I have had clown loaches eating cardinals before hence my comments equally I have read comments about peoples experiences with congos and small tetras I dont think it will always go wrong just warning of the potential and that the mix maybe a risky one.

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Alan

Thweeerp!

Tiger barbs look great when you have over 50.

trouble is they nip each other and every thing else in the tank.your right though Edd they do look great in a shoal.

With tiger barbs if you keep a big shoal all the nipping stays within the shoal its when you keep small numbers of tigers you get a problem anything less than 10 really.

If you go for deep bodied tetras like bleeding heart tetras you shouldn't have a problem with predation.

If you can track down maharaja barbs though you would not be disappointed with them as adults they are stunning.

You congos although they are relatively large have still got a fair way to go they can attain 4" in length I took a look at the photo of your tank the fish look to be in very good condition.

I can see why you are reluctant to add any large fish as it may rock the boat so to speak.

Have you considered a group of dwarf cichlids not kribs or anything like that but the butterfly cichlid stunning little cichlid you should be able to keep a group of 6-8 in your tank providing you add some cover for them they would probably spawn quite readily too.

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Alan

Thweeerp!

Had an off the wall thought too what is the ph of your tank water?

You may be able to keep a small group of Neolamprologus brichardi (this is the old name not sure of the current).

If the ph is suitable a small group would make an interesting addition they are territorial and would defend their patch but if you put a small pile of rock work in they will calim this as their own and are likely to set up a matriarchal group with a dominant female and male. They will breed like rabbits but you will get the opportunity to witness what has to be among the most impressive social behaviour of fish going as all the fish will defend the young its fantastic to watch if I had a 3 footer to spare a tank would b e set up just for these lovely fish.

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Alan

Thweeerp!

Completely agree with Alan on this, the day I sold them I regretted it. Not the most rare of species but great to watch, the males look great aswell. I don't know how well they'd work in your tank though; they're very teritorial when breeding. Though I did have a zebra danio (last of a shoal) in with them, with it being fast and staying at the top the Brichardi didn't seem too bothered.

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I love lamp

I once had a shoal of about thirty ,and they terrorised the other fish that were in there with them . IE mollies , guppies , laced angels and the weaker members of their shoal ,as a last resort, I put them in a tank of their own and thats where they stayed for the rest of their lives ,although stunning fish ,to much trouble. (in my opinion)