What fish to harass school of Rasboras? On purpose.

[whitepapagold]

I want to add a fish that will harass my school of rasboras into schooling more.

They school a lot, don't get me wrong... But the right fish would get them to stay tight much more and keep them moving around.

Plus I want a predator for cherry shrimp as my population is going nuts.

Its a big tank- 125 gallon- fully planted with lots of places for the rasboras to run to (you can see it via my avatar). School is 21 rasboras.

Anyone?

[sketch804]

Sell off most of the cherry shrimp so you can get a free fish or something haha! ...be careful what you wish for though, it is hard to find an in-between fish that isn't too overly aggressive..case and point my friend has a red tip fish I can't remember the name of right now that is a tetra is so aggressive that it keeps the rest of the x-ray tetra school in a tight pack but not out in the open just in the corner of the tank..good luck!

Oh and dude you have a AWESOME looking tank! one of my favorite tanks I have seen here or anywhere that uses some fake objects under the water, but with yours even with those it all comes together VERY nicely and really looks like a sunken city! props!

[akdylpickles]

Maybe some dwarf cichlids or a pair of angels?

[sketch804]

Ah good idea..if your water is hot enough (82F) then German Blue rams would be good and if you have a male and a couple females, the male will harass any fish that comes near their spawning site..

[Psionic]

I used to have a dwarf powder blue gourami. He wasn't a predator, but he was bigger than the neons and cherry barbs and moved around a lot.


-Val

[eklikewhoa]

Roseline barbs that are on sale at Petsmart. They will nip RCS and their constant schooling will draw the others out.

[OVT]

GBR are monogamous: with 1 male and 2 females, one female will most likely kill the other. IME

Originally Posted by sketch804

Ah good idea..if your water is hot enough (82F) then German Blue rams would be good and if you have a male and a couple females, the male will harass any fish that comes near their spawning site..

[wetworks]

An Oscar would definitely harass them.

[shane3fan]

Add some Kribensis---with a tank like that you can add a couple pairs. They may harass them more than you want when they have fry.

[shane3fan]

Originally Posted by wetworks

An Oscar would definitely consume them.

yep, sure would

[sketch804]

Originally Posted by OVT

GBR are monogamous: with 1 male and 2 females, one female will most likely kill the other. IME

Er, not really well IMO..in a tank that big and good amount of cover you should be alright..my friend has some in a tank about this size, 135 gal, and he might have on more male, but the female don't fight they just make seperate spawning sites, and actually he has one male that spawns with both females...but either way, some times it works other times it doesn't but in a big, 100+ gal, tank you have a better chance..but seems the temp is the main thing needed..

Either way good luck on the fish hunt!

[LB79]

You don't want a harasser, you want an intimidator. Angelfish will work fine.

[whitepapagold]

Thanks everyone!

An oscar... riiiiiight.

Rams- I like to run my tank cooler and I don't think they would really drive the school. Though Ive considered them off and on for a LONG time... They would look perfect but I just don't think its the right mix.

Roseline barbs need too much oxygen for me to feel comfortable. But they are another fish Ive considered for a long time. Though I do think they would drive the school.

Kribs- those get evil when they pair up. Pretty but I think they might kill shrimp for fun.

Most recently I have been considering a gourami- but Im not sure it would drive the school.

An angel fish is a new idea to me- Ill have to look into it. The only issue is I have never liked angel fish! But if it would drive the school it might be right.

As for the shrimp, I don't plan on catching and selling them ever. I wouldn't mind a predator, but JUST one. Otherwise the population can balance itself.

[OVT]

Yep, I agree that can be situational. And some guys just get lucky

Originally Posted by sketch804

Er, not really well IMO..in a tank that big and good amount of cover you should be alright..my friend has some in a tank about this size, 135 gal, and he might have on more male, but the female don't fight they just make seperate spawning sites, and actually he has one male that spawns with both females...but either way, some times it works other times it doesn't but in a big, 100+ gal, tank you have a better chance..but seems the temp is the main thing needed..

Either way good luck on the fish hunt!

Back to OP - fish figure out rather quickly who is a predator and who is just a PITA. They will learn to ignore the later or get eaten by the former. So, I'm not sure that can work in practice.

Do please let us know how it works out.

[OverStocked]

Get Good angelfish. Not store bought, ugly farm raised fish.

I got my koi's from http://www.blackwateraquatics.com/ Very pretty, hardy and affordable.

Angelsplus is also popular.