Rasboras or tetras?

[denizen]

I've a 15gal aquarium and a 20gal tall aquarium, both planted and with
snails, but the last fish died ages ago in there. The local pet food
store has a few aquariums, and they have some harlequin Rasboras and
some neon Tetras. I was thinking of getting a dozen or so of one of
these fish types, putting them in the tall 20gal aquarium. I'd perhaps
add a bristle-nose or two, because they've been breeding in my larger
aquarium.

So which would you prefer to see in there, harlequins or neons, and
why? Or could I have 6 or 7 of each fish type?

As to the bristle-nose, they'd be young fish. But is 20gal enough to
support them long-term?
d.

[NetMax]

A dozen of each in a tall 20g would look nice. They shoal apart and
differently to a nice effect. Two dozen small tetras and a BN would
not overload an established and well planted 20g.

For reference, we kept 500-700 Neons in commercial 60g tanks. Looked
nice. Although this was a 10:1 (inch/gal) fish load, tiny tetras have
very little mass (which is the greater determinant than length).
This 10:1 ratio was supported by an automated water change system, but
a balanced home tank would easily accomodate the proposed 1.4:1 ratio
(includes a 4" BN).

I would actually add a small semi-predator to hold the shoals together
more tightly. Not sure what. Maybe a Keyhole cichlid, an Apisto, a
small pimoledella? ... a baby pirannha.... ;~)

NetMax

[Altum]

Tough choice. If I went with one, I think I'd go with the harlequins
but I think NetMax has an even better suggestion to get some of each.
I like the way harlequins tend to stay in the upper part of the tank,
so they will look really nice in the 20 tall. I tend to think of
neons as better for long tanks where the water column doesn't look so
empty when they decide to stay "safe" down near the plants.

If you find them, I really like Espei's rasbora (false harlequin,
lambchop rasbora). It looks like a smaller harlequin with a really
lovely bronze tint and an orangish-red stripe along the black triangle
(more of a lambchop shape in Espei's).

--Altum

[denizen]

At lunch I walked to the PetSmart that's close to my work, and they
have a modest supply of bloodfin Tetras. IIRC W.T. Innes recommended
bloodfins as an easy-care, cool water tolerant fish, and today I
noticed again how beautiful they are. Does anyone here have experience
with bloodfins, or recommendations as to whether they would be good
fish for my 20gal high, planted aquarium?

As to harlequins, the store has perhaps 6 or 7 of them, but they have
a large supply of big, healthy-looking neon tetras, and a huge
quantity of healthy, inexpensive zebra Danios. Also they have hatchet
fish, which remind me of aquariums from younger days... I don't get
into aquarium stores very often :) .

Any more suggestions on how to populate the 20gal aquarium would be
welcome.
d.

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[NetMax]

I'm not keen on Bloodfins. They are long lived (10 year), bland
looking, relatively large tetras (2"+). They are quite hardy so this
is good for beginners, but their size makes them a bit too gregarious
for small tanks. Also the combination of bland and long lived isn't
so good. My fish mostly live too long already.

The Zebra danios are a lot of fun, but they never stop. ...ever...
*sigh*

Hatchets can be a nice addition, but in most tanks, they disappear
(become hard to spot). The more floating plants (lilypads) they have
over their heads, the more comfortable they are, and then swim around
more. I prefer the smaller Marble hatchets but they present better in
taller tanks, like a 30 or 45g octagonal, while the larger Silver
hatchets present better in larger longer tanks. (jmo)

NetMax

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