Cichlid 'wet Pet' (?) Suggestion

[Matt Gleadow]

I currently keep Metriaclima Estherae but I am thinking of having a change as they breed non stop and soon I am not going to have the room for the fry if they carry on breeding. Plus I dont want to be growing fry up and selling them on all the time.

I've been thinking and I fancy sticking with cichlids but going for 1 or maybe 2 bigger cichlids that dont really breed in captivity? If possible! Might be a tall order to ask for cichlids that dont breed? Also have a Common Pleco that I will be keeping.

Is this sort of set up called a 'wet pet' tank?

Tank will be 4 foot.

Just an idea I've got at the moment, not sure how good a one it is?!

 

[jayjay]

What are the other dimensions of the tank?

 

[dthoffsett]

If you're still interested in Mbuna, have a large enough tank, and are dedicated, you might try an all male tank, you get the stunning colors, and no fry. Here's an article than should help if you want to give it a try.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/all-male_malawi.php

 

[Matt Gleadow]

Thats a good suggestion and a good read, although I am not so sure if I am up to it!

Dimensions of tank will be a 48" x 18" x 20" (285L I think that is)

 

[Matt Gleadow]

Would I be better looking at New World's? Not sure what they are like, my mbuna seem quite friendly and interested so would like something like that ideally. New World seem to have some bigger fish better suited to being kept as singles from the little I bit I have read on them.

 

[dthoffsett]

You've got a 75gal US tank, which is a good size if you want to try your hand at an all male tank. If not you could look at 1 oscar (not sure about tank mates, never kept one), or a couple of the other larger South American cichlids. There aren't any Malawis I can think of that you can keep singly or just a couple. I'd post in South American in see if they can help. Good luck!!

 

[rixy]

if you want larger africans,there is always the malawi eye biter and livingstonii.here are some pics of the ones i used to own.
livingstonii

eye biter

 

[adambrum]

A bit off topic but whats the vic in the last pic ?

 

[Daygen]

a 75 gal is a nice size for a cichlid tank.

you could go with a Jack Dempsey, and Oscar and a pleco.

With the size that that O gets to very quickly you wouldn't want to put any more stock in than that. The Jack is a very slow growing fish, and would get along with the O perfectly.
As for a pleco, I suggest an armoured one. A Bristlenose would be good, as long as it cannot fit in your O's mouth.


Good luck with your new set up!

 

[rixy]

vic in the last pic is a sp44(i think) its always so hard to get the id perfect as a few look very similar.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

a 75 gal is a nice size for a cichlid tank.

you could go with a Jack Dempsey, and Oscar and a pleco.

With the size that that O gets to very quickly you wouldn't want to put any more stock in than that. The Jack is a very slow growing fish, and would get along with the O perfectly.
As for a pleco, I suggest an armoured one. A Bristlenose would be good, as long as it cannot fit in your O's mouth.


Good luck with your new set up!

i don't think that's good advice at all honestly.


75g is the absolute minimum for an O and that's with no companions, you need bigger if you want friends. JD's are massivley more agressive than O's and could very easily bully them, and BN's only get to 6" so even at full adult size could still be eaten

yes you could do a great NW cichlid tank with 75g, but i don't think the above suggestions would work.

rixy those pics are great

 

[rixy]

thanks miss wiggle,plenty more if you wanna see

 

[Matt Gleadow]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and photo's! Some very nice looking fish there!

I may ask in the New World Section for some advice and see what they suggest for a tank of my size.

I wont be getting an Oscar as I'm sure I have read it is better to have them in at least a 120G tank and I can't accomodate something like that at the moment and if I could then I would have a group of Front's in there!

 

[england]

how about maybe going for a severum
http/s94.photobucket.com/albums/l119/djn...nt=S5000166.jpg
to go with a convict
http/s94.photobucket.com/albums/l119/djn...nt=S5004283.jpg


or a male firemouth http/s94.photobucket.com/albums/l119/djn...nt=S5000123.jpg




and the plec but remember plecs get big n turf up the floor n are messy buggers but u got to love them

 

[pica_nuttalli]

however, skip out on getting a pair of convicts as they will breed and they are intensely aggressive once they get started. plus it's generally more hassle than its worth to have to deal with all the excess fry.