Stocking Advice Needed

[plaskotki]

Hi Guys,
Hope I am in the right section of the forum. If not I do appologise. My son (12) has a 180 litre fish tank. We used to have a variety of fish, but over the years some of them died. He is hoping to convert to a cichlid tank sowe have not beed replacing fish that died. We have left:
1 golden gourami(10cm)
1 clown loach (15cm)
1 cory
1 chinese loach (20cm)
1 pleco (7cm)
We could be waiting for a few years for all of them to die.... So I am thinking of introducing about 5 South-American Cichlids as I understand they are less aggressive then African ones. I watched some videos on youtube and people do mix cichlids with other fish. We had a look on the web and we are thinking of getting a mixture of firemouth and convicts.
Do you think they will be ok with my fish? I have plenty of hiding places. I would really appreciate your advice.

 

[kelvinrankin767]

you have to cycle your tank before adding fish have you done a fishless cycle? Read up on it or your fish will probally die.

 

[Wills]

Hi there it sounds like the tank has been set up for quite some time so I would not worry about the post above.

It is possible to do a South American Cichlid tank in a 180 liter tank. And a firemouth would work well but the convicts will be too aggressive.

The majority of the fish oyu have at present are not really good companions or choices for the tank in general. The Plec will grow to large for the tank as will the clown loach. The sucking loach is arguably going to outgrow the tank and is also often problematic often with large bodied fish like cichlids. Additionally the gourami can often be problematic with cichlids as well those feelers are often the first thing to go in a fight.

So I would probably consider rehoming all of the above mentioned fish and get the cory some more friends as they need to be in groups of 6 and they do often work well with cichlids. If you were to take the fish you have at present to a local shop you will most likley get credit towards your new fish as well.

A few cichlids you could consider in this kind of tank are things like, Firemouths, Blue Acaras, Festivums, Angelfish, Cupid cichlids, Bolivian Rams (not blue or german, gold rams though more specialist needs) Dwarf Pike cichlids, Laetacara, Apistogramma, Krobia there are more but a few names to start you off Obviously certain ones in that list wont work together but its working out the balance of the tank.

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

Wills, thanks for your reply. It is going to be a very tricky decision then, as my son is very attached to what we've got at the moment. The plec and clown loach we have have been with us for over 3 years. The clown loach has not grown for about 2 years now. I am not totally sure what plec we have but when we were buyin it the pet shop guy told us that it is not going to be very big. I will definitly consider getting a few more corries. Do you think that Gourami is going to be the biggest problem then?

 

[star4]

I think (as usual ) Wills has covered most of the cichlids suitable, but forgot Keyholes . The gourami should be ok with the more placid cichlids, I had blue acara in with gourami before without bother, but with cichlids it does depend on the personality of the fish, some are nice some are nasty. Your clown loach would be better off in a group, but if you are going to increase your cory's you would be better off re-homing the clown.

 

[plaskotki]

Thanks for your advice star4. I'll go for firemouth and blue acara then. How many do you think I can get for my 180l tank?

 

[Verminator89]

You could get a couple of each, however if they start pairing off and breeding thats when cichlids become aggressive and can make your tank quite a quarrelsome place. Single specimens are advisable, or go for a pair of one species, i don't know if multiple pairs of cichlids would work, even firemouths and acaras together. During one of them spawning things could get interesting. It all depends on what fish you wish to keep out of what you already have. Personally i would rehome all the fish you have and start afresh, but obviously if your attatched to the fish its a different matter, and also the cost of starting to stock from scratch again can be an issue.


A cichlid often overlooked would be the Angel fish.


Appistogramma are smaller and very attractive cichlids that you could have a couple of pairs in a 180L tank, however with some of the larger tank mates you have currently i'd suggest getting rid of them before getting Appitos.

 

[plaskotki]

Thanks a lot Verminator89. Yes, rehoming the fish I've got would be a problem... I don't think my son (12)would even consider this option. I know that seing the fish being torn apart might be more traumatic but that's what he decided. I will try to talk to him again.

 

[Wills]

If you/he wont rehome them then what about buying a bigger tank? I mean a common plec is really one of the great danes of the fish hobby and this is what your going to end up with http/aquariummalta.com/pop_printer_friendly.asp?TOPIC_ID=1828

 

[plaskotki]

HI there Wills. I am not very good with the exact names of the fish. I did have a look on the web and I think this is what I've got (Clown pleco I think...) . I've had it for about 3 years and it has not grown an inch in last 2 I would say.

 

[Confish]

thats what i have and ye they do stay small under 6" i believe

 

[Flagtail]

Firemouths would be a great choice. I have three in a 55 and all of them do well together with no aggression.
Blue acaras are nice as well. Think of them as a mini green terror.
The dwarf cichlid family. Apisto's, kribs, etc... would look good as well. You can have a group of them with some tetras, cories, etc..

 

[plaskotki]

Hi there evrybody who replied to my initial post. I ended up getting a pair of green severus and a pair of red hump eartheaters. I really wanted some firemouth, but none of the LFS had them in stock. I got mine from Maidstone Aquatics. They seem to know a lot about fish they sell. Unlike P@H. Hope the advice on compatibility I got from them was correct.

 

[Wills]

Hi afraid not, Green Severums get to 10-12 inches so will outgrow your tank for the Green Severums your needing about 75 gallons as a starting size. Red Hump Eartheaters also grow to about 8 inches with big males getting to 10 inches so again a bigger tank is needed again its often best to research fish before you buy them so you know the name and size etc so if you go to a shop learn the name and google it when you get home I know its a drawn out process but 7/10 times you cant trust store employees - however pretty much anywhere is better than pets at home IMO.

Sorry for the bad news But it does look like you are attracted to the larger species of fish so why not consider getting a bigger tank? A Juwel rio 400 would be a good tank for the fish you have at present.

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

Oh, dear... I would like to get a bigger tank, but Juwel Rio 400 is nearly £700
I think it would fit in my living room, but will I ever get this idea by my wife Not so sure. I am sure my son would like to get a bigger tank as well. Maybe together we will get somwhere with the bigger tank idea. How long will it take them to reach this size? Any idea?