Stocking plan for new aquarium

[SKjEi o2]

I just got a new 55 gallon tank for Christmas. I was wondering if these fish would work once full sized. AqAdvisor said it would work but I'm wondering if they'll have enough room/ territory.

5 Pictus Catfish
5 Roseline Barbs
1 Large surface fish

So far I have fish for the bottom and middle of the tank but feel that the top would be somewhat empty. Is there a larger fish that would work well in this aquarium?

Oh, by the way, I will have a somewhat heavily planted tank. Will any of these fish eat or tear them up?

 

[Loddy Dod]

I think that sounds good, the pictus and roselines should be fine. For a "large surface" fish (which I am assuming you just mean big fish), you could go with a pair of angelfish, gouramis, maybe a festivus?

Good luck!

 

[SKjEi o2]

Thanks. That is exactly what I am looking for. The only fish I were aware of that stayed near the surface were Danios and hatchetfish. I am considering the gourami. Would you recommend a specific type?

 

[Loddy Dod]

Yeah, gouramis are anabantoids, which means they basically breath our air, which means they stay near the surface (how cool, right??).

Because you want a bigger fish, stay away from the dwarf types of gouramis, but besides that, you could go with pretty much whatever type you want. You could go on a website like liveaquaria and check out their selection, there is a lot!

 

[SKjEi o2]

I have owned a DG before but it never stayed near the surface. Maybe my water was just so well-oxygenated . I love the opaline gourami.

A little off topic but why is the giant gourami so small?