It's been ages since I've been here and I'd dearly appreciate some stocking advice.
The last time I was here I think I was just managing RA/Fibro, mostly, but this last year's been wicked--Lupus, Sjogren's, bad Anemia, really bad Vit. D deficiency...all sorts of stuff that wear me out and, apparently, weaken my muscles some. Back when it was primarily RA I knew the rheumatologist would want me on an immunosuppressent (he still does) which might make water changes/gravel vacs/filter cleans a bit harder---my solution? I bought a "55 G",a Rena XP3, Hydor ETH heater, Hydor aerator/light, lots of good driftwood, etc. thinking that the bigger the tank, the easier it'll be...so long as I understock a bit.
This little fish palace houses only one fish: Minnie, the BN Pleco. We've only run into 2 problems: being so sick, I haven't had the energy (or money) to get Minnie some tankmates; secondly, the XP3 I got second-hand with the 55 stopped on Christmas Eve, when I ran out and got a brand-new filter, however, Miss Minnie's tail was clamped by then. She's been babied ever since, but that dorsal fin still isn't "brand new" and she swims a bit slower and more hesitantly.
So, that's where I'm starting out. There's a "55 G" tank (which, in reality, only holds about 44 gallons of water before substrate or decor, so that'd shave it back to holding maybe 38 *true* gallons of water in there.) Ideally I'd like to under-stock a bit, maybe to the tune of having only 30-40% capacity.
Here's what I'm thinking: I don't want Miss Min to feel too intimidated or invaded by new fish. I know she likes otos. She came to me with another BN pleco, Ish, who passed away last year. I'd love for her to get some of her swimming confidence back, I'd also love another bn pleco, but she's already doing such a great job cleaning the tank walls I wonder if this would be too much. Other fish I've considered: upside down catfish, betta (more than one if I can find peaceful females,) corys... I've looked at lots of livebearers (the stock and trade of petstores,) here's the thing: I *love* seeing "new born" fry of any species and cheer them on, but...it rends me emotionally to see how painfully livebearers seem to die, so much more so than other fish. I've even considered danios (leopard, maybe,) even though as minnows they're a bit higher than usual in the ammonia-producing department.
My dream tank would be full of personality, full of long-lived, happy, peaceful fish with variety and color, some fish visible in the daytime as well as at night (maybe even fish who like learning to do tricks to enrich their lives.) A tank not so over-run with fry that suddenly I'm *far* beyond capacity and worn out before I begin. Am I asking for the impossible? (it feels like it, lol!)
Please do me a kindness and suggest to me how you'd stock this tank (the timing's ideal as many fish are on sale for the next week or two.) I've been bouncing ideas off the AqAdvisor website for general suggestions, but this being a tank that begins/centers on a catfish I thought I'd start here where I've gotten so much good advice before
Thank you so very much!
moonbunny (and Minnie)
(Sad to say but true, but if the opportunity ever presented itself... or if we could figure it out here, I'd love another little pleco, too.)
))))) 
