Stocking Ideas For A 4 Foot Tank?

[fish_tank0311]

Hi all, i have a 4 foot tank, and its my largest tank (see below) and i would love to get some reasonably big fish, seen as i have a big tank but i dont have any big fish. Does anyone have any good ideas of some big fish that could go in there, i am needing friendly(ish) fish and one that wouldnt have to be moved when it matures. Now i dont want more angels because i already have them, and i dont want any rainbow shark or orange tailed shark because i already have 1 and its dead so i have to update my signature. Oh and it can only be a cichlid that wont dig in the substrate as my tank is planted, and it has to be a good match with the existing habitants.

Thanks

 

[spectrum]

German Blue rams, Apistogramma sp, keyhole cichlids. None of these actually get over 3 inches... However none dig or are particularly violent (Or expensive )
Just some suggestions, you might hate them

 

[meguro]

festivum cichlids
blue acara

 

[didz04]

How about an african congo tinanti cichlid, this is a bottom dweller that I have which I am trying to look for a pair. They can be really peaceful fish as I kept one in with community and since it used to be by itself meaning from its species it used to hang around with my 2 flying fox. They can get to 6" mine is t 4". Seriously they are a cartoon fish and really friendly and active. Mine has turned aggressive because I changed to cichlids however, he never attacked a fish in my community but only when fish provoked him then he will defend him self. They are getting bit more common than before but not many fish places heard of them. I got mine from fish inc in Sheffield. Here is a picture link of the one I got:
http/images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/www.borstein.com/sam/images/tinanti.jpg&imgrefurl=http/www.borstein.com/sam/%3FSpecies_Profiles:West_Africanteatocranus_tinanti&usg=__1kjyTYFGt4pFem1L4N8kUewmAJ0=&h=329&w=437&sz=16&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7T3aaFOc5SGA6M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dafrican%2Bcongo%2Btinanti%2Bcichlid%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1

This one looks pink a bit more however they camouflage with the gravel and a darker substrate like black they turn dark grey. Entertaining fish including when he swims up as he has a smaller swim bladder so he cannot float around like other fish. Also they swim on the ground soo fast as all I see is sand moving but no fish.

 

[england]

I have one of these, had it around two weeks now, funny things, esp at feeding time, got his hidey hole sorted and anything that comes near will get chased away..

as said festivums are ment to be good with planted tanks

depending on tank mates have you thought about looking in dwarf channa, they are best kept in planted tanks,,,channa ornatipinnis / channa gucha / sp assam. though most being sub tropical, no heating.... sp assams have a stunning appearence and are well worth a species tank..

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/321683-snakeheads/page__hl__sp assam__fromsearch__1

 

[didz04]

Yeah cartoon type fish but we are struggling to find one close to us, fish inc said they will be getting them in, in couple of months. There is another place that sell them but another type of congo cichlid.
The funniest thing he does is break up my cichlid's fights, honestly once there is a fight between my yellow lab and Johanni and sometimes the Kenyi, he comes out of know where and attacks in the middle and swims straight back to his cave. The cave is on the right side of the glass and even when there is a big fight on the other side of the glass and I mean when both fish spin like crazy around each other, he swims like superman but on the floor and whips them both, hides and does it again lol. I will have to show you a video of this, it is hilarious. My tank is 4ft still catches the fights from one side to another.

Nelly where did you get your from, and are they still in stock? Is it the same as the picture I put on?

 

[fish_tank0311]

Wow so many replies thanks so much guys! Ok ill take it 1 post at a time,

spectrum, yes i do love those fish, just they arent really big enough. I might end up getting some depending on what else i can find, so thanks for that.

meguro, festivum cichlids, yea they look cool, but the problem is finding them where i live. I live in NZ and fishkeeping is becoming rarer and rarer here atm, so fish shops arent so good anymore, plus half the fish arent allowed in our country for some reason! your second idea, well thanks but i dont like those fish, no hard feelings

didz, well firstly thanks for such a long post, you really took the time to write down what you think is suitable which is cool, but that fish, to be honest, well i dont like it, its too boring if you get my drift, PLUS ive never seen 1 in NZ before and i doubt i ever will, (NZ sucks with that)

nelly, dwarf channa, i do believe i have seen one of them around, but im not sure if its something for me, will it fit in my size tank?

didz second, dont get side tracked from the actual topic here

 

[meguro]

meguro, festivum cichlids, yea they look cool, but the problem is finding them where i live. I live in NZ and fishkeeping is becoming rarer and rarer here atm, so fish shops arent so good anymore, plus half the fish arent allowed in our country for some reason!

I found this list here http/www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/fisornic.all.htm#d and from the looks of it you can't get festivums in NZ.

 

[snowflake311]

Since finding imported fish is hard what about looking into native fish? I'm sure you have some amazing native fish that we will all wish we could have.

 

[fish_tank0311]

Hmm yea that sucks. Well, any other ideas? ANY! and how do i find NZ native fish?

*Updated*: i found a website on native fish, heres the link if anyones interested, keep posting on what you guys think, if you have comments or questions or want to give me ideas please do i have nothing better to do at the moment than read forums so post!

Link

 

[didz04]

Wow never seen these native fish before. Most of them are goby looking and colourful. WHere can you find them from and how much do they usually go for since they seem rare. Here is the link of the Gobiomorphus huttoni:
http/www.fnzas.org.nz/index.php?PG=nativefish&NID=GO6

Looks nice and really want to buy a pair. Really sorry if this is not helping you fish_tank0311

Since you are getting community fish and want more peaceful type, then why don't you add shrimps on to your list, how about the fan shrimp which has many other names, it is one of the biggest shrimps and can go really nice bright red/orange colour whith a white stripe down their back, thats when you know they are happy and eating well. Also since they get big fish are not likely to eat unless you get a puffer or weather loach then they are very likely to eat them if not soon but later.

Pictus Catfish is a really entertaining fish and nice looking.
Dora catfish is another which they both will scavenge for food on floor and will keep floor surface clean also any food left behind will be cleared.
Bumblebee goby are small cute fish that will be suitable with shrimps.

 

[fish_tank0311]

Hmm i have just found out that all the natives need very cold water, so natives arent an option. I dont think i can get bumble gobies where i live. Any other ideas?

 

[meguro]

what about a group of rainbowfish? some of them get fair sized and they wont dig in the substrate. Boesemani, lcaustris, trifasciata, praecox are some of the more popular ones

 

[fish_tank0311]

I will have a look at them, im not sure if i like them though