Your best suggestions for a 55 gallon stocking - solo/pair/small group

[linuxrulesusa]

Right now this is just a hypothetical.  If my wife thought I was getting rid of 'her' pink convicts I would be in the doghouse.   

I'm wondering if I emptied some/all of the current stock in my 55 gallon, what could I put instead?

Thanks for any suggestions.

I'm leaning toward a single or pair of interesting/unique/colorful fish in the tank instead.  Possibly up to a small group, but no swarms of fish e.g. not 20 tetras.

Goals:


1) Can live in a 55g

- for its whole life or at least several years
- and without the tank looking empty all the time
- so somewhat interactive

2) Doesn't need extreme water care

- e.g. no discus

3) Is not poisonous to my kids

- e.g. no lionfish/toadfish/asian stinging catfish, that sort of thing


Options

So, there's a couple ways I could see this going.

1) Oddballs/Catfish

2) Cichlid Solo/Pair

3) Native tank

4) something I haven't thought of.

 
Not Possibilities

Here's a list of what I've kept already or don't plan to consider for this project

CA cichlids

Jack Dempseys

Thorichthys species

Cryptoheros species (except possibly Sajica)


SA cichlids

Angelfish

Rams

Apistos


Catfish

 
Electric catfish

Upside down catfish

Hoplo catfish

Sun catfish

Tankbuster cats e.g. Asian or SA red tail catfish

Striped/spotted/marbled Raphael catfish

Plecos


WA cichlids

West African tilapia (specifically snyderae, but probably not any of the others either)

Tang/Malawian cichlids

None of these right now

Oddballs

 
African leaf fish

African Butterfly fish

Bichir

Green spot puffer

Figure 8 puffer

Dragon Goby

 
Possibilities

Here's a list I'm considering.  Tell me why any of these are a good choice or a bad one.


CA cichlids

Green Terror - solo vs. pair?

Salvini - pair in a 55g for a while?

Sajica - too small for a 55/would seem empty?


Catfish

 
Giant SA Bumblebee Cat - available locally?

Senegal Giraffe Cat - available in the hobby?  PC says this one stays under 10"

Ompok Catfish - saw a little one in Indiana

Gulper Catfish - expensive but really cool


Oddballs

 
Datnoid

- any of these stay small enough for a 55g?
- any that could stay with my Senegal bichir/African leaf fish/African brown knife?

Needlefish (same as needlenose gar?) - probably needs a group and kind of goes against the 'won't hurt my kids' goal?

Archer fish

Anableps/four eyes fish


Native Fish

 
Missouri Longear Sunfish

Southern Redbelly Dace

Madtom Catfish

[Regalblue]

Solo Nandopsis tetracanthus...  super interactive/great personality.
  Pictures don't do them justice they've gotta be seen in person to see the blue&gold hues

[djlamonica]

A nice pair of severums super reds red golds redheads what ever tickles your fancy and maybe a pair of earth eaters.

[Steve]

How about an all male peacock tank? My all male tank is a 55g and probably the fav tank I have at the moment. Colorful, active, peaceful and really pretty fish.

[linuxrulesusa]

How about an all male peacock tank? My all male tank is a 55g and probably the fav tank I have at the moment. Colorful, active, peaceful and really pretty fish.

Thanks....I'm just not into Africans right now.  If the tank were in a different spot maybe..but this is in my laundry room with dim lighting...so I'm leaning toward oddball non cichlids or CA cichlids right now.

[RichE]

Ii would do a small group of the figure 8 puffers

[African cichlid Keeper]

I do a male Jack Dempsey. I have one that is all way up @ the glass begging for food

[linuxrulesusa]

Rich and Jenna, thanks, but did you read through my post?    I did say I already had Fig 8s and didn't want a JD right now.  I like them though.

I made my choice on this little project.  I was too attached to my bichir, leaf fish, etc for now to get rid of them.  Cuban will have to wait. 

I picked up a 2" tiger datnoI'd and will grow it out until I need to upgrade and or get rid of its tankmates.

http://greatlakesaquaria.com/index.php?/topic/6292-tiger-datnoid-from-fish-drs/#entry82674

[RichE]

Cool fish Dan, looking forward to the grow out pictures

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

i like the idea of a native tank. ive been wanting to do a native tank myself. missouri  longear give any tropical fish a run for their money with color, in my opinion. the southern dace look sweet and they will get along just fine from what ive read so far. plus side is no heaters are required and they prefer open spaces so you dont need a ton of rockwork like some other species. some rocky bottom and maybe some plants if you want. thats just my take on a cool 55g set up.

[djlamonica]

Don't Dats need very special water conditions to stabilize?

[linuxrulesusa]

Don't Dats need very special water conditions to stabilize?

It depends on the individual.   This one has been stable at Fish Drs Canton for a month or more and is eating well and appears healthy.  So, I figured I would take the risk. Also, this one should be freshwater, not brackish.

[djlamonica]

Gotcha, Check out monster fish keepers they love dats over there.

[linuxrulesusa]

Gotcha, Check out monster fish keepers they love dats over there.

Been doing some reading there.  Thanks for the heads up.