40 Gallon

[Bebobb]

I am getting a 40 gallon breeder. The demensions are 36x17x18. I am thinking about possibly a community, but I would prefer a larger cichlid or two with some dithers. I was thinking maybe a single firemouth, but I don't know because I have heard that they are bvery agressive, and I don't know about ditheres. I would love to have a larger cichlid, like maybe a keyhole cichlid, in a community tank.

Any suggestions on what I should put in this tank?

 

[Balloons&killies]

You could try a single blue acara.
with some danios or something but danios might get eaten.
You could try some african cichlids because alot of south american cichlids get pretty big and african cichlids stay small.
For that you could try some mooris dolphins cichlid. they get a nice blue.
Um a zebra cichlid.
A yellow lab cichlid.


Check out some of those.

Cheers
Garett

 

[Bebobb]

I don't really want to go for Africans with this tank... I have put some thought into it, and I think that I would like to have an angel fish in the tank. I have a few questions on angels first though.

Can angel fish be kept alone as adults?

Would I need a male or a female if I were keepint it alone? Or would it even matter?

I'm pretty sure that I have read that angels can't be kept with kribs, but could I keep 1 single angel with a pair (or single) apistogramma?

 

[Wills]

Angels and apsitos work pretty well together. I was reading in PFK the other month that they do well because angels take up mid/high territory where as apistos take up territory on the substrate. Since your tank is tall enough Angels will be pretty nice in there

There are other dwarf cichlids that will work in your tank, depending on where you live or if your okay about postage you can find them quite easily. My favorite dwarf family is Laetacara, the main three that would work in your tank are Curviceps, Laetacara and sp.Buckelkopf. Or you have more dwarfs in the form of Nannacara various species available in there perhaps the most common is Anomala. Or a slightly rarer family is Krobia there are a few places around that have Krobia sp. Red Cheek but like I say quite rare. But you always have the more common ones like Bolivian Rams or Keyholes etc.

Wills

 

[Bebobb]

I love keyholes... What do you say about this stocking?

1 Angel Fish
1 Keyhole
1 Pair of apistogramma
8 Larger tetras
6 Corys (not sure what type yet)

Do you think that it might work out? Again, I have no idea on the ammount of fish that a tank this large can hold, because I have never worked with one as large as this before.

 

[Wills]

Erm to be honest Im not sure cos its quite deep but only 3 foot. IMO I would do either

2 Angels + 1 keyhole or
1 Angel + 2 Keyhole or
2 Angels + 3 Apisto (1m 2f) <---- I'd go for this one

I would only go for 2 types personally and if you go for apisto get a trio it saves all the stress going on one female. Could probs do 10 of the tetras and 10 cories - though actually you hear of a few apistos interfering with cories so maybe go for brochis? For tetras if your going for the big ones avoid the ones with a reputation for fin nipping because of the angels.

Wills

 

[Bebobb]

I don't know about going with two angels, because I am afraid that I wouldn't be able to find a pair of them... Instead of going with another angel, could I have more schooling fish? I have heard about the apistogramma having problems witht corys too... That's what worries me about my stocking here... Unless I only had one male, then I shouldn't have a problem. Atleast that is what I understand from my reading. How about this?

1 Angel
1 Male Apistogramma
10 Larger Tetras
10 Corys


What other active fish might I be able to add to this stocking? I was thinking danios, but my main concern with stocking it with active fish is that the angel might eat them.

 

[Wills]

Yeah that sounds cool to me I would wait to get a second opinion but you could probably do a lone keyhole in there as well but like I say its hard to judge because of the tank size. Other fish you could try maybe headstanders or hatchet fish? I dont know depends what you like, I dont think the above list is fully stocked.

 

[Balloons&killies]

Well if he did go for hactchet fish youve got to remember that they do jump quite abit. So you'll nedd a good cover with no spaces in it.
My mom kept them once and she had a little hole by the filter and the second day she had em they were on the floor dried up
Apistogramma speices are sometimes hard to find to and they might be expensive.
But other than that your tank sound like it will be nice.


Cheers
Garett

 

[Bebobb]

My LFS usually has some apistogramma in stock. If the hatchet fish jump, that bad, then I won't be able to house any. The hood has the same opening at the filter. I was thinking maybe some sword tails. Like a single male. What do you guys think?

