Which fish to choose????

Question

I just got a 100 gallon aquarium from a friend. I can't decide which fish to put in it. I want several kinds but no goldfish or guppies because I already have some of them.

Answer 1

You didn't specify fresh or saltwater, so I'll gear my answer toward freshwater.

A tank that big would look awesome as a planted tank with some driftwood and rocks. If you don't want the maintenance of live plants, you can use silks. You could go with a tank of larger species (angelfish, silver dollars, gourami, a pleco or farowella cat as a bottom fish) or smaller schooling fish (tetras, barbs, dwarf gourami, corydoras). You could also go colorful with some larger species like rainbowfish.

I personally would try a tank of rainbowfish, and school of one of the larger tetras - either Congos or diamonds, or giant danios with a second school in a contrasting color. You could keep a smaller pleco (rubbernose or bristlenose) plus a school of corydoras and/or yoyo loaches.

Answer 2

Are the goldfish and guppies in the same tank or in another one? I have friends that swear by cichlids because of their personalities, size and how pretty they are but you have to make sure everyone gets along all right. Don't for instance... mix community, semi aggressive and cichlids without checking with a fishie expert it could get ugly. I have seem some mixes in my friends' tanks that worked out okay. I personally like to plant plants and keep community fish because there's a little less upkeep and I don't have to worry about everyone getting along. I also enjoy semi aggressive and my husband likes cichlids. It's really all about what you'd prefer, just remember that goldfish and guppies are feeder fish to some so don't mix if you go for the more aggressive fish. Also if you go to some pet stores like Petsmart, etc they'll give you 14 days so if it doesn't work out or someone dies you can return them with your receipt (just remember you need the receipt AND the fish, dead or no). There's a place near where my family lives that will let you bring in fish that they'll adopt out and give you store credit so that works too (especially if your fish have babies).

On a side note my friends have a tank about the same size as yours and they have this huge cichlid that catches flies by spitting water from her tank lol. So if you have a fly problem... ;)

I added some links, hope this helps! When I get back to Cali I'll be restocking my tanks so I'll also be trying to figure out what to get.

PS. To get salt water fish you'll need to tweak your tank a bit so if that is the way you wanna go definitely check out all the fish stores in your area. I added another link below that might help.

Answer 3

Start a community. Get 5-8 corys of your choice, a few gouramis (dwarf, three spot, croaking), neon or buenos aires tetras of about 8. Maybe 3+ female bettas.

I would add lots of plants and if you want the aquarium to be focused around a certain part of the world then research fish from there.

Those are just a few suggestions.

Answer 4

I've had many aquariums over the years and always pick African Chiclids as fish,they fight alot but they almost have a personality among themselves.You could also consider a small turtle,just remember to get a perch for it to bask in the light of the aquarium.

Answer 5

i would suggest an arowana for that size of tank. they grow to as long as 47 inches (although rare) and swim in snakelike motion. it also gives us a look at prehistoric age as the fish has a dragon like feature. and being a freshwater fish, it is very easy to care for them. they feed on almost everything, even small live fish but shrimp is best because it enhances its color. there are several kinds and color of arowana, depending on where they came from, the most popular ones are the silver, Australian gold and Chilean red the first being the cheapest. arowanas are also swimming on top of the tank so you can also add a bottom swimmer like a catfish, as long as you put them in the tank at the same time and almost the same size.

Answer 6

Try salt water Most salt waterf ish are realy colorful like clownfish, tangs, butterflyfish, dragonets, gobies, damselfish, angelfish, ect

Answer 7

African siclids (sp?) are the most colorful freshwater fish. But they are very aggressive and will have your other fish for dinner.

Answer 8

You will get what you want in the long run as it should be, but I suggest a few Discus.

Answer 9

African cichlids absolutley the most colerful freshwater fish.....

Answer 10

the nemo fish and dragonfish