Fish Combinations In An Aquarium

[fry_lover]

I just wondered what peeps thought were the most important factors when choosing tank mates for your fish. Would like to know exactly what peeps base their thinking on if they tell someone or advise someone "thats fish cant go with that fish" etc

I would like to take away "geographical location" of the fish in "nature" and concentrate on the basics (which often do relate to fish's natural environment of course)

so, what are the essentials / key elements? i am thinking.....

1. Water Parameters (temperature, pH, hardness)

2. Other Tank Mates (Aggression, predators, risk of being harmed, eaten or killed, activity levels)

3. Diet (herbivore, carnivore, bloodworm issues, protein needs, vegetable needs, live foods)

4. Tank size (for the needs of the fish as it grows)

5. Tank layout (rocks, lots of hiding places, wide open spaces for swimming)


I guess an example of where i am going with this would be that normally is someone had a Convict Cichlid (only of one sex though LOL) and a Malawi Cichlid in the same tank, some peeps might say "oi, you cant do that, they have completely different needs"

But i am thinking, well lets keep an open mind....

1. There seem to be quite a few cichlids that originate from Lake Malawi region that actually prefer or require a more protein heavy diet

2. I can hear peeps saying "water parameters", well, lets face it, Convicts can absolutely thrive in hard water with a pH of over 7.5

3. Peeps may say "the convict will kick a*se" well, that could be said about a lot of fish keeping, one fish "might" end up bullying the other fish.

So, its not just about a Convict and a Lake Malawi, thats just an example, but if we were to use this example....

Does anybody think there is a fundemental reason why convicts (of one sex) could not be in the same set-up as a Malawi cichlids who dont require a vegetable based diet, because i can't.

How about other potential combinations, that are "sensible" if you break down the facts, but not "text book" ?

 

[fry_lover]

I really thought this would get some interesting replies, but 33 views and nothing LOL

 

[n3ont3tra]

Okay, I'm not so sure on this one, but what about an RTS and 10 Tiger Barbs in a 29g, good filtration, 30% water change every week, lots of places to hide in the tank, heavily planted. I've always wanted to try this but people have tried it before without success. I'm wondering if this had to do with tank layout, or what, because both fish are semi aggressive and should be able to fend for themself, especially if they are all full grown. Opinions, please?

 

[chilledtim]

Frylover, i think people arent responding becuase you make such a good argument lol

its difficicult to find a floor in that plan, id say in situations like that different fish can live togeather and probably would in the wild if it wernt for the fact that the lakes, rivers ect were on different continents

 

[demonmagus]

I think this order makes the most sense

3. Diet (herbivore, carnivore, bloodworm issues, protein needs, vegetable needs, live foods)
Diet (herbivore, carnivore, bloodworm issues, protein needs, vegetable needs, live foods)

2. Other Tank Mates (Aggression, predators, risk of being harmed, eaten or killed, activity levels)

4. Tank size (for the needs of the fish as it grows)


5. Tank layout (rocks, lots of hiding places, wide open spaces for swimming)

1. Water Parameters (temperature, pH, hardness)

because you can't change the diet of a fish, tankmates may not be agressive e.t.c., tank size - you can always give the fish away, layout because certain fish need hiding places, water parameters because fish are adaptable

 

[fry_lover]

Frylover, i think people arent responding becuase you make such a good argument lol

its difficicult to find a floor in that plan, id say in situations like that different fish can live togeather and probably would in the wild if it wernt for the fact that the lakes, rivers ect were on different continents

LOL - you have got me laughing here!!!

