Lee Miller Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I work at a group home for children in state custody and I just got the green light to bring up a 55gal aquarium for my office. I already have a 10 gal community tank, a 5 gal betta condo, and I want to have an awesome nice 55gal setup too. I had thought about keeping a rainbowfish community since the are very colorful and active, but the thought just occurred to me that I could have a "wet pet" that the kids could name and interact with. What suggestions do you have? I am open to other community type setups too. TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 The lowest maintenance but attractive fun fish tank I have had recently was a school of angels in a hardscape only tank. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 You could get different angel varieties so the kids can easily tell them apart and name them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 @H.K.Lutermanhas the single most amazing interactive featherfin catfish. I do not remember what size tank but kids would ooo and aaa all day and be able to name it and they have very long lifespans. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plutoids Mom Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 My kids (2 and 4) love my angelfish, so I second or third that motion. The fish come to the front of the tank and will follow the kids' fingers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Daniel, is that a cat on your kitchen counter? On 7/29/2021 at 1:01 PM, Daniel said: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 3:26 PM, HH Morant said: Daniel, is that a cat on your kitchen counter? Yes! Sometimes Cricket gets on (or even in) the aquarium. 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 That could be a cat-astrophe. So far our local feline tuxedo clad aquarium inspector has not conducted an aquarium lid safety test yet, thank goodness! However I suspect it might be because he can surveil all of his aquarium channel big screen tv directly from his cat tree, and who would jump when you can lounge? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaintoppufferkeeper Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 So many things that could be done there 🙂 . Attached photos of some of the cichlid I mention and a couple puffers I have kept and photographed. Both puffers are asking for food in the photos. The hairy puffers get very excited for attention and of course meals. I am pretty partial to the puffer and many cichlid species for a wet pet level of interaction. They all are pretty observant and responsive in my set ups. I had a Spotted Congo Puffer (Tetraodon Schoutedeni) before that was very sociable and generally allowed other fish to coexist in the tank. A group of hairy puffer (Pao baileyi) has worked for me but feeding can be problematic if the food is a little too big. Mekong River Puffer (Pao palustris ) they are pretty intense as a group and might be a bit over the top in their occasional chats for that setting but the colors are awesome. I have considered a larger group of pea puffers in a big planted tank before, something like 8 in a 55 gallon, My guess is they would likely establish territories and have all kinds of shenanigans in there between themselves. That kind of set up would also have the potential for surviving fry to be discovered with the right plant cover, limited other tankmates, and mulm / microfauna to grow on. Cichlids Crenicichla Regani dwarf pike, Molwie Krib pair, or Bolivian Ram Pair are pretty great. Crenicichla Orinoco dwarf pike are a little more of a species tank but also fairly interactive -- they love food. all day any day any type they are in. A large group of silvertip tetra would likely be a crowd pleaser. Not quite the wet pet nameable option but watching them follow fingers on the glass always makes me think how fun that would be for everyone of all ages. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) Yeah as @Guppysnail said, I have a very social and friendly Featherfin Catfish, named Pooka. She greets me when I come near the tank, excitedly pressing her whiskers to the glass and swimming around upside down. She'll also let me hand feed her. I have her housed in a 40 breeder, but I wish I could have her in a 4 ft tank; a 55 gal would be great for one. Here's some videos! I do want to caution that they are classed as semi-aggressive, and Pooka hates every other large-ish fish I've tried her with. They're also very territorial, and want their own cave. And she has a habit of nipping at the platies she's housed with. But they can be a great odd-ball type wet pet if allowed the time to build trust. Edited July 29, 2021 by H.K.Luterman 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Miller Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 Thank you all for your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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