Stocking Ideas

I also wouldn’t keep danios with Gouramies. Most danios are hyperactive and live mostly at and near the surface. Gouramies live there too and want a slower, more easy going existence.

Apart from that it sounds good. You’ve quite a few tetras to choose from, or even another Rasbora group...

I did a lot of research on the danio, the pearl danio came recommend as very peaceful against other danios. However I already have a few tetra in other tank, so makes sense with my 12 harlequins to add more tetras. I seem to remember reading somewhere that neons and gouramis don't mix but cant find info now. Can anyone confirm this?

Had a great chat with a guy who is writing a book on keeping barbs. It was extremely helpful and I think a barb tank with zebra loaches is definitely in the running. The guy was very patient with all my questions and matched info I had already looked up. So I might go barbs in the 200 litre tank and go sailfins and platys in the other 125, but not set in stone just yet.

After all the trials and tribulations of the week, think I finally have a stocking plan. Needs a little tidying but here it is.

Tank 1 (125l)

Harlequins
Neons
Honey Gouramis Not sure if 2 or 3 is best)
Corys

Tank 2 (125l)
Platy
Sailfin

Tank 3 (200l)

Odessa Barb
Ruby Barb
Cherry Barb
Maybe a mix of two, or even the 5 banded barb, rhombo barb or melon barb. But definitely barb

Zebra Loach (although checking tank size) or Dwarf Chain Loach.

I cant see anything wrong, but if you can, let me know. Thanks for everyone's help/advice etc.

Re Tank 3 (and Tank 2), I think Hampalong's advice previously is helpful here:

Quote from: Hampalong on February 05, 2020, 10:30:46 AM

For tank 2 I would swap the Cherry Barbs for a species more similar in size to the other two. A Barb tank is a very active tank, and Cherries prefer a quiet peaceful tank. The others might be a little too active and ‘in their face’. Cherries prefer a quiet life, mulling around in and near the plant cover, while the others are more open water species.

You could buy one (female) livebearer, and the tank would soon become fully stocked.

Re Tank 1, sounds lovely to me. I'm not sure how prevalent Neon Tetra Disease is nowadays but I gather cardinal tetras are a bit more robust if you were happy enough to consider them as an alternative. As for choice of cories, that's an individual preference - I love the patterning on julii and trilineatus, for example.

Thanks. Re the barbs the guy I spoke to, who is actually writing a book about them has Odessa and Cherry's in the same tank for quite a long time and they are happy together as well as the loaches. However I do have other options including Melon Barbs, pentazona and Rhomba ones. There is plenty of choice.

With tank 1 I need to check if j need a male and female honey gouramis or 1 male and 2 females.

She’s advice is definitely in line with most peoples experiences. I however have had 2 bad experiences with male honey gourami killing the female. That said, my current male gourami will pick fights with anything... I think it depends a bit on the individual character of individual fish. Perhaps best discussing with the shop whether you can do a swap later if the pair don’t get on.

How about pearl gouramis? Are they good in a pair?

I've had more problems with two females fighting each other 

Actually I think I did have 2 females once before. I assumed one was a less obvious male - this might very well explain it!!!!

Java fern should be attached to décor just like the anubias 

You may also wish to consider buce and bolbitis which are the same.

I use lots of different anubias & bucephalandra in my river tank. I also use various anubius in with my axolotls. Great stuff. Easy to use, low maintenance, and the larger anubias are big enough for the panda garras to rest on the leaves. 

How about pearl gouramis? Are they good in a pair?

Hi @barneyadi

Nothing's straightforward in this hobby, is it? I say that because I used to have a single pair of Pearl Gouramis in my 125 litre tank. They were peaceful until it came to feeding time. The male would chase and attack the female every time. I didn't have a spare tank into which I could move the female. Eventually, her condition deteriorated to such an extent that I had to euthanaze her. Every fishkeeper's worst wish.

JPC

Are you enjoying the harlequins because they school tightly? Not all Rasboras are equal in this regard... the best fish I have ever found for schooling behaviour is the runny nose terra. e.g. galaxies are quite shy and rarely school.

[In the event that anyone gets strange results when internet searching this species of fish , Moderator FCMF intervening in this post to clarify that 'runny nose terra' is 'rummy nose tetra' .]