65 Gallon Stocking List

[Wills]

Just a thought but what are peoples thoughts on me keeping my 2 Heros Severus and my Nic and then add in a group of Krobia with just 5 of the headstanders and a few small twig catfish and maybe some pencil fish.

So in the 65 gallon with Fluval FX5 I would have

2 x Heros Severus
1 x Nicaraguan - female
4 x Krobia sp.Rio Xingu
5 x Annostomus Ternetzti
8 x Pencil fish - not sure of species yet
2 x Sturisoma Aurem (whiptail catfish)

Or should I just rehome the Severums and be done with it?

Wills

*holly crap I just totted that up in realistic adult sizes and its not actually that bad.... I could seriously live with that stock list and be a very happy guy

 

[hamfist]

I know it's not what you probably want to hear but it sounds like an awful lot of fish for a 65 gallon, bearing in mind that you have no immediate plans to upgrade.
Cut that stock list by 30-40 % and I think you are being a bit more realistic.

 

[Wills]

See to be honest I would disagree with you simply because if it wasnt the two sevs in there I would be mixing in some more mid sized cichlids like them and with them being both Heros Severus and both around 6 inches at 3 years old I would say they are full grown and a lot of the other fish I would be look it at to replace them with would be similar sized fish (ie stuff like Elioti etc) and with the Krobia only getting to 3-3.5 inches and so calm essentially not going to cause issues with territory yet still because they are an acara type they will be robust enough to handle the fish in there. Then the nic is the main wild card but I feel I know and trust her sufficiently she has hit sexual maturity and I know the extent of what shes like on heat to think that she would work out okay in this set up. The only real mixed opinion I have on the above list is the pencil fish.

I think cutting the list by 30-40% is a bit extreme I kind of agree that it is pushing it but Im prepared enough to handle stuff if it goes wrong though I cant see an issue as the tank is in pretty good harmony at the moment and the above list goes on how stuff is right now if the fish in there were in adult size - ie: the current Geophagus being swapped for the Krobia and the Turquoise Rainbows for the Pencil Fish - then Im cutting out my L75 and Gold Sev and 3 Headtanders

 

[hamfist]

See to be honest I would disagree with you simply because if it wasnt the two sevs in there I would be mixing in some more mid sized cichlids like them and with them being both Heros Severus and both around 6 inches at 3 years old I would say they are full grown and a lot of the other fish I would be look it at to replace them with would be similar sized fish (ie stuff like Elioti etc) and with the Krobia only getting to 3-3.5 inches and so calm essentially not going to cause issues with territory yet still because they are an acara type they will be robust enough to handle the fish in there. Then the nic is the main wild card but I feel I know and trust her sufficiently she has hit sexual maturity and I know the extent of what shes like on heat to think that she would work out okay in this set up. The only real mixed opinion I have on the above list is the pencil fish.

I think cutting the list by 30-40% is a bit extreme I kind of agree that it is pushing it but Im prepared enough to handle stuff if it goes wrong though I cant see an issue as the tank is in pretty good harmony at the moment and the above list goes on how stuff is right now if the fish in there were in adult size - ie: the current Geophagus being swapped for the Krobia and the Turquoise Rainbows for the Pencil Fish - then Im cutting out my L75 and Gold Sev and 3 Headtanders

Well, you're an experienced fishkeeper, and you know your own fish, obviously way better than I do. Your judgement is almost certainly better than mine on this.
SOmetimes, the stocking of a tank can look a lot on paper, but looking at it in the flesh can appear very different.
Sounds like you've got things pretty well sorted in your head.

Can't really comment on the pencil fish, as I've no experience of them.

What I do know is that I want to hear all about it and see pics when it's all done !!!

 

[ChilliPepper]

I agree with Hamfist, a stocking 'on paper' can look very different in real life, plus you have to take into account individual personalities.

Have you got a video of your tank, Wills? Would be able to get a better idea of your stocking with that.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I had a feeling that three of your gorgeous Headstanders were unaccounted for in the re-shape...

Have you found them a good home, or are they getting advertised? Do they need a group of 5+, or are they likely to be happy as a trio (if its one male and two females)?

 

[Wills]

I had a feeling that three of your gorgeous Headstanders were unaccounted for in the re-shape...

Have you found them a good home, or are they getting advertised? Do they need a group of 5+, or are they likely to be happy as a trio (if its one male and two females)?

Yeah bit undecided about the headstanders I really want to keep all 8 but I know its not feasable - I had a trio to start with and they were good but didnt really see them that much but once it got to 8 they are all over so hoping in a group of 5 it will be okay still, going to let them grow a while longer though to work out which way will be best to split them as they mature. I know I have a mix of males and females as I have seen them breed and the flow of eggs etc. Not got them advertised at the moment but if a home appeared Id be okay with it.

Chilli - Ill try and get a video tomorrow night

Wills

 

[ChilliPepper]

Chilli - Ill try and get a video tomorrow night

Wills

Cool

 

[Wills]

http/www.vimeo.com/14193784

there we go just imagine that tank without the gold sev and then if all those fish stayed at the same size or smaller and also without my plec that you dont see in the video.

Wills

 

[star4]

The pleccy is in the vid, he swims up behind the heater ,

 

[ChilliPepper]

Well, it looks quite busy in there, but I prefer that; I have one tank busy, and one not busy so I can tell the difference. I think the fish you have probably prefer it busier. It mimics their natural environment more.

Anyway, I think without the Gold, it would look fine. You over filter, and are a responsible fish keeper, so I think you'll be able to manage it

 

[Wills]

Im fairly happy with that stock to be fair.

I agree it is quite a busy tank but the majority of the fish I have are open water fish ie. Rainbows and headstanders and the big hulking sevs are hardly wall flowers haha. Hoping some kind of nice small but not too small schoolers like pencil fish will really give the tank a buzz as once the geos and rainbows are gone the krobia are quite timid - like keyholes almost but not quite as shy.

The plec you see on the vid is one of my Stuisom Aurem I think its my male The L75 is much bigger than him but never comes out he needs a dimmer tank really one of the reasons to rehome him really.

 

[snowflake311]

So the 180gal tank did not work out?

let one of the severums go don't add any more fish just keep what you have. when the time comes that the tank is over stocked then rehome the fish. You stock can work out longer then most people will tell you. Also I find the adult size is not always right they can be smaller or bigger then what books say.

IMO if they get along now just keep what you have. Be ready to sell some when the time comes if it comes. My 100 gal is over stocked but it works and is good for now so I'm keeping all my fish. Sure this I might change. I will need to weed some out till then I'm keeping my babies haha.

The way I see it who knows what will happen. Who knows you might get that larger tank too, or a good size second tank. Also things happen I hate to say it but you could have a tragic freak thing happen and might lose a fish or 2 so just keep them and see what happens.