Stocking For 400L Tank

[ChilliPepper]

Any feedback? I know the Severum may not work, but I am planning on getting an adult male to try.

1 x female GT
1 x Oscar
1 x Severum
1 x Senegal Birchir
3/4 x Silver Dollars

Based on full adult size, all fish should be OK using the 1" to 1 gallon method, however I know Oscars are messier than the average fish, so I will be adding a hefty filter to cope.

My little oscar is doing well... He is SUCH a greedy fish though, I thought my GT was greedy before I got him. He had a bit of river shrimp plus TWO cichlid gold pellets in his mouth the other night... Finally swallowed the shrimp and one pellet, but had to let the other go eventually and my GT immediately got it. It's such a funny sight considering he's only an inch big, talk about eyes bigger than your belly

 

[Wills]

What are the dimensions of the tank? Im sure people will have warned you about the GT if it decides to turn so just one thing to watch. Sevs and Oscars usually work pretty well but as with all cichlids it depends on personalities. I should have thought you will be able to get a proper school of dollars aiming for 6 rather than 3/4.

What filter are you planning? Like you said you need a good turnover

 

[always4lora]

ilver dollar's are reallt skittish either keep in a big group or not at all as the fish will freak out all the time.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, yes I know the GT could turn, will just have to see how it goes. I know of plenty of people who keep GT and Oscars together, they seem fine at the moment even tho the O is so much smaller. I know the Sev could go either way.

Not sure on dimensions of tank as not bought it yet, planning a purchase within the next two months and want a 400L really as I know if I get the 300L I'd want to upgrade, plus I want my fish to be happy in the larger tank Looking at the Rio 400's though, whatever dimensions they are.

I was going on adult sizes of 6" when I said 3/4 SD's, ideally I'd like 6 as I know they like to shoal. I will have a better filter system anyway so can maybe afford to overstock a little.

So, the Birchir will be fine?

 

[§tudz]

I dont think the polypterus will work, as it will end up being a tastey snack for the oscar.

I had a friend who lost a fully grown P. ornatipinnis to an Oscar, and unless you are getting a shoal of large SDs I would expect the Oscar to quickly out grow them and chomp down on those as well.

Anything slender is like spaghetti to an oscar and many other cichlids

*edit: grr! my stupid typing,

 

[indigoj]

A full grown senegal *should* be ok with an Oscar but I personally think that stocking sounds a bit heavy for 400l.

The inch per gallon 'rule' is utter rubbish by the way for any fish over about 2".

 

[§tudz]

A full grown senegal *should* be ok with an Oscar but I personally think that stocking sounds a bit heavy for 400l.

The inch per gallon 'rule' is utter rubbish by the way for any fish over about 2".

I have to stringly disagree about the sengalus, as a oscar can grow to 15" which will easily consume a fully grown P. senegalus which will reach around 10-12" if that big. Oscars have VERY large mouths and I will refer to my previious statement about the ornate bichir, the ornate was easily around 13" and they can grow to 23".

If you want a polyterus to go in that tank, I would look at on of the P. endlicheri species, and try and get a larger one to start with.

I do agree with the heavey stocking for a 100g unless you are going to have a lot of heavhy duty filtration.

 

[always4lora]

A full grown senegal *should* be ok with an Oscar but I personally think that stocking sounds a bit heavy for 400l.

The inch per gallon 'rule' is utter rubbish by the way for any fish over about 2".

I have to stringly disagree about the sengalus, as a oscar can grow to 15" which will easily consume a fully grown P. senegalus which will reach around 10-12" if that big. Oscars have VERY large mouths and I will refer to my previious statement about the ornate bichir, the ornate was easily around 13" and they can grow to 23".

If you want a polyterus to go in that tank, I would look at on of the P. endlicheri species, and try and get a larger one to start with.

I do agree with the heavey stocking for a 100g unless you are going to have a lot of heavhy duty filtration.

I have to disagree with the above, a full grown senegal should be fine. and ornate will be fine (depending on dimensions)and an endlicheri will get to big for the tank. I very much doubt a full grown oscar would be able to eat a senegal , only time this would likely happen if the oscar is underfed.

 

[ChilliPepper]

So, I have to decide between the silver dollars and the severum then?

I'm unsure what to do about the senegal now as have had quite mixed advice... I know that oscars mouths get massive, and mine is a greedy little s£d already at only an inch. He won't be underfed though. He took some pellets out of my hand/finger last night, so I will definitely be feeding him at every opportunity as he's such a cutie Seriously though, he will get fed regularly but not overly.

I have said I will be upgrading the filter anyway, that's a definite for a fish who will get large like my oscar

What other suggestions are there then to go with my female GT and oscar in the 400L then? I'd like something on the bottom... Would like some sort of oddball/unusual bottom feeder. The GT and Oscar swim everywhere anyway, so having dithers isn't as important.

 

[ChilliPepper]

What filter are you planning? Like you said you need a good turnover

I've been recommended the Fluval fx5 by several people, so will probably get one of those, and run it alongside my current Aqua One filter..

 

[§tudz]

have a look at something like pimelodus ornatus, they are great and dont get too big. and are very active

 

[ChilliPepper]

A full grown senegal *should* be ok with an Oscar but I personally think that stocking sounds a bit heavy for 400l.

The inch per gallon 'rule' is utter rubbish by the way for any fish over about 2".

I have to stringly disagree about the sengalus, as a oscar can grow to 15" which will easily consume a fully grown P. senegalus which will reach around 10-12" if that big. Oscars have VERY large mouths and I will refer to my previious statement about the ornate bichir, the ornate was easily around 13" and they can grow to 23".

If you want a polyterus to go in that tank, I would look at on of the P. endlicheri species, and try and get a larger one to start with.

I do agree with the heavey stocking for a 100g unless you are going to have a lot of heavhy duty filtration.

Apparently O's usually grow between 8-12" in captivity, and P. senegalus gets to 12" so it could be OK... Also if the O is fed well surely he won't go for him... I'm sure other people keep these with O's...

have a look at something like pimelodus ornatus, they are great and dont get too big. and are very active

I like them, apparently they get up to 12" too, but I suppose because of the shape the O is less likely to try and eat them?

 

[§tudz]

That's right. It's the shape. Polypterus are thin snake shaped fish, where as the pimelodus is long wide and tall-ish.

It's all about shape, I had an endlicheri who ate a large fire eel but had never bothered with some of the smaller fish. As they were a little harder to swallow.

 

[ChilliPepper]

They are very nice, not sure I've seen them in any fish shops though. Are they better alone or in a small group?

 

[§tudz]

I've kept them singularly but they are nicer in shoals but you need a larger tank than 100gallon for a shoal.

The best place to get them is from an importer, or ask a good shop that u trust to see their import list.