 

[snowflake311]

I would go with some cichlids dwarfs. Rams , small acaras, a school of tetras and some corys.

Here is what I would do. Lots of plants and wood.
2 bolviana rams
2 smileing acaras or apistogramma
8 panda corys
8 Neon tetras or other tetra

 

[Balloons&killies]

id say swordtails would be fine with youre plan. they can get up to 3" i think or a bit bigger with there tail.
What kind of apistogramma does your LFS carry? sadly mine dont carry any and it sucks.

 

[Bebobb]

I don't really like the look of the smiling acaras... I would rather have an angel fish. I don't want to have a pair of dwarf cichlids with corys, because I have read a few reports where the dwarf cichlids rip the corys to shreads during breeding. Even though it isn't the most common thing in the world, I don't want to risk it. So that is why I am going with a lone instead of a pair of dwarf cichlids. I also prefer the look of Cockatoo apisto to the look of the Bolovian rams. Picky, I know.

So here is what I am planning so far.

1 Angel fish
1 Cockatoo Apisto
10 Larger tetras
8 Corys
1 Male Swordtail

I am messing around with Aqadvisor. I have figured out that not all of their infoormation is accurate. But, I'm not sure on this part. It says that the APistogramma Cacatuoides is too small to co-exist with the angel fish. I have read where they will work out fine. But, I'm not sure about the sword tail. It says that I should have atleast 3 swordtails. I only want males so I won't have to deal with fry. So could I keep a lone male okay?

I'm not trying to contridict what Wills said, but aqadvisor does not state any warnings when I add a Keyhole to the tank stocking. Does anyone else have any opinions on a lone keyhole in this tank?

Here is the link to what I am looking at. You can take a look at it, and have a go at messing around with it yourself.

http/www.aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php?AquTankName=&AquListBoxTank=Choose&AquTankLength=36&AquTankDepth=18&AquTankHeight=16&FormSubmit=Update&AquListBoxFilter=Aqua-Tech+5-15&AquTextFilterRate=9.7+&AquListBoxFilter2=Aqua-Tech+20-40&AquTextFilterRate2=26+&AquFilterString=keyhole&AquListBoxChooser=Keyhole+Cichlid+%28Cleithracara+maronii%29&AquTextBoxQuantity=1&AquTextBoxRemoveQuantity=&AlreadySelected=200909300009%3A1%3A%2C200909300048%3A1%3A%2C200909300026%3A10%3A%2C200911161252%3A8%3A%2C200909300222%3A1%3A&FilterMode=Display+all+species&AqTempUnit=C&AqVolUnit=gUS&AqLengthUnit=inch&AqSortType=cname&FilterQuantity=2

EDIT: My LFS usually varies on what kind of apisto that they have in stock, but most of the time they have Cockatoo Apisto. They also usually have Panduros. It usually depends on what they order. They seem to vary the apisto that they order.

 

[Balloons&killies]

You could still have 3 swordtails.its not that big of deal really. The females will drop there fry and then the other fish and swordtail will eat them.And its ok im picky too but i only like certain fish.
No offence anyone but i seriosly really dont like tetras lol.except for glowlight tetras

 

[Bebobb]

I've heard where a lot of people don't like tetras. I can't say anything against that, because I am very picky myself...

I really appriciate all of the suggestions and answers to my questions that you guys have provided. I think I have now decided what IS going to be in my rank. Awadvisor says that it is only 85% stocked, and since it is my first tank, I would like a bit of leeway. So now here is the stocking:

1 Angel fish
1 Cockatoo Apisto
1 Keyhole
10 Bloodfin tetras
8 Corys
3 Swordtails

Now, I have a few questions regarding some of these fish.

I don't quite know exactly what type of cory that I will be getting... It really all depends on what the LFS has in stock when I go...

Do bloodfin tetras nip fins? If they do, what other larger tetra would you reccomend for me?

EDIT: I have read that keyholes get lonely... I don't exactly want to have a pair of keyholes... Nor do I want to just throw one in there for looks... I'm not really sure if I should dtick with one of the keyholes... Are there any other smaller cichlids, but not dwarfs such as rams and apisto that would work in this tank?