New Tank, New World.

[c-dub]

Hi all, I have almost finished setting up my new tank. It's cycled and I currently have 2 baby Bristlenose Plecos stocked and that's it.
I am hoping to make it a South American cichilid tank. The tank is 4x2 in size.

The fish I'm looking at stocking are possibly:

Green Severum (Heros severus)
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids (Apistogramma cacatuoides)
Bristlenose Plecos

possibly Angel(s)?

Here is what the tank currently looks like. (Keep in mind I have ordered and shall recieve this week a new lighting unit, 2 x Anubias Nana in terracotta pot, a Large Urn with Nana & Java Moss, 2 bags of java moss and 3 Large Size Java Ferns.

Please let me know any advise or reccommendations. (will be probably setting up Co2 as well, but more interested on knowing what you think about my stocking with fish).

Thanks guys!

edit:

Contiunually updated shot... (more on further pages)

 

[minxfishy]

See no issues with the stocking, assuming 4 x 2 is a minimum of 75g, its fine for a single severum, a few angels, apistos and plecs. Some people will say not to keep the larger Severum with smaller SA cichlids like apisto's/rams, but it depends on the individual fish temprement, my severums dont bother the rams they are with and the rams arent at all bothered by the larger sev's.

Only thing to keep an eye on would be the severum eating your plants, although anubias is mainly left alone, because they dont actually like to eat it, it will be nipped, ripped and spat around the tank as a game to it.

 

[Wills]

Yeah agree with Minxy I think that a Severum could work pretty well with apistos, angels should work fine in there as well as the apistos will take over the bottom while the severum and angel will take the top and mid water.

When you say green severum as heros severus the most common green severum is heros efasticious which grows bigger than severus. The difference between the two between size and adult colouration is the anal fin the efasticious has a serated edge that attaches to body but the severus is a smooth fin close to the body but a bit more serated towards the tip the body.

But yeah sounds a nice tank

Wills

 

[kaivalagi]

Nice mix, an alternative Severum to the one you mentioned, if you can find one, could be the Hero sp "Rotkiel" or Redhead Severum, it doesn't grow as large as other Severums (8" max?) and looks stunning. Found some nice pics here: http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/other/heros_rotkeil.html

Could 2 go in to that tank?

 

[c-dub]

On the site I was going to use which is livefish.com.au (i'm from australia) they only have gold or green severum.

 

[minxfishy]

They are likely referring to the heros efasciatus as they are the most commonly sold species (well particularly in the UK) either way, be it efasciatus or severus, either would be fine for your tank set up.

 

[c-dub]

I will probably go with

1 x Green Severum
4 x Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids
2 x Bristlenose Pleco

and maybe in the future if my LFS ever gets them in a couple of Beautiful Veiltail Angels that I once lost a long time ago!
Hope they get them back in stock some day I have never seen angels like them!

 

[c-dub]

Darn, supplier is out of Apistogramma cacatuoides and don't know when they'll get them again.

 

[roadmaster]

Darn, supplier is out of Apistogramma cacatuoides and don't know when they'll get them again.

Keyhole cichlids are an often overlooked species from South America maybe they would be something that interest's you?
They aren't much of a threat to plants and tolerate othere less boistrous fishes well.

 

[bricko]

I second the Keyholes, have them in my planted tank and they are cool little fish, they may need a dither fish to promote their personality as they can be quite shy. Mine are always the first out for food though.

 

[kaivalagi]

There are plenty varieties of nicely coloured Apisto's, does the LFS stock any others?

 

[c-dub]

Only thing about keyholes is the colours... I wanted something that stood out..


Another thing is the LFS only stock a small amount of Cichlids, mainly oscars and a few electic yellows... and angels of course.

The site I was looking at is livefish.com.au and they stock a lot and will ship to a depot in my town.

 

[Wills]

Had a look on livefish.com.au and they have A.Aggazi? They would be pretty nice they also have A.Trifasciata both of them are reasonably similar to Cacatuoides.

Had a look at their sevs and they are the Efasticious so they are the larger growing ones.

That site has a lot of nice cichlids for order on like chocolates and Geophagus Rio Pindare but both of them are out of stock atm but if you come back those are fantastic rare cichlids. The rio pindare are extremely rare and beautiful, they stay much smaller than most geos and only grow to 6 inches max.

 

[kaivalagi]

I second the Agassizi

These 3 options look great and are in stock (ordered in my preference ):

http/www.livefish....products_id=215
http/www.livefish....products_id=214
http/www.livefish....roducts_id=2132

They have some really nice fish in that list

Would it be worth asking if they are getting any more stock in soon for the ones they've sold out? e.g. the cockatoo!!!

 

[c-dub]

I asked about the cockatoo and they said they don't know yet.

They said:

"After contacting our suppliers, we are unable to provide you with an accurate estimated time of arrival of Apistogramma cacatuoides.

We get these from local breeders and usually every couple months they are available. Apistogramma Cacatuoides Double Red 3.5cm

If they become available we will include these updates in our newsletter after updating the site, I would recommend you sign up to our newsletter if you haven't already to be kept informed."