Well i guess i am just getting ready in advance as i have 2x 67 gallon tanks to fill, bought them both last week, one came with fish that really shouldnt live together;

1x Parrot approx 5"
6 x Clown Loach approx 4"
Multiple Mbuna range from 3" to 5"
Multiple Hap range from 2" to 5"
1 x Tang (Julie) approx 2"
1 x Silver Dollar (giving him away free, already decided) approx 5"
1x Pictus, approx 3"
2x Syno, approx 2"
1x Small Bristlenose, approx 2"

Now i am aiming to give some fish away / sell (maybe just the Clown Loach and Silver Dollar) and seperate some of the others into each 67 gallon tank, am particuarly keen on seperating some of the more Carnivorous Haps from the Mbuna

But, part from being a little over crowded this guy kept all this fish in this tank for years, never made any additions, all the fish have been together for years, the only death he had was very recently when one of the Parrots "karked it", Also trust me, these fish are in A1 condition, fantastic colours, no finn damage etc etc

Now i am not saying that makes "everything" ok, but considering the combination he had, who would have thought one death in 2-3 years? and yes i do trust him, i met the bloke, he had no real reason to make up stuff

Even the 6 Clown Loach, he got them 3 years ago (bought 6, still had 6 to this day, and they all doubled, tripled in size and they NEVER got white spot)

I also already have these fish from my 40 gallon that i sold in order to upgrade to a 67 gallon

Male Convicts (less than 3")
Female Convicts (less than 3")
Some young Red Devils (less than 2")
Couple of Kribs
Couple of Small Jade Eye Cichlids

So yes, i am to stick to "below" stocking levels, give some fish away that just wont suit (maybe the red devils), BUT i will end up with some of kind of ####y "non text" book combinations in each 67-gallon for sure!!!!

Absolute LOL, LOL, LOL and more LOL to the word C,R,A,Z,Y being "bleeped" out, why, why, why LOL

Right now all these fish are in holding tanks (expect for a few that are already in one of my 67 gallons) with mature filtration until i complete my research and forum questions

Any views on my potential options here guy's?

Very reluctant to move on or sell any fish i got from this bloke expect perhaps the Clowns and definitly the Silver Dollar

PS - as much as i LOVE my convicts and their breeding behaviours (i have kept several breeing pairs both in mixed cihclid tanks and on their own) i have absolutely decided to seperate the males and females, males into one 67 Gallon (3 males) and females (4) into the other (67 gallon)

I know that really, i should think about reducing the amount of Convicts, and yes, i realise this means at the minimum, some Convicts will be in the same tank as some Mbuna (i remain open minded and havent committed to this idea yet)

 

[AndreaC]

I just wondered what peeps thought were the most important factors when choosing tank mates for your fish. Would like to know exactly what peeps base their thinking on if they tell someone or advise someone "thats fish cant go with that fish" etc

I would like to take away "geographical location" of the fish in "nature" and concentrate on the basics (which often do relate to fish's natural environment of course)

so, what are the essentials / key elements? i am thinking.....

1. Water Parameters (temperature, pH, hardness)

2. Other Tank Mates (Aggression, predators, risk of being harmed, eaten or killed, activity levels)

3. Diet (herbivore, carnivore, bloodworm issues, protein needs, vegetable needs, live foods)

4. Tank size (for the needs of the fish as it grows)

5. Tank layout (rocks, lots of hiding places, wide open spaces for swimming)

That bit makes perfect sense.

As for the rest there are plenty of people in the fish hobby who strictly stick to above guidlines, but ive read over months on the internet with people keeping certain types of non compatable fish together with success. pesonaly I darent do it as I would go into mayjor panick running round like a looney panicking should anything go wrong lol. But saying that all my tank mate are compatable yet I had a killer mollie who killed 3-4 fish (neons and corys) so agin like you mentioned even with compatable fish you can get extreme bullies!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it's all about calculated risks. there are no set rules to fishkeeping, even in the most peaceful of fish you will get the odd 'rogue' fish with a chip on their shoulder so putting any 2 fish together in a tank carries an element of risk. Some risks are much greater than others like if you keep 6 neons togther there is very little chance they will fight, but putting 6 neons with an oscar carries a much greater risk for obvious reasons. So naturally most people would advise not to do it, however I have heard stories of feeder fish being put in with large fish and the large fish simply not being interested and they end up coexisting for quite some time.

sometimes taking a risk will provide excellent results and you can find strange relationships forming and unusual looking tanks. I've nothing in principal against taking a risk as long as it is a calculated one, if you've weighed up the possibilities and have a back up plan in place then go for it.

 

[fry_lover]

it's all about calculated risks. there are no set rules to fishkeeping, even in the most peaceful of fish you will get the odd 'rogue' fish with a chip on their shoulder so putting any 2 fish together in a tank carries an element of risk. Some risks are much greater than others like if you keep 6 neons togther there is very little chance they will fight, but putting 6 neons with an oscar carries a much greater risk for obvious reasons. So naturally most people would advise not to do it, however I have heard stories of feeder fish being put in with large fish and the large fish simply not being interested and they end up coexisting for quite some time.

sometimes taking a risk will provide excellent results and you can find strange relationships forming and unusual looking tanks. I've nothing in principal against taking a risk as long as it is a calculated one, if you've weighed up the possibilities and have a back up plan in place then go for it.

fully agreed.

As for back up plan, mine is (not sure its the best plan, but its something)

I have 2x 36" spare tanks (including heaters and Fluval 4+ internal filters ) for emergency holding tanks, then i would re-home the affected fish who was unsuitable for FREE ASAP,

I also will be using 2x Mature Externals for each 67 gallon tank, if i need to activate any of the "emergency holding tanks" i will take some mature media from the externals and put it in the Fluval 4+ internal.

I am also at home quite a bit over next few months, as taking study leave here and there due to college, so i will good opportunities to observe the fish carefully and thoroughly and well as my usual evening watching and weekend "watching sessions" LOL

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I look forward to the pics

 

[fry_lover]

thanks, will pics in about 5-7 days i think

i will also give the full lists and sizes of fish in each tank

by the way

http/s95.photobucket.com/albums/l149/eazyrog/Fish%20Tank/

thats the new 67 gallon i got with fish IN already, sadly the light pink Parrot died before i got the tank

i know it was over stocked, but like i said i am gonna split it up a bit and move a few fish on

What you cant see in the pics is

6x Clown Loach
2x Syno
1x Small Bristlenose

 

[fry_lover]

Well i can tell you something that hasnt worked and its great to know this.....

I want Kribs and i want one or two Julidochromis Tangs ( i have kept a breeding group of Marleri before i love them - moody sods but i love 'em LOL)

Anyway, i got this one Julie Dickfedi about 2"(spelling?) and i got 2x Kribs (about 1.5" and 2" respectively)

Anyway, as with above in this thread, i figured

- Water parameters, well yeh, Julies, hard and alkaline and Kribs (in an ideal world a little closer to neutral perhaps), but we all know Kribs can flourish in harder water with a pH closer to 8.0 and my pH is about 7.8, and i have kept Kribs before, no problems.

- Diet, pretty compatible all round

- Behaviour - both are not routinely aggressive (only in breeding BUT see my point below) and both are similar in size (give or take a tiny bit)

- Tank Layout - both like to "creep" around rocks or whatever, and my set-up has a lot of hiding places

Anyway, did it work, NOPE!!!!!

and here's why ( i think )

the Krib being a similar shape to a Julie, well the Julie here (i think) thinks the Kribs are another Julie, as i know Julie's can HATE each other and its nearly always recommend not to have mixed Julie species unless in a very big tank

anyway, both my kribs have been hiding behind the filter for 24 hours and the Julie is "patrolling" the whole tank, almost trying to "stake" them out

Conclusion: doesnt work

Solution: my Julie is to be moved to the other 67 gallon (will update later), because i have 2x Kribs and am getting 2x more at the weekend, and 4 fish outscore's 1 fish LOL

PS - anyone ever seen a Julie fighting? Boy can they hold their own, they can move at the speed of light and have these big mouths they open up at the point of attack LOL

 

[Smurthette]

I only have one parrot fish left in my 10g tank, and I would like to if it's advisable to add some puffers.

Thanks

 

[rdd1952]

OLD THREAD but I guess still has merit since it is kind of generic.

 

[kj23502]

Only Dwarf puffer in a 10 g and they are mean and fin shredders