150 gal. tank

Question
im still thinking of the oscar and the dempsey, what do you think of the 150 gal. tank being a large community tank? which would you think would look better? also i have a 30 gal community tank, and one of my platys has a black gravid spot, seeming pregnant. she is laying on the floor of the tank, but when i approach the tank, she swims up for food. she acts normal otherwise, she is laying at the bottom. her belly is inlarged. is she ready to give birth? sorry for so many questions, but i love fish and have become very enthusiastic about them. i just want to learn a little more about them. thanks again for your help!!!
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
hi, i am ready to add some larger freshwater fish to my 150 gallon aquarium. i was thinking maybe 1 oscar, a jack dempsey, a school of large Bala's and a school of Tinfoil Barbs. the schools i was thinking of 6-8 of each. what do you think? thanks!!!!
-----Answer-----
Andy

Thanks for your question, I will try to help:

I would skip the school of Tinfoil Barbs as they just get too big and are not really a good aquarium fish. I know they are sold everywhere but they are not suited to the home aquarium. I have a school of them in a pond here in Florida and they are cool, just not for an aquarium. I would also skip the Dempsey since the sharks will need a lot of swimming room and two large fish will hamper that.

I would get the Oscar and the Bala sharks at about 3 to 4 inches and let them grow in the aquarium.

About the Oscar, please train it to pellet food, Hikari is probably the best. Avoid "feeder" fish. I suggest twice a week supplementing with frozen krill or earthworms. The worms can usually be found at a bait shop. You will have to cut the worms while the Oscar is small.

If you have a pet shop near that sells live crickets that is also a good treat for your Oscar. Just be aware that you will need to up the water change schedule and gravel vacuum with an Oscar.

If you really want the Dempsey I suggest you skip the school of Bala sharks and get the Dempsey, the instruction for the Oscar would apply to the Dempsey also.

I hope this helped, if you have further questions please post a follow up question.

Jerry


Answer
A large, well planted, community tank is a thing to behold, in my opinion. It is a lot more work to keep everything in shape but there is so much activity and things to look at it just awesome.

A large tank with a few big fish is fun also, it attracts attention and is much easier to keep.

It all depends on what YOU want. What would be more fun for YOU.

Your Mollie is ready to give birth. If she is still eating all is well.

Hope this helped.

Jerry