Bigg(ish) New Worlds For A 180

[tenohfive]

Thanks for the replies so far. Quick update, having been to my LFS this afternoon.
They didn't seem to have the gymnogeophagus rhabdotus and it was too busy in there to ask about them. Might pop in midweek when its less crowded.

That said, having seen Thorichthys Ellioti in person I think they're stunning fish and by all accounts quite peaceful (as cichlids go.) I'm really taken with them. Same with the Blue Acara's that were there - beautiful.

Which leads me onto a provisional stocking list:

1 x blue acara
2 x thorichthys ellioti
3 x pim pictus

I'll be buying relatively young - the most eye catching of both flavours in my LFS were 3-4 inches. Would it be overstocked with that list (obv not from a filtration point of view - twin eheim externals plus int. fluval 4+ sorts that) or would I get away with any more?

I've started looking for a bigger tank, something about a foot - 18 inches bigger will fit nicely in my living room but give me the option to expand.

Thoughts?

 

[minxfishy]

hehe, Ellioti are beautiful fish indeed, thought you might like em

I see no problems with them and the Acara, so long as its fairly well planted and enough areas for different territories, the only time you will see a problem is if you happen upon a pair of T.Elioti, having said that, they are not as mean as T.Meeki, but still aggressive enough if the need arises.

Know nowt about pictus, so I assume they are ok in that size tank.

 

[tenohfive]

Pictus can get pretty big, but I'm happy returning them if they outgrow the tank before I replace it with something bigger - which is unlikely. That said, I'm open to suggestions for an alternative catfish thats bigger than cory's and doesn't skulk in caves all day.

Think I'll stick a post in one of the catfish forums to answer that question though.

 

[tenohfive]

Just thought I'd add that I've got permission to get a 5ft tank in about 3/4 months, so if the above stocking list is good (and I'm happy with them, once I've got used to living with them) I could potentially look at expanding to some other similar fish.

 

[minxfishy]

If you can get the 5ft, go Sev's, would be fine with all of those and are lovely fish

 

[tenohfive]

Having seen some wild red necked sev's in my LFS today, its definately an addition I'd like to make. That said I want to see how I get on with the stocking I've mentioned above in the 180, rather than buy a 5ft and find that I don't get on with them.

Will wait for a second opinion on the stocking (and an answer to the post in catfish about the pictus) and potentially go shopping later in the week.

How should I aquascape the tank in the meantime? I've got playsand substrate in there at the moment, but nothing else.

 

[markandhisfish]

agreed the eliotti and acara should be fine. also agreed the point minxy made that could be an issue if you get a m/f pair and they spawn , having said that the acara is a robust fish so it could well work out fine. not too clued up on pictus i believ they will hit the 6 inch kinda size. . if you end up with the 5 footer id highly reccomend adding a sev or 2 very cool fish easy to keep and very responsive to human contact. full of personality. i love mine .

maybe 1 eliotti 1 blue acara and 1 other cichlid instead of the risk of the eliotti spawning. quite a few people i know that keep cichlids ( unless they have a big tank) keep it to 1 of each species to minimise this risk

or maybe try to get 2 female eliottis.

i didnt have any joy with pictus cats in my tank. ideally kept in a group but my lfs only had 1 so i got it intending to source a couple more but something attacked it and ripped of its whiskers. it died a day later .

 

[tenohfive]

I think I could live with a single t.ellioti - what should I get instead though?

 

[markandhisfish]

not sure about the compatibility so you may well want to check with somebody more clued up but rainbow cichlids are nice and grow to about 5 inches .

 

[tenohfive]

They look quite good. Something else which crossed my mind as an alternative is a Tbar cichlid. How does this stock list sound:

1xBlue Acara
1xT.Ellioti
1xTbar cichlid
3xPim pictus

 

[markandhisfish]

tbar cichlids are lovely fish could be issues with the acara tho as very similar to my jade eyed cichlids and these were the only fish my acara used to chase. could well work tho. all depends on the temprement of the acara

 

[tenohfive]

tbar cichlids are lovely fish could be issues with the acara tho as very similar to my jade eyed cichlids and these were the only fish my acara used to chase. could well work tho. all depends on the temprement of the acara

Tempted to give them a try as they're pretty gorgeous fish, and if push came to shove I could rehome the Tbar in an alternative tank if it didn't work out.

Okay, I think thats the stocklist sorted then. Will try and get most of them tomorrow (might struggle with the Tbar abit, may have to get that from trimar but we shall see.)

Cheers for the advice folks.

 

[markandhisfish]

if you mean ordering online from trimar id use wildwoods instead they have sajicas and their quality is better imo

 

[tenohfive]

if you mean ordering online from trimar id use wildwoods instead they have sajicas and their quality is better imo

True, Wildwoods is top quality. Might give them a ring, see if they've got some in stock and how much they are.

Btw - anyone got any tips for aquascaping? Was thinking I'd make a few caves to left and right, plant around them and pop a few bits of bogwood in the middle to make some sort of branch tangle type thing. How does that sound from a practical (rather than aesthetic) point of view?

And am I best adding all fish at the same time to avoid territory issues with newcomers?

 

[markandhisfish]

the acara can be quite territorial . may be worth considering adding that last. as for the scape plenty of hiding places/territories such as plants wood rocks roots etc what you plan to do sounds good

altho theoreticaly speaking if you add them all at once then they are all the "new boy"