Bottom dweller suggestions wanted!

[Mrs.h2012]

So now that I've made the switch to sand, I would like a opinions/recommendations on some new bottom feeders. I've been looking at botias. I have the site that LFS orders from so I know what's available to me. Also please tell me if you think I risk over crowding. Currently I have 4 bronze and peppered cories (also considering pygmy cories here too) albino pleco and a spotted Raphael cat. The botia's I like best are the yo-yo's, queen Dario, skunk botia. Also I'm looking for a good schooling fish since I returned my serpaes. Loved their color just not their attitude. I really like the looks of rainbows, but I'm
Thinking I want a smaller fish that schools kinda tight. Other inhabitants include my 2 bolivian rams and 4 platys (including 3 fry, considering moving them back to my 10g to make more room in the 55g). Has anyone ever kept Dwarf Maccullochi Rainbows? I really like the look of them but I'm honestly stuck between them or the black ruby barbs, or any other smaller schooling fish anyone can recommend! Thanks

 

[azmodan]

Rummynose tetras are one of the tightest schooling fish around and look incredible in larger numbers (15+). Some of my other favorite peaceful schoolers are cardinal, lemon, and diamond tetra, as well as checker, cherry, and 5-banded barbs. Lots of great rainbowfish out there too -- I'm sure Rivercats will have some great suggestions for those. Lastly, I know you mentioned you wanted smaller type fish but another schooling fish that's really beautiful is the Congo tetra.

 

[Aquastrategist]

I also rreally like the congo tetra, or the Buenos Airies Tetra; they school very tightly. I think you have enough bottom feeders already, more would overcrowd the bottom half. If you were looking for a unique schooling fish, I would add 6-8 hatchetfish, they seem to school tightly.

 

[Hholly]

If you want peaceful, beware that yoyos play rough. They're very cool fish though.

 

[Mrs.h2012]

I also rreally like the congo tetra, or the Buenos Airies Tetra; they school very tightly. I think you have enough bottom feeders already, more would overcrowd the bottom half. If you were looking for a unique schooling fish, I would add 6-8 hatchetfish, they seem to school tightly.

I've been wanting to set up 30g again, what if I moved one or all my current schools of cories in my 30, would that allow for enough room for some botia's?

 

[Aquastrategist]

If you remove the cories it shouls be fine, although im not sure I think raphael cats get too big, but not sure.

 

[Rivercats]

If you move the cories you could do the yo-yo's. I love my three and they are indeed little rascals. With having a raphael cat I think you'd be wiser to stay with something like Congo tetras or the rainbowfish. I think emperor tetras would work as well. In a 55g you could actually do 6 Congo tetras (2 males-3 females) with 6 of the rainbowfish or barbs. I just don't know how the temperment of the barbs are. The color contrast of the Congo's and Barbs would be really nice.

 

[Mrs.h2012]

If you move the cories you could do the yo-yo's. I love my three and they are indeed little rascals. With having a raphael cat I think you'd be wiser to stay with something like Congo tetras or the rainbowfish. I think emperor tetras would work as well. In a 55g you could actually do 6 Congo tetras (2 males-3 females) with 6 of the rainbowfish or barbs. I just don't know how the temperment of the barbs are. The color contrast of the Congo's and Barbs would be really nice.

I decided to go with black ruby barbs as my schooling fish (they were more affordable) and for now Im sticking with the bottom dwellers I currently have. I think it was bud29 would recommended them to me, whoever recommended them said they arent aggressive or nippy like tiger barbs are. I have a couple questions about plants, do you mind if I PM you?

 

[Rivercats]

PM away!