Need A Good Tankmate For My Pandas

[geordieelvis]

Hi guys, I currently have 6 panda corys in my 90ltr tank, alongside these I have 6 Danios and 6 cherry barbs. What I am after is something to finish my tank off with. I would love a Red Tail or Albino Shark but obviously due to size and compatability issues this is out of the question, what would you suggest as a good tank mate? Basically I am after something that is...
1. Bottom dwelling
2. Not going to get any bigger than say 4"
3. Not going to upset my Corys
4. Happy on its own or as a pair

Cheers in advance

 

[leighton_87]

I would recommend a dwarf cichlid such as a Bolivian ram or apistogramma.

They would meet all your requirements

 

[eaglesaquarium]

+1

 

[This Old Spouse]

Cichlids are bottom dwellers? The first thought I had was one of the wonderful plecos out there that doesn't grow to mammoth proportions.

 

[leighton_87]

Cichlids are bottom dwellers? The first thought I had was one of the wonderful plecos out there that doesn't grow to mammoth proportions.

I guess it depends on your definition of bottom dwellers - the dwarf cichlids mentioned will rarely leave the bottom third of a tank and will generally stay very close to the bottom in and around whatever hardscape you have.

This is certainly not true of all cichlids but is true of those mentioned - in always wary of grouping fish together and assuming behaviour is all the same. Like assuming that all barbs/tetras/loaches or anything else have the same behaviours.

There are no Plecos that I can think of which stay less than 4 inches.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

A pair of Kribensis will be nice.

 

[leighton_87]

Agreed Kribs are another dwarf cichlid which would work!

 

[greenmumma141]

Agree with the bolivians. I have 4 with cories, and they actually interact quite a bit with each other and make great tank mates. Really great contrast between the two as well. If you have need, you might think about about a bristlenose plec or something, they get 5-6ish in length and are seen quite a bit throughout the day, when they're small.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would absolutely, unequivocally say that Kribs are NOT a good mix with cories.  Kribs are laid back cichlids compared to other African cichlids.  But, they are not really a good mix with cories, especially small cories like Pandas.
 
 
Bolivian rams, apistogramma and GBRs are all very different from kribs.  The kribs, if they pair off and breed would be a terror to the pandas.  The rams wouldn't be nearly as aggressive if they were to breed.  
 
 
As far as the bottom dwelling question goes, rams generally swim in the lowest third of the tank, and very rarely go above that.  The panda cories will actually spend more time in the top 2/3rds of the tank than the rams (although generally they would only do this along the glass during breeding type behavior).

 

[leighton_87]

I would absolutely, unequivocally say that Kribs are NOT a good mix with cories.  Kribs are laid back cichlids compared to other African cichlids.  But, they are not really a good mix with cories, especially small cories like Pandas.  Bolivian rams, apistogramma and GBRs are all very different from kribs.  The kribs, if they pair off and breed would be a terror to the pandas.  The rams wouldn't be nearly as aggressive if they were to breed.    As far as the bottom dwelling question goes, rams generally swim in the lowest third of the tank, and very rarely go above that.  The panda cories will actually spend more time in the top 2/3rds of the tank than the rams (although generally they would only do this along the glass during breeding type behavior).

Interesting - I knew Kribs could be territorial when feeding but didn't realise they were much worse than rams/apistogramma etc.

I had read the following from seriously fish

"Good tankmates include small characins, barbs, danios, rasboras, Corydoras, gouramis and Loricariids."

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I disagree with that.  When FEEDING they are fine.  When BREEDING, its another whole issue.  Personally, I prefer not to mix African cichlids with South American fish - unnecessary dangers there.

 

[leighton_87]

Ha - silly iPhone autocorrect I clearly meant breeding.

I have no experience with Kribs just relied on a website I place a lot of trust in so more than happy to believe what you say - my favourite thing about this hobby is learning new things everyday.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm sure that it has worked in some instances, but also has failed as many times or more.  I've never seen a single case where cories and apistos or rams have any issues, even after breeding.