Alright I'm back, fantastising about all MANY possibilities there are starting from scratch again. I guess I could keep anything! I did think for a bit about having a fabulous Asian community with badis, wild bettas, big school of chilli & tiny blue rasboras, etc but I think the small South American fish are (mostly) gonna win out again.
So far I think -
Pair/trio of apistos - borellii or agasizzii probs. I'm thinking I'm just going to go with what apistos look great at ADC, they have a great selection of apistos in good health. They have some of those insanely blue/orange alenquer agasizii which look almost fake but are stunning. Or if anyone knows of some others around? 👀
Something small and weird - maybe some morpho darter tetras?
@Conort2 do you keep these, what are they like? Also how are the green darters?
Main school - I'm thinking green neons, there is a group at ADC that all react to your hands near the tank, schooling all together at the top and it's cool af. My cardinals never schooled and I'd like something that does sometimes, and I think the colour will look great in blackwater.
Niche school - I have been thinking about those threadfin rainbows again. Yeah, they're not South American, but they are so beautifully dramatic in silhouette, I think they would go well. Or maybe an interesting tetra like the yellow silvertips or green jellybeans, anyone kept these?
Maybe maybe maybe - Pencilfish - you'd think I'd be detered, but I loved those pencilfish and I'd like to try them again. Maybe a different species, perhaps Eques. The tank has very fast flow at the top atm, so going to replace a lily pipe with one of those weirdly shaped ones so they can enjoy the top more. NGL if I found a good source for the marginatus I might have to try them again though. Even when it’s a blackwater I’ll be keeping a lot of floating plants and emergent growth to keep them happy.
Corydoras - I loved the pygmies, but I think it's time to try something else, a proper Cory. Proooobably Corydoras Habrosus, maybe Coryodras nannus, or even one of the small Aspidoras that the Fish Barn seem to get in sometimes. ANOTHER option is those lovely little brown darter tetras, which apparently they can get at WoW. Not sure if they would clear the sand, anyone kept them?
Otos - zebras would be nice. Will have to save up, but they are lovely and would love a botanical-heavy tank. Or maybe some other interesting oxyropsis-type that turn up every now and again, whichever I get I want a good group.
A few single weird catfish - any suggestions? Would love to keep another niche catfish like the Red Lizard Whiptail, but mine never seemed to eat much. Farowella too big for this tank? Maybe a few of those tiny stone catfish?
Send me your colourful, cute and slightly strange suggestions!!