Can I Add These To My Tank?

[koinukun]

Hello! ()/

I went into my LFS today and saw some really beautiful keyholes! They looked so amazing and were very cheap... but I withheld the urge to buy them as I don't know that much about them, and I though I should ask here first if I could add one to my tank.

It's 40g and the tank mates are in my profile. It's very heavily planted at the moment, I've been putting off pruning for ages and now it looks like a jungle!

One thing is, my Bolivian Ram is VERY territorial! He/she does not like my angel fish and chases him a bit. It's not violent and there's never been any torn fins or wounds but would this be too stressful on the keyhole?

So would there be enough room for 1 do you think? Can I keep them singularly?
I also want a bristlenose as well. Would this be overkill on the stocking?
Thank you for any input you can give!

~koinukun

 

[Colin_T]

You could put a keyhole cichlid in your tank, especially considering it is well planted. The Bolivian ram will probably chase them around a bit but keyholes are pretty tough and can handle themselves against a ram.
You could probably add a small species of suckermouth catfish (bristlenose) but make sure you do regular water changes and gravels cleans because bristlenose are messy fish that do heaps of poo.
It could be difficult to gravel clean with lots of plants so you might be better off looking at a whiptail (Loricaria sp) or twig catfish (Farlowella sp) instead of the b/nose. Even a Peckoltia would be a bit better. they look similar to the b/nose but are usually a bit smaller. They also come in different colours. Zebra peckoltias are nice.

 

[koinukun]

Thanks for the help! I think I will get one of those keyholes! As for the Bristlenose I might hold off. I've never actually seen any Peckoltia or the other catfish for sale around here so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Thanks again!

~koinukun

 

[Colin_T]

ok you're in Tassy. Peckoltias have only been allowed into Australia in the last couple of years. There are two main types, orange spotted and a striped form. They aren't that flash. Maybe look at a whiptail or twig catfish. They turn up on the wholesale lists pretty frequently but you might have to ask your LFS to order you one in. They arn't that cheap, small whiptails go for about $15-20 each. twigs are a bit more. The Peckoltias will set you back about $50ea AU.

You could keep otocinclus catfish. They are a small (1inch) algae eating fish and don't cost the earth. You could have 3 or 4 in the tank without any problems.

 

[koinukun]

I had though about otos but I've heard they can become parasites to slow moving fish like discus and angelfish and I don't wanna risk it with my angelfish

I'll go in tomorrow and ask them about ordering in some twigs as they look quite interesting!

~koinukun

 

[england]

keyholes yes, there great easy fish to care for
check link

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Cichlids...eyhole-Cichlid/
otos id imagine the angel fish would have for dinner<

 

[Colin_T]

otocinclus catfish are not parasitic. They won't touch a healthy fish. If a fish dies in the tank they will feed on the body. But all catfish will do that.

Before you get any twigs or other catfish, make sure the filters are well established and do a couple of water changes a few days before adding the new fish. This should make sure the water is perfect and the new fish should settle in well.