Miscellaneous
All sorts of fish make up this page. Catfish and schooling fish being the main ones.
Catfish
Snowflake Pleco (Baryancistrus niveatus L026)
Got this guy from Steve. He lives inside a conch shell most daytime hours. These are very rare because they are extremely difficult to acclimatize to aquaria after being caught in the wild. At least that's what I've read. Currently keeping.
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus temminckii)
These plecos are much better to keep than the common pleco you find for $1 at pet stores. They are much smaller and are better at eating algae. The ones I keep are albino like the picture. Males get bristles on their nose, females do not. I feed them blanched zucchini and parboiled sweet potato. I put a male and female together with a ceramic cave and they have spawned often. I grow the fry out with green beans and spinich. Currently keeping.
Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
All beginner aquarists end up with a pleco. They are cheap and are sold by the large pet stores to eat the algae and keep the tank clean. What they don't tell you is that these fish can grow to over 1ft! Not only that, but they provide loads of waste and can destroy your live plants. I keep these in my troughs outside during the summers and in a trough inside during the winters. They LOVE zucchini. Currently keeping.
Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus)
This is the most popular corydoras species. They are sold at all large pet stores. This doesn't diminish their worth. Cory cats are excellent bottom dwelling fish. They should be bought in schools of 6+ and will patrol the substrate searching for food your other fish missed. Make sure you have a soft substrate so they dont break their feelers. Also, make sure they are able to get food and that your other fish don't eat all the food before it hits the bottom. Currently keeping.
Peppered Cory (Corydoras paleatus)
This species is a bit smaller than the other cory cats. They prefer schools of 6+. I've moved mine into a trough for the summer and I hope when I pull them out there will be loads of new cory cats in the colony.
Currently keeping.
Julii Cory (Corydoras julii)
These cory cats also have interesting markings and may cost a little bit more. Treat them like the other cory cats; 6+.
Currently keeping.
Schwartz's Cory (Corydoras schwartzi)
These are a little harder to find and cost a bit more than other cory cats. Their designs are very neat. Once again, get 6+.
Currently keeping.
Pygmy Cory (Corydoras pygmaeus)
These cory cats are very small, reaching roughly an inch only. Also a schooling fish so get 6+ for best results. These corys seem to swim in the middle of the tank and not so much at the bottom.
Oto (Otocinclus vittatus)
The dwarf sucker-mouth. Most planted tank enthusiasts keep these. They are tiny and school well. They don't bother the plants themselves but will clean them of algae. Great little fish that are not too expensive.
Currently keeping.
Schooling
Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)
These are a nice medium sized tetra that schools well in a planted tank. They are large enough to avoid predation but small enough to keep in a 10g tank as a school. These are tropical and do best with aquariums with a heater. Schools of 6+ is best.
Currently keeping.
Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi)
These are a larger tetra but they are also from the colder waters of Argentina; no heater needed. They eat some plants so be warned. They are also rather aggressive for tetra and should be put with fish that don't have long fins. Schools of 6+ is best. I use them for dithers.
Currently keeping.
Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri)
I got these are dithers for my rainbow cichlids and xingu but in the summer will set a tank up outside full of plants for these to spawn in. A mid sized tetra with a great look to them. These are some of my favorite tetra.
Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)
Males are a brilliant red, females less so (see image). These are prolific breeders if cared for correctly. Not that it's difficult. I put 1 male and 3 females into a 20g planted outside on the porch and did nothing but have young barbs swimming around.
Other
Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus)
Clown loaches are distinct because of their black and orange stripes. They can grow to be over a foot long and prefer schools of 6+. This makes them really hard to keep because you need an enormous tank. They also require pristine water conditions. Do not add medications to a clown loach tank as it will harm the loach. Rarely spawn in aquariums.
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Also called Brim. I caught these at 1" in my neighbors pond early summer and have been raising them in a 20L outside. They feed on flake and pellet now and seem to be growing quickly. When they mature I'd like to breed them. I think native fish are unique and beautiful and should be shown in the home aquarium.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)
Goldfish are the fish that started it all. Chinese kept these centuries ago and began to breed them into different morphs and colors. I keep the cheap comet goldfish outside in a 250g tote. They handle the Georgia summer and winter just fine. I have yet for them to breed though.
Currently keeping.
Betta (Betta splendens)
Also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish. PLEASE DO NOT "fight" these fish. Putting two males together is fatal for one or both fish. Betta are known for their flowing fins. Make sure you keep them in more than just the cup they come in from the store. Although Betta can breath air, that doesn't mean they should be kept in a tiny cup or bowl. Mine are in 10g tanks with livebearers.
Currently keeping.
