is pretty young.

 

[wrmiller]

Alrighty, was just making sure.

Absolutely. Like I said, I appreciate all of the advice such as this.

 

[Morgie]

Dwarf Gouramis, IME, are actually mid-bottom swimmers. Other gouramis (pearls are my personal favorite) are definitely top swimmers I like the killis and hatchets that the others suggested, but if you wanted something more oddball you could always look at African butterfly fish. Upside down cats could also be a fun choice.

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Butterfly fish are super neat! Not very active though. They stick to back corners and don't move until you feed them. They are awesome when eating though, worth searching on Youtube.

CAE aggression probably differs between the fish, but expect it at around three inches. I would start looking for a new home now though.

 

[absolutangel04]

Excellent! I will definitely look in to these. I will have to find a good home for the CAE when the time comes. When should I expect the aggression to start? He is only about 1.5 inches right now so I think he is pretty young.

It of course depends on the fish, but mine went from angel to demon in a hurry right around 2 inches.

 

[wrmiller]

Dwarf Gouramis, IME, are actually mid-bottom swimmers. Other gouramis (pearls are my personal favorite) are definitely top swimmers I like the killis and hatchets that the others suggested, but if you wanted something more oddball you could always look at African butterfly fish. Upside down cats could also be a fun choice.

I would love to do the African butterfly fish. However, I believe they like little or no current on top of the water. I could be wrong about that but I think that is what I read somewhere. I will check in to it though. I like to keep a pretty good movement on top of my water so if they don't like the movement that would be out.

Pearl Gouramis, are they aggressive? I had a opaline gourami before and he was a terror. I know it is awful to say but I was relieved the morning I woke up and he for whatever reason he was floating.

 

[CleverBs]

the 2 things that come to my mind are White Clouds and Guppies spend most of their time at the top and they are great fun, I have a little 10 gallon with just guppies in it and i love it.

 

[jetajockey]

Look into killies and topminnows. I am posting a fish profile on 1 species later tonight.

 

[Morgie]

My pearls are very peaceful. They are a bit territorial, but as long as there are larger fish in the tank they don't bother anyone.
and yeah, African butterflies don't like current.

 

[wrmiller]

Nope. All of the variations are like this. Now, Siamese algae eaters/flying foxes are great. They look very similar to the CAEs, but are algae eating beasts. I picked up mine after my initial explosion of algae and those guys have chomped it down like crazy. All of them have bellies.

I checked out the Flying Fox and they are pretty cool looking. Can you have more than 1? Will they eat other foods if there is not an abundance of algae? Also, it doesn't look like they have the mouth like the other algae eater species. Do they attach to the glass like the others or do they pick away at the algae after is long enough? Thanks for any information you can provide. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[maxwellag]

Dwarf gouramis are awesome! I have had a few... the one thing I would be concerned of is diseases. they are very sensitive to changing water parameters, and for some reason a lot of them randomly just die, even in perfect water conditions. I had this happen to me. Some people think its a hereditary issue... I am not sure. I think that something might be bad with their genetics, like something could've gotten mutated, as almost all dgs are tank bred now.