RCS/pearl danio or shellies/

[finfan]

i have a 6.6 gallon bookshelf tank (see link below for description)

http://www.fish.com/item/aquatic-edge-bookshelf-aquarium-tank-kit-66-gal/701003/

it is empty right now and i am really itching to restart it, so here's where i am conflicted, i have two choices and i will explain that and i want to see what you guys think

option 1: make it a red cherry shrimp tank with maybe a shoal of 5 celestial pearl danio, i want a couple of nana plants in there with maybe a couple of java ferns

option 2: a pair of shell dwellers

i have never kept either and if they have fry and if the fry is more capacity than the tank can handle i will part with the fry, so stocking level will basically stay constant as a whole

what do you guys think?

i wish i knew how to add voting to my thread, but i don't :(

[Navarro]

Amazonia powder driftwood Cyrptocorine willisii X lucens and Cryptocorine parva any moss shrimps, O-cats and J-barbs, I know you didn't ask for these fish but Danios like to shoal and move al the time so a longer tank will be better for them and the little barbs are much quite than the average barb out there a group of 12 would be nice.
Cheers,
Luis

[Mzungu]

I am not sure how just a pair of shell dwellers will do - I know many males like harems. But I'll leave that to the shell-dweller-experts.

If you decide on the danios, I would get more than 5. Try 10 or so. They're really tiny, and aren't the most boisterous fish, so odds are you will probably see more of them with more of them in the tank. :) I have about 10 or 15 at home - I don't remember how many I started out with, and although they've overcome quite a lot of their initial shyness, they're not at all like other danios. They seem to enjoy exploring deep in the forest of plants than taking the beaten path, if you will. They are happy at feeding time, but I still have trouble counting them all when they're not begging for food.

I hope that made sense...lol. I'm a bit sick, and kind of loopy and delirious.

[armthehomeless]

Option 1 - Perhaps with something less active than CPD (Ex: J-Barbs as Navarro suggested)

I'd shy away from shellies in that size tank.

[Mzungu]

Hmm...weird. My CPDs don't school/shoal, and are more exploratory than active. *shrug* I have strange fish. :)

[finfan]

i know nana's don't need substrate and i will have them on rock or driftwood,

i will do a sand substrate (although i have extra ada aquasoil) what are my options for mini plants if i just do sand? I don't plan on co2 or high light

one more question, i really don't want o uglyfy my tank with a heater, i have noticed tanks stay around 70 to 75 degrees w/o heater in my place so i am assuming most of these fish are good with that temp... thoughts?

[armthehomeless]

You'll be okay temperature - wise. Just don't put it by a window or direct under the AC output. Smaller volume tanks change temperature faster than larger ones.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Go with Yellow shrimp instead of Red.

[finfan]

ok, i guess shellies are definitely not a good idea

so for option 1, regardless of CPD or Barb or Ember Tetra or Jelly Bean Tetra or Micro Rasboras, i am definitely getting shrimp (red or yellow or some other color or all), with that in mind where is the best place/price to get shrimp - LFS and online?

also, is 5 or 10 shrimps appropriate?

[finfan]

bump.. someone please answer my questions

[Navarro]

It depends on how fast you need them but if you are to order on line make sure you do it overnight because is way too hot to risk anymore day in transit.
Regards,
Luis

[Mzungu]

Best place for shrimp is, IMO, from other hobbyists here in Houston. I'd post a WTB in the Market, if I were looking for shrimp. Then, if you can't find what you're looking for, Fish Ranch and Fish Gallery usually have some shrimps for sale.