Schooling fish

[MitcherNeaf]

Right now i have 3 balas and they seem to follow eachother pretty well, i only have a 55 gallon and am going to upgrade in a year anyway but i dont want too many balas in there because they get so big. Is 3 balas a good number for school to take place or would another 1 help with that.

I am also going to purchase some clown loaches for the tank and i saw 2 in the pet store today that seemed to be schooling with eachother pretty well, but found a site on the internet that suggested 6 for good schooling, that seems like quite a bit, and will fill my tank up real quick, and wont allow me to really put any more fish in besides clown loaches and bala sharks, i would like to have atleast 2 more types, maybe a red tailed shark, or a cherry barb, looking for something that will remain on its own rather than another type of schooling fish, 2 is plenty. Maybe even a kissing gourami, that seems to be a nice addition, what do you gusy think, they a loner fish?

Thanks alot
Mitch

 

[hc8719]

they say that if one is really dominant, it will be able to make life miserable for the other two, sometimes 4-5 are needed, and many reccommend this number because its a small school, but i think that unless you have a really dominant shark, you should be fine

 

[JustOneMore20]

Cherry barbs are not loners...they do best in trios of 1m/2f. They aren't schooling, but they like the company of their own kind. Gouramis can be kept by themselves though.

Kissing gouramis and clown loaches get too large for a 55g. The balas do also, but I think you said in another post that you plan to upgrade in the future.

I'd go with an Opaline gourami. They get around 5 inches and will stand up to any fish that tries to pick on them. They are usually peaceful though.

Have you thought about a small school of a larger type fish? You could keep 4-6 Rainbows or Denison's Barbs (Red Line Barbs) if you can find them. Bosemani rainbows would make a great centerpiece school in the tank.

 

[Ferret_Friend]

Before my out of control water parameters killed them, I had three 3" balas in a 29 gallon. They seemed to get along just fine.

 

[coldmachineUK]

3 Clowns = school. Whoever said '6' was being idealistic: you'd need an exceptionally large tank for a school of 6 fully grown clowns...^.^

But, you're right that clowns would probably be too much for your tank with the balas.
I also wouldn't recommend a red-tailed shark with your balas. A small school of larger sized barbs as JustOneMore20 said is probably sage advice

 

[MitcherNeaf]

So you are saying a couple clown loaches is not a good idea. You are correct once i graduate school and get a nursing job, i do plan on getting a bigger tank, and that is only about 8 months away, (or income tax time either one). But i like the clown loaches the best, and maybe one of those opaline gourami's would also look nice in the tank as well. With my plans what would be a good number of clown loaches.

I have not seem any of the basemani rainbows or denison's barbs in the pet store but i will have to keep an eye out for them and check them out, thankyou.

Also my wife really likes the clown loaches would maybe the clown barbs be a better idea.

 

[JustOneMore20]

I would get 3 clown loaches for now and then add more once you get a bigger tank. 3 is a good number and wouldn't overcrowd your balas too much.

If you can find clown barbs, I think they would work as well. They get around 4-5 inches (from the limited info I can find when googling)...so big enough not to get bullied around IMO.

 

[MitcherNeaf]

ok thanks alot, i guess i should probably let my tank completely cycle before i think about adding those.