nano fish for top layer of tank?

markopolo · 11-05-2008, 05:58 AM

so i am trying to find a nano fish to swim at the top of my tank. My tank seems to have a nano fish theme so id like to keep it going. Its only a 20H so i may have reached my stocking limit already

so far i have
9 CPD's
3 sparkling gouramis
4 neon tetras
3 ottos
1 kuhli
1 amano
4 nerites

any ideas for a nano fish that spends most of its time at the top of the tank? thanks!!

deleted_user_16 · 11-05-2008, 06:06 AM

clown killifish are top swimmer nano fish.

seAdams · 11-05-2008, 01:15 PM

Kuhli loaches really need to be kept in groups in order to behave normally, and at 3 - 4" each, might be too much for your tank in addition to the other fish.

markopolo · 11-05-2008, 02:10 PM

yeh i know this one is a holdover from before i got the other fish, hes kinda ancient. he does seem to behave normally even though he is alone. Also hes skinny so it matches the other fishes

**mistergreen** · 11-05-2008, 06:21 PM

those micro rasboras (boraras), are top swimmers. But they might be snacks for the gouramis.

seAdams · 11-05-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

But they might be snacks for the gouramis

No, since Sparkling gouramis only grow to about 1" long.

Dawn Haze · 11-05-2008, 07:44 PM

norman lampeyes tend to be top swimmers

Micah Kyle · 11-05-2008, 07:51 PM

Hatchet and Danio species tend to be surface dwellers.
Personally, I think Marble Hatchets are gorgeous fish.

Kuhli loaches do fine on their own, bu when in a group they become more rambunctious and active, like most shoaling or schooling fish. These fish become more relaxed with their environment with more of their species around.

**Karackle** · 11-05-2008, 08:38 PM

I have male endlers in my 30g (mostly) nano-fish tank and they hang out near the surface a lot.

Another one you might like would be Ember tetras, mine are all over the tank, though i guess mostly in the middle.

Boraras do not swim near the top though, at least mine don't. They generally stay in the bottom to mid-region. They were always hiding in the bottom corner of my tank (even before i added zebrafish or guppies) but they are slllloooooowwwly getting more adventurous, I seem small groups of them in the mid-water and on the other end of the tank now. But they definitely don't hang out near the surface. Mine don't anyway. And no, they're certainly not food for a sparkling gourami, i have one in my tank and he's not much bigger than the boraras....well certainly not big enough to think that they're lunch!

brohawk · 11-05-2008, 08:43 PM

I hear the microrasboras (nanas, gatesis, kubotais) will stay near the top, but not the boraras sp. Clown killies are guaranteed.

markopolo · 11-06-2008, 01:34 AM

clown killies are gorgeous just expensive and rare and im unemployed now

hatchets are not my sort of fish just kinda not proportioned right and a little to big i think for a 20 gal H

dont want zebras more all over the tank not just the top

endlers or those other microrasboras are possiblities its just dont they go everywhere in the tank?? this fish really needs to be like a super top water fish. (at least id like it to be to balance the fish in the tank)

what are norman lampeyes and microrasbora gatesis? and how big do they get?

Micah Kyle · 11-06-2008, 01:45 AM

Clown Killies are not good community tank candidates. They're better off in a species only tank.

And hatchets are not too big for a 20h. Have you looked into marbles? I believe they stay a bit smaller than silver hatchets, but it's your decision.

**Karackle** · 11-06-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brohawk

I hear the microrasboras (nanas, gatesis, kubotais) will stay near the top, but not the boraras sp. Clown killies are guaranteed.

I apologize, I meant to say my microrasboras, i have Boraras brigittae, definitely micro! And they don't stay anywhere close to the surface. I suppose it's possible i could just have weirdos, but I thought i'd mention it

My endlers are quite often at the surface, you are correct though that they go all over the tank as well, but mine are near the surface more than 50% of the time i'd say. If you want something that truly only ever stays near the top, and is relatively easy to find for not too much $$ you'll probably have to go with something like a hatchet though i think.

deleted_user_16 · 11-06-2008, 02:22 AM

reported

markopolo · 11-06-2008, 02:23 AM

what the hell spam? yeh thanks karackle i think you are right when you say only hatchets will only stay at the top, killies too but as kyle said most are suitable for only species only tanks

.

how many marbled hatchets would i have to have to make them feel comfortable? and is a lid with the back open ok ive heard they like to jump and am also quite concerned because i have wires on the inside of my lid, no glass between my DIY lights and the water (the wires have no exposed copper showing of course)

11-05-2008, 05:58 AM	#1
markopolo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: orange ca Posts: 556	nano fish for top layer of tank? so i am trying to find a nano fish to swim at the top of my tank. My tank seems to have a nano fish theme so id like to keep it going. Its only a 20H so i may have reached my stocking limit already so far i have 9 CPD's 3 sparkling gouramis 4 neon tetras 3 ottos 1 kuhli 1 amano 4 nerites any ideas for a nano fish that spends most of its time at the top of the tank? thanks!!

11-05-2008, 06:21 PM	#5
mistergreen Bow ties are cool (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 12,951	those micro rasboras (boraras), are top swimmers. But they might be snacks for the gouramis. __________________ DIY High Tech Tank forum http://aquatictechtank.net A forum dedicated to design and program aquatic tanks

11-05-2008, 08:38 PM	#9
Karackle Woah, I'm a Guru?! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Metuchen, NJ Posts: 4,144	I have male endlers in my 30g (mostly) nano-fish tank and they hang out near the surface a lot. Another one you might like would be Ember tetras, mine are all over the tank, though i guess mostly in the middle. Boraras do not swim near the top though, at least mine don't. They generally stay in the bottom to mid-region. They were always hiding in the bottom corner of my tank (even before i added zebrafish or guppies) but they are slllloooooowwwly getting more adventurous, I seem small groups of them in the mid-water and on the other end of the tank now. But they definitely don't hang out near the surface. Mine don't anyway. And no, they're certainly not food for a sparkling gourami, i have one in my tank and he's not much bigger than the boraras....well certainly not big enough to think that they're lunch! __________________ Algae Pimp Ω 30g Low Tech Journal, 5 & 10g Low Tech Journal 15 year old Bichon/poodle mix named Leo 7 year old Poodle named Cody I enjoy having a zoo to care for! ~~20gH Planted tank~~,~~5g Planted Betta Tank~~

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11-05-2008, 06:06 AM	#2
deleted_user_16 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (40/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 4,255	clown killifish are top swimmer nano fish.

11-05-2008, 01:15 PM	#3
seAdams Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 400	Kuhli loaches really need to be kept in groups in order to behave normally, and at 3 - 4" each, might be too much for your tank in addition to the other fish.

11-05-2008, 02:10 PM	#4
markopolo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: orange ca Posts: 556	yeh i know this one is a holdover from before i got the other fish, hes kinda ancient. he does seem to behave normally even though he is alone. Also hes skinny so it matches the other fishes

11-05-2008, 07:44 PM	#7
Dawn Haze Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (19/100%) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 127	norman lampeyes tend to be top swimmers

11-05-2008, 07:51 PM	#8
Micah Kyle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 94	Hatchet and Danio species tend to be surface dwellers. Personally, I think Marble Hatchets are gorgeous fish. Kuhli loaches do fine on their own, bu when in a group they become more rambunctious and active, like most shoaling or schooling fish. These fish become more relaxed with their environment with more of their species around.

11-05-2008, 08:43 PM	#10
brohawk Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 580	I hear the microrasboras (nanas, gatesis, kubotais) will stay near the top, but not the boraras sp. Clown killies are guaranteed.

11-06-2008, 01:34 AM	#11
markopolo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: orange ca Posts: 556	clown killies are gorgeous just expensive and rare and im unemployed now hatchets are not my sort of fish just kinda not proportioned right and a little to big i think for a 20 gal H dont want zebras more all over the tank not just the top endlers or those other microrasboras are possiblities its just dont they go everywhere in the tank?? this fish really needs to be like a super top water fish. (at least id like it to be to balance the fish in the tank) what are norman lampeyes and microrasbora gatesis? and how big do they get?

11-06-2008, 01:45 AM	#12
Micah Kyle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 94	Clown Killies are not good community tank candidates. They're better off in a species only tank. And hatchets are not too big for a 20h. Have you looked into marbles? I believe they stay a bit smaller than silver hatchets, but it's your decision.

11-06-2008, 02:22 AM	#14
deleted_user_16 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (40/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 4,255	reported

11-06-2008, 02:23 AM	#15
markopolo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: orange ca Posts: 556	what the hell spam? yeh thanks karackle i think you are right when you say only hatchets will only stay at the top, killies too but as kyle said most are suitable for only species only tanks . how many marbled hatchets would i have to have to make them feel comfortable? and is a lid with the back open ok ive heard they like to jump and am also quite concerned because i have wires on the inside of my lid, no glass between my DIY lights and the water (the wires have no exposed copper showing of course)