Upgrade! - Need Fish Ideas/help

[Wills]

Hi all I have decided to get a 4ft tank not sure on the other dimensions yet as it will be a second hand tank to keep the cost down. My aim is to get this thing before Christmas this year. If people have recommendations for other dimensions and size I would appreciate the advice I am thinking of 4 long x 18in-24in deep but then am unsure as to how tall the tank should be or even if that dimension is an issue, I dont think it will be as it does not affect the foot print which is needed for the cichlids and also height is nothing to do for the oxygenation. But yeah info here appreciated

In the long term I will be getting a bigger tank for this tanks inhabitants so the fish in these tanks have been planned for long term keep in the big tank but also they need to be comfortable in these tanks as adults as well as I am unsure of when I will have the big tank - basically I want fish that will be very happy for life in the 4 foot but will also do well in the big tank.

So my current stocking is

2 Honduran Red Point - (breeding pair)
3 Annostomus Ternetzi
1 L135 - wormline plec
1 L235 - flyer plec
+HRP fry (soon to be sold on - probs next weekend - still some for private sale though )

I would like to add some more cichlids and also one more Annostomus Ternetzi (which should be a pain to find again) I am totally open to suggestions for the cichlids. The ones I am interested in but unsure as to how they would do in the tank are;
- Threadfin acaras
- Uarus
- a Severum?
- Red Head Tapajos - or some kind of smaller eartheater
- Chocolate cichlid
I know that I cant have them all, nor do I want or intend to have all of them in this tank its a list of ones I like and am looking into. Now for the bigger ones live the sev uaru and choc I was thinking I would need a 4x2x2 foot tank does that sound okay? Or would I be okay with a 4x18x2 as the 2 foot sticks out into the room just a bit too much.

I'm still milling ideas around at the moment so any input is very much appreciated and any other fish recommendations would be fantastic as well I love reading about fish and spend far far far too much time on it - so much so I am on first name terms with all staff at my MA and got offered a job at an other LFS

Thanks Wills

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

Threadfin Acara Males can be crazy when older....alot of people avoid them for that reason.

 

[Wills]

Ah right! Thanks I had seen a few reports of uber aggressive males, shame really cos they are my girlfriends favorite. I have seen some adults local to me and I think there is 1 male and 2 females in the tank do you think one of these would be suitable? My hrp are still quite small would they be okay or would they get shreded?

The main fish I am interested in is the severum as there is a notatus at an othe LFS and I love them but not sure if they will do well in a 4x18x24 what do you guys think? I was thinking of doing
1 Sev
2 HRP
5 Annostomus Ternetzi
1 - L135
1 - L235

Do you think I could have any other cichlids in there? I would really like an earth eater or 2 if possible - man it is really hard to control your self. I was thinking of adding in a group of dithers maybe like columbian or bleeding heart and I really like Von Rio but I am unsure if the last 2 are compatible with sevs or are they just snacks?

Wills
Wills

 

[Davo86]

Hello there,

stocking with the Severum looks good and would be fine in a 4x18x24 with dithers

just going through the other cichlids;
- Threadfin acaras, as said can be very territorial
- Uarus really need to be kept in a small group or pair to bring out their confidence, character
- Red Head Tapajos - Although not ideal you could keep a single specimen with the Sevs and HRPs in a 4x2x2
- Chocolate cichlid - again considering the bulkiness of this species i would be looking at a 4x2x2 for one.

In the 4x18x24 I would be looking at species on the lines of Festivum, Rainbow Cichlid or possibly Acara variant

As for dithers, I would say there is a good chance that flame (von rio) tetras would be ok with the Sev and HRP, but it depends on any other cichlids you choose.
In the main though Colombians, Buenos Airies, Red Eyes and Bleeding Hearts are your best choice for dithers when keeping small to medium sized cichlids,

 

[Wills]

Thankyou davo really appreciate that

I've got my money set aside now Just looking for the right deal with the right kit now - I have seen some heros notatus in my local LFS and the are gorgeous! And a little bit different to the normal sevs so I might see if they can hold one for me. I'm more a less certain it is going to be a 4x18x24 now just because of the room limits. Do you have any recommendations of anything a bit different cichlid wise.

Also for the bottom do you think hoplo cats or similar would mix well with these?

Thanks again Wills

 

[Liam50]

Thankyou davo really appreciate that

I've got my money set aside now Just looking for the right deal with the right kit now - I have seen some heros notatus in my local LFS and the are gorgeous! And a little bit different to the normal sevs so I might see if they can hold one for me. I'm more a less certain it is going to be a 4x18x24 now just because of the room limits. Do you have any recommendations of anything a bit different cichlid wise.

Also for the bottom do you think hoplo cats or similar would mix well with these?

Thanks again