Fish with interesting behavior?

bpswim90 · 11-14-2007, 02:34 PM

I'm thinking of saving for a new aquarium, so I'd like some suggestions for new fish. I'm looking for fish with interesting behaviors (hiding in caves, interacting with one another, brooding, etc.). My tank will be 40-55gal.

Right now I'm thinking cichlids, specifically Labidochromis, as they're fairly active and easy to find.

What are your thoughts?

p8ball4life · 11-14-2007, 03:52 PM

Have you thought about dwarf puffers? They're very playful, intelligent, and cute!

www.dwarfpuffers.com

Andy_Dufresne · 11-14-2007, 04:08 PM

Cichlids are great fish. Thats the #1 fish I would put into a tank if I had the space to have a large tank. They have great personalities, arnt afraid of people and interact well with others as long as you mix them correctly

.

Nick

PS. Nice to see another paintball fanatic here

.

**JustOneMore20** · 11-14-2007, 05:14 PM

If you want something more interesting, get one of the larger SA/CA cichlids like a Jack Dempsey or an Oscar.

Labs are more interesting than tetras and barbs, but they aren't the coolest fish around. When you get into other Mbuna, they just get down right mean.....Labs are ok though.

**Baby_Baby** · 11-14-2007, 07:24 PM

Dojo loaches have always been a personal favorite of mine

Espescially in a tank with sand substrate.
Active little sweethearts that in my experience are quite hardy :]

jones57742 · 11-15-2007, 02:46 PM

BB:

Cory sterbai's:

Even as adults they "run and play together".

TR

Gourami Swami · 11-15-2007, 02:52 PM

Dont get an oscar, tanks too small. But Kris tins right, SA/CA cichlids would be the most fun to have. They interact with YOU, beg for food, knock things over (redecorate), and generally have great personalities. For a 55g there are a bunch of great fish you could have. Amphilophus Lyonsi, female Festae (orange smaller striped fish in my signature), Amphilophus Robertsoni, Heros Severus (severum), Salvinis, and Jack dempsey would be some good things to look up

bpswim90 · 11-17-2007, 10:03 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I think oscars and jack dempseys would be too big for my ideal tank size, but the severus & salvini cichlids look interesting. How about convicts? Pretty sure the tank in my science class has a pair, and they're fun to watch.

bpswim90 · 11-21-2007, 02:31 PM

HELLO? Any further advice or information? Anyone know about convicts?

Dr_House · 11-21-2007, 02:45 PM

I've never had convicts, but people really like them. The thing you need to keep in mind is that if you have a pair of convicts, they will breed non-stop. If you keep a pair of convicts in a toilet and still use it they will breed as long as you net them out when you flush. If you have something that can eat the fry, they would be a great fish, in my opinion.

I like some of the community suggestions that have been posted so far (e.g. dojo loach, sterbai cory). In a community tank, you can see a multitude of interesting behaviors, rather than just that of a single fish. I'm not trying to push you in that direction. It is your tank, of course. Just making sure you consider all your options. There's nothing I hate more than getting a tank all set up and then seeing a fish at the pet store that I hadn't thought of.

11-14-2007, 05:14 PM	#4
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,567	If you want something more interesting, get one of the larger SA/CA cichlids like a Jack Dempsey or an Oscar. Labs are more interesting than tetras and barbs, but they aren't the coolest fish around. When you get into other Mbuna, they just get down right mean.....Labs are ok though. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

11-14-2007, 07:24 PM	#5
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,680	Dojo loaches have always been a personal favorite of mine Espescially in a tank with sand substrate. Active little sweethearts that in my experience are quite hardy :] __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

11-15-2007, 02:46 PM	#6
jones57742 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 56 Posts: 605	BB: Cory sterbai's: Even as adults they "run and play together". TR __________________ Hook Em Horns ... Keep Austin Weird

11-15-2007, 02:52 PM	#7
Gourami Swami Supreme Dictator For Life Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere out Yonder... Posts: 1,106	Dont get an oscar, tanks too small. But Kris tins right, SA/CA cichlids would be the most fun to have. They interact with YOU, beg for food, knock things over (redecorate), and generally have great personalities. For a 55g there are a bunch of great fish you could have. Amphilophus Lyonsi, female Festae (orange smaller striped fish in my signature), Amphilophus Robertsoni, Heros Severus (severum), Salvinis, and Jack dempsey would be some good things to look up __________________ Last edited by Gourami Swami; 11-15-2007 at 02:59 PM.

11-17-2007, 10:03 PM	#8
bpswim90 hola Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Missouri Age: 17 Posts: 101	Thanks for the suggestions! I think oscars and jack dempseys would be too big for my ideal tank size, but the severus & salvini cichlids look interesting. How about convicts? Pretty sure the tank in my science class has a pair, and they're fun to watch. __________________ My Ten Gallon Journal 10 Gallon: 7 Glowlight Tetras Amazon sword, Anacharis, Java Fern, Wisteria, & other stuff ... 36w CF lighting (11 hours daily) and ghetto CO2 5 Gallon QT: Empty + needs to be cleaned

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11-14-2007, 02:34 PM	#1
bpswim90 hola Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Missouri Age: 17 Posts: 101	Fish with interesting behavior? I'm thinking of saving for a new aquarium, so I'd like some suggestions for new fish. I'm looking for fish with interesting behaviors (hiding in caves, interacting with one another, brooding, etc.). My tank will be 40-55gal. Right now I'm thinking cichlids, specifically Labidochromis, as they're fairly active and easy to find. What are your thoughts? __________________ My Ten Gallon Journal 10 Gallon: 7 Glowlight Tetras Amazon sword, Anacharis, Java Fern, Wisteria, & other stuff ... 36w CF lighting (11 hours daily) and ghetto CO2 5 Gallon QT: Empty + needs to be cleaned

11-14-2007, 03:52 PM	#2
p8ball4life Fishy Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 24	Have you thought about dwarf puffers? They're very playful, intelligent, and cute! www.dwarfpuffers.com

11-14-2007, 04:08 PM	#3
Andy_Dufresne Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Muncie, IN Age: 24 Posts: 58	Cichlids are great fish. Thats the #1 fish I would put into a tank if I had the space to have a large tank. They have great personalities, arnt afraid of people and interact well with others as long as you mix them correctly . Nick PS. Nice to see another paintball fanatic here .

11-21-2007, 02:31 PM	#9
bpswim90 hola Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Missouri Age: 17 Posts: 101	HELLO? Any further advice or information? Anyone know about convicts? __________________ My Ten Gallon Journal 10 Gallon: 7 Glowlight Tetras Amazon sword, Anacharis, Java Fern, Wisteria, & other stuff ... 36w CF lighting (11 hours daily) and ghetto CO2 5 Gallon QT: Empty + needs to be cleaned

11-21-2007, 02:45 PM	#10
Dr_House Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 346	I've never had convicts, but people really like them. The thing you need to keep in mind is that if you have a pair of convicts, they will breed non-stop. If you keep a pair of convicts in a toilet and still use it they will breed as long as you net them out when you flush. If you have something that can eat the fry, they would be a great fish, in my opinion. I like some of the community suggestions that have been posted so far (e.g. dojo loach, sterbai cory). In a community tank, you can see a multitude of interesting behaviors, rather than just that of a single fish. I'm not trying to push you in that direction. It is your tank, of course. Just making sure you consider all your options. There's nothing I hate more than getting a tank all set up and then seeing a fish at the pet store that I hadn't thought of.

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