oh...and umm...

are bettas compatable with zebra fish because I was very attached to Bob (he lived for three years ) and I would like to be able to have another to put in the tank

just one little guy

 

Welcome to Fishforum.com, Kitty.:wave:

I'd suggest cycling the tank first before you add anything. This thread is very detailed and should hopefully help you.
http://fishforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3738

I'd suggest looking into Cyprinids and Atherinids section as you get plenty of choices. Here are a few I can suggest:

Bottom: Bumblebee gobies (not all are brackish water species), Garra, Siamese algae eater, hara hara catfish, corydoras

Middle: Rasboras, barbs (research further on this one), tetras

Surface: Bettas, gouramis, danios, some rasboras such as Rasbora wilpita.

A list of what you like will be nice so we can trim them down to erase any discrepancies.

As for bettas and danios kept together, it's basically luck. The danios may not nip him but there is always the chance they will. Besides, these are boisterous eaters and can outcompete the betta for food.

 

http://www.glofish.com/

I was looking into getting two or three of those, has anyone heard of them or any experience with them?

and I want a pretty brightly colored aquarium but I'm still looking into various possibilities

I was planning on getting the tank setup and the plants in it for a week or two before I actually get any fish to put into it just to be sure there aren't any impurities in the water, and to see how the plants react. The aquarium I had when I was younger I just had cheapy plastic wal mart plants in it


what about live rock? My husband swears it's only possible with a salt water setup but I don't want to use plain old gravel

 

http://www.glofish.com/

I was looking into getting two or three of those, has anyone heard of them or any experience with them?

They're still similar to ordinary zebra danios so they're hardy.

what about live rock? My husband swears it's only possible with a salt water setup but I don't want to use plain old gravel

I agree with your husband. Live rocks are best kept in saltwater environments.

 

okay, I'm thinking so far a couple of danios and a couple kissing gourami but I read a few things that said gouramis beat up danios...and then a couple of other things that said gouramis get along fine with danios...and different compatability charts have said different things

so umm...which one is true?

 

hahaha :lol:

Ok.... #1!!!! Cycle the tank !! otherwise u'll be left with no fish. ALL WILL DIE!!!

#2 Zebras and gouramis are totally fine together.

 

hahaha :lol:

Ok.... #1!!!! Cycle the tank !! otherwise u'll be left with no fish. ALL WILL DIE!!!

#2 Zebras and gouramis are totally fine together.

I am! I'm just planning everything right now before I actually set it up lol

 

I agree that the zebras will nip at your betta. Sometimes things work out though, as fish have different personalities. If you *must* have a betta, I'd recommend getting all the other fish that may be aggressive towards it when they are very young and small, and after you know your betta is happy and healthy. I've got an aggressive Chinese Algae Eater who is fine with the guys he grew up with, but is mean to the newer additions.

Also, don't get any fancy guppies if you have a betta, even a female betta! The fancy fins of the guppy are just too tempting, your guppy will not survive.