Stocking Advice

[holidayinn]

Hi All. Just recently got my 6 foot tank, measure 6’ wide, 24” high and 22” wide approx 150 gallons. Will post pics but still working on making it look presentable. I really need some assistance in stocking. Filtration a FX5, Eheim 2028 and 2 fluval internals.

I have pretty much a blank canvas, although I have a couple of fish in mind. The only fish I have and definitely will be keeping are my clown loach. I have 10 of these lil guys, approx 2-3” long and loads of fun. I also have 3 juvi Geophagus Red Head Tapajo’s, awesome fish!

I am torn between SA/CA cichlids or discus. I haven’t got ‘loads’ of experience, so it maybe a bit too soon for discus and it may require more effort then I can afford right now e.g. plants, lighting, ££££’s. So am leaning towards more cichlids. Thinking about an EBJD, and a red-spotted severum, but they are difficult to get hold of.

What would be compatible with EBJD and Severum? I was thinking of an Oscar, on the other hand thinking of 2 or 3 other cichlids instead. Just not sure which to go for.. My main criteria is colourful, good-looking fish. Are there any other cichlids that would be compatible and colourful?

Also, in the past when kept cichlids, the top of the tank always seems empty. I know that none of my fish are full size right now, but are there any cichlids, dithers, target-fish that you maybe able to suggest that will for the majority of the time stick to the upper levels of the tank?

Thanks

 

[Davo86]

An Oscar would be fine, just make sure that the clown loach are a good 3-4inches+ before you get one though, as Oscars will very quickly outgrow clown loach and if the clowns are too small may be seen as food.

both EBJDs and Red spotted Severums can be hard depending on your location, EBJD would obviously be the harder of the two and would set you back somewhere around £35 to £40, Wildwoods is most likely to be your best bet for one of these unless you can find them locally.

 

[holidayinn]

Cheers Davo, had an O in the past and loved how it interacted. If I did get an O it’d be the last purchase as so readily available, and to give everyone else a chance to grow. There are a lot of cichlids that I haven't kept before, but then they all have pro’s and con’s. For example was thinking of a Salvini, as they grow quite colourful but they are supposed to be aggressive and from the ones I’ve seen, hide a lot! There are other cichlids that I’ve heard of such as Rainbow, Sajica and Chocolate all seem kind of colourful and reasonably peaceful. Anyone with recommendations on stocking options?

Will look into Wildwoods, ideally looking to get a 3-4” EBJD as I’ve heard they are quite fragile up until that size/age. Thanks for the tip.

How about dithers/targetfish for the upper levels. From my research have found these to be suggested options (don’t want SD’s, TF Barbs)…I realize that an O would mean most of the below would be target fish not dithers but what would you go for if there was no O:

Hatchet Fish
African Butterfly – never owned one, but they seem ugly and boring
Pink Tailed Chalceu – very skittish?
Festivum Cichlid – really an upper level fish?
Filament Barbs
Hujeta
Gourami’s
Rainbow Fish – would Bosemani be possibilities?

Thanks

 

[tenohfive]

red-spotted severum, but they are difficult to get hold of.

Depending on where you are in London, Maidenhead Aquatics St Albans may be an option - pretty sure I saw some wild Red spotted Sev's in there. Easy to get to from North London, not far off the M25 / A1. Might be worth giving them a ring if they're in range.

 

[markandhisfish]

is this your tank from nd? red spotted sev like vinny (my avatar pic ) fantastic fish id reccomend to anybody

 

[Davo86]

Salvini can be extremely aggressive, even when kept with JD's and O's

If you dropped the Oscar then there are loads of options for Dithers,

Giant Danios are a good dither for cichlids like Sevs and JD's and will spend time in the upper levels,
Larger rainbows are also another good possibility.

Hujeta is a species that can work provided none of the cichlids are too aggressive. this would also be the same for gouramis

There are many other relatively peaceful cichlids that will work including the 3 you have mentioned
(if you look in my profile, you'll find a list of relatively peaceful medium sized cichlids that i keep)

Festivum seem to be the midway fish between a Severum and an Angelfish, as the possess many similar characteristics and temperaments to these two species

 

[holidayinn]

TenohFive - thanks, I have a few MA in quite close proximity, also Waterlife (heathrow) is based close by and they are expecting some red-spotted sev's in a few weeks, fingers crossed!

Mark- Yep, it's the tank from ND! Great service and great product! Will post pics soon, but I'd prefer to do it when the interior is presentable! Not just the exterior lol...I can highly recommend ND Aquatics! From start to finish a great service. Thanks for your insight Mark. If anyone out there wants a NEW tank, can't go wrong with ND!

Davo - many thanks, I will check out your profile for cichlids. I guess the big decision is whether to get an O or not. I guess I'll think it over for a while. Fo you know of any (within reason) cichlid that can match the personality of an Oscar? Used to love it begging, it used to try to fight with my mum! And feeding by hand are all fond memories...

Hmm, to O or not to O?

 

[markandhisfish]

good stuff glad youre happy with it . im soooo jealous lol i wanted the 6 footer i had the money at the time but not a big enough living room. now you have the joys of setting it all up which i think is the best bit.

 

[Davo86]

I have never kept them but chocolate cichlids should be a great alternative to Oscars,
They have very similar characteristics and get to the same size as Oscars.
However with Chocolates you should be able to get away with slightly smaller dithers than you would with an oscar

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

I have a red spotted severum you can take for free if your interested mate