Buying Fish

I have always been under the impression that a journey of 2 hours in a bag is the max.  Anything longer would be better in a tank.  I wouldn't like to try an all day, even in a tank.

So long as you can keep them warm, it is do-able as long as the fish are bagged differently. After all, fish spend over 24 hours in the post. Before buying the fish ask if the shop can pack them for a long journey - explain it will be a long time before you can get them in the tank. The bag will need at least ²/₃ air, and some 'ammonia remover' added to the bag. If the shop has oxygen to pump into the bag just before tying, that is also a good idea. The most difficult part will be keeping them warm enough, I'd be happier doing this on a warm day.

But as the others have said, it would be better if you could manage an alternative.

One of the advantages about being a pensioner is that I can go whenever I please.

Sorry Steve - I didn't realise  .

In that case..... don't go at the weekend - it'll be full of screaming kids 

is this a bad idea introducing 51 fish to a new tank all at once?

Yes, this would be bad.  Even a properly cycled home aquarium should never see this kind of introduction.  You need to reconsider the quantities otherwise you'll be putting the stock at risk, causing you to spend more money as a result to replace dead fish.  Some may survive, but I don't believe it would be very pretty doing this.

its really my only option

What about public transport, a taxi or even a friend with a car to assist you getting to and from a local fish stockist? I assume you don't drive.

I agree. That's a lot of fish at one go. In fact it's a lot of fish to put in a 150 litre tank (I think that's what you said yours is?) unless they are all tiny. I have a 125 litre with 26 fish and 3 shrimps, most of those fish are small (male endlers and green neons, 10 and 8 respectively). The biggest fish is a male cockatoo cichlid.

What is your stocking plan for the tank?

I like the fact you want bigger shoals of neons and harlies. While 6 is the absolute minimum, the more there are the more naturally they behave. But leave the neons a while. They have a tendancy to just die for no apparent reason in tanks that have been running less than 6 months.

Panda cories - they would be better with a couple more. Pandas are one of the more delicate cories, so it would be worth leaving these till the tank has been running a while after the filter has cycled.

Livebearers (guppies and platies) - don't forget you'll need a 2:1 female:male ratio of platies as well. With 10 female guppies and 6ish female platies, there will be a lot of fry. These fish alone will overpopulate your tank in no time flat. Even if you intend getting only male platies, they will harrass the female guppies with no females of their own species. And if you got these mail order, I would check with the company that they will sell males and females in the numbers of your choice - and that they can tell the diffference. You'd be surprised how many workers in real shops can't.
If it was me, I would reconsider having so many livebearers. Maybe just one species rather than two. I'd go with platies simply because of how weak guppies can be these days. The trouble is that guppies are just so pretty 
I would also think seriously about getting guppies/platies by mail order. There are so many varieties that you would be more satified chosing the individual fish yourself rather than rely on what the company sends you.

So for my tastes and practical considerations (ie fry) I would get either guppies or platies, 6 females 3 males. Given that a mature guppy can have 30 fry every month and platies even more...........
And that would leave you room for 10 of something else. Or a centrepiece fish.



If you were to use mail order, it would be OK to get the harlies, livebearers and if you go that route, the shoal of something else/centrepiece fish. Wait till the tank has been running a few months before getting the neons and panda cories as they do better in mature tanks.


Definitions
A cycled tank is one that has grown its two colonies of bacteria to deal with the ammonia produced by the fish.
A mature tank is one that has grown these bacteria plus the biofilm together with all the other micro-organisms that live in an aquarium which help to stabilise the water parameters, usually defined as a tank that has been running for 6 months after the filter has cycled.

The main problem with these sharks is their temperament. They can and do attack other fish. From your comment, you already know you can only have 1 per tank.
There are a couple of members of the Epalzeorhynchos genus sold as sharks - frenatum (rainbow, ruby etc) and bicolor (rtbs). Bicolor is the worse of the two for behaviour, ie the red tailed black shark. Frenatus (rainow/ruby) is a bit 'nicer' to tankmates but not much.
Even the flying fox, Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus, can be a bit nasty.

It's for behavioural reasons not tank size that I wouldn't have one!

What clever people we have on this forum....brilliant advice!

What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!  I only managed two shops yesterday as I was a bit late leaving, but fortunately I was able to do it in glorious sunshine....finally!
I'm really envious of you having some cories...I think they are really cute little characters and I can't wait to get mine
Can you post some piccies of them soon, please?

Resa
   

Nice one, Steve. I too am looking forward to hearing how they settle in and, hopefully, some piccies.

I keep changing my ideas about my next tank..... but the one constant is cory cats.