55 gallon stocking?

Question

What fish could i put in? and how many? I want bigger fish, not tetras and the like.

Answer 1

I'm not really a fan of the 1' per gallon "rule" it doesn't apply to most situations and has so many holes in it that most of the time it's completely useless.

Obviously, the better your filteration and the more care (water changes) you are willing to put in, the more fish your tank will support. Up to a point of course and aggressive species are a different story entirely.

A 55 can make a great specimen tank for a fairly large fish like an oscar or Kingsley's Ctenopoma, Jack dempsey, Archer fish or something similar.

If a single fish isn't up your alley, try a small group of a mid sized cichlids like firemouths or Jewel cichlids.

There are a variety of small to mid sized african cichlids that could do very well in a 55, just pick one of the less aggressive species.

The best thing to do is sit down with a good fish book or a few web sites and see what catches you eye, then see if a 55 is a good choice in tank size for that fish either singly or as a small group.

MM

Answer 2

Most people follow a "One Inch Per Gallon Rule" but keep in mind that you have to do this taking into account the mature size of the fish rather than the current size. If you are going to go with larger and more aggressive fish, the formula starts to fall apart.

Remember to slowly introduce fish into the environment too so that the tank water has time to adjust.

Talk to the pet store employee (make sure they are fish enthusiast) and ask them about specifics for the breed, size and quantity and the size and residents of your tank.

Answer 3

I would get some African cichlids for your tank, there are many different ones to choose from that would do well in a tank that size.This web sites shows all the different kinds with information about each:
http://www.malawimayhem.com

Answer 4

you could maybe do some kind of cichlid