Tank Mates

[ash90]

hey guys i have recycled my tank added fish today i emptyed tank compleaty as was having a lot of problems so tank only had plants and water in since 18/11/10 so the following have been changed
1)20kgs dorset gravel
2)new bogwood
3)new rocks
4)new fillter pads

all the niterite/niterate/ammonia/ph are spot on water has been changed every week so added a serving old fish have been added today

3x female bettas
8x cardinal tetras
2x bristle nose plecos

what can i add to it the tank is a fluvel roma 125ltr i would like sum decent size cichlids or sum realy bright colours


thanks ash

 

[Verminator89]

In a 125L you might get away with 2 firemouths. They have stunning colouration and get to a fairly substantial size without getting massive.


Alternatively you can go for appistos. Smaller and vibrantly coloured often.


In a 125L your quite limited for choice with cichlids if you arent willing to go for dwarf cichlids, which can be very attractive if you get ncie specimens.

 

[AmazonFTW]

In a 125L you might get away with 2 firemouths. They have stunning colouration and get to a fairly substantial size without getting massive.


Alternatively you can go for appistos. Smaller and vibrantly coloured often.


In a 125L your quite limited for choice with cichlids if you arent willing to go for dwarf cichlids, which can be very attractive if you get ncie specimens.

Rather than 2 Firemouths you could have 2 Ellioti (If you can get them). They are slightly smaller and less aggressive than firemouths and have amazing colouration. Another fish is Crytoheros Cutteri/Sajica these are very great fish with lots of personality but again are rather hard to find.

Could you give your pH and hardness as then it will make it easier to identify species.

AmazonFTW

 

[markandhisfish]

not as big and impressive as firemouths , and ok not new world , but have you considered a pair of kribensis? lovely little cichlids and very interesting to keep . really nice breeding behaviour and really cool to watch them display to each other . failing that you could do apistos , bolivian rams ( again huge personility for a small fish). keyhole cichlids would make another good choice . firemouths could put your cardinals at risk when they reach full size imo .

 

[AstonN24vantage]

most rams i think.

 

[markandhisfish]

bolivians would be best suited due to temperature requirements .

 

[ash90]

i want sumthing diffrent and rams die after a few months i realy like convicts but i have had a adult male with cardinals in this tank and it worked a dream but will it work as well again. would like sumting a simalar size

 

[AstonN24vantage]

ive found convicts to be extremely agressive to most community fish, but as you know, all cichlids are different.

 

[Murdi]

not as big and impressive as firemouths , and ok not new world , but have you considered a pair of kribensis? lovely little cichlids and very interesting to keep . really nice breeding behaviour and really cool to watch them display to each other . failing that you could do apistos , bolivian rams ( again huge personility for a small fish). keyhole cichlids would make another good choice . firemouths could put your cardinals at risk when they reach full size imo .

 

[kaivalagi]

What about some keyholes, they get to 4"

Pic sourced form here: http/animal-world.com/forums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=523

 

[markandhisfish]

i think with the fish you have already they would be my choice .

 

[ash90]

would figure 8 puffer work

 

[markandhisfish]

nope . altho primarily a freshwater species , they do better kept in mildly brackish water in captivity , plus i beleive you have to be very carefull what you put with puffers due to the beak they have , and them bein prone to nipping/biting

 

[kaivalagi]

i want sumthing diffrent and rams die after a few months i realy like convicts but i have had a adult male with cardinals in this tank and it worked a dream but will it work as well again. would like sumting a simalar size

Ash, you need to bear in mind that german blue rams can be sensitive fish and a lot of keepers lose them easily, however any of these smaller cichlids are hardy enough and suitable with community fish tanks:

• Apistogrammas (lot of species to choice from)
• Bolivian Rams
• Kribs
• Keyholes

I don't think going the medium sized cichlid route (i.e. bigger fish than the above) is a good one in a 125L tank with community fish, there just isn't enough room IMHO. I started out with a 125L tank which now just has a breeding pair of Honduran Red Points (similar to Convicts). You'd be okay with a single medium sized cichlid such as a convict/firemouth etc but that's not really all that nice for that fish for one and if you add anything else too it will be too cramped.

Puffers are a no-no, they'd need pretty much all the tank for themselves, they're very nippy and will cause trouble

I's say go the Apisto route, with 1 male and a few females, lots of colour, lots of cichlid behaviour - just on the small end of the scale