Stocking ideas?

[Twiggins97]

Hey guys! I just bought a 36 gallon bowfront tank and I’m looking for stocking suggestions. I’m currently cycling the tank and currently have no fish. I have gravel substrate and a heater set at 78 degrees. I’m looking for a community, tropical tank.
For my “eye catchers” I was looking at either a Gourami or a Angelfish.
For my bottom dweller I really want a rainbow shark but I’m worried about the space and their aggressiveness. Maybe a Bristlenose pleco instead?
Any advice or suggestions or even what you have in your current tanks would be great! Thanks guys!

 

[rlederer]

Well, there are a lot of possibilities. I like tetras because of their colors and schooling. I advise against "eye catchers" if you mean centerpiece fish - one of a kind. Fish are much happier in schools or shoals and to isolate one fish from its species is, maybe not cruel, but certainly not good for the fish. You can get a small school of gouramis or a few angelfish, but not one single one, please.

 

[Twiggins97]

So would a pair of gouramis with school fish, such as Tetras or guppies, and then some corys and a bristle nose work better? I keep reading that it’s not a good idea to keep two angelfish with schools because when they mature and pair they get aggressive.

 

[rlederer]

Your idea is good. But about angels. Yes, they are a bit aggressive if they pair up, but they only chase fish away from their eggs, they don't go beating up on fish all around the tank, in my experience. It's a minor problem. But gouramis are generally peaceful.

 

[SaraB]

Unless the fish are small enough to eat...then you might have a problem. Any tetra about the size of or bigger than a black neon tetra would work. Schools of 6 are the minimum for tetras for good schooling behavior.
Yes a bristlenose pleco or a school of corydoras would work.
Just remember to add fish slowly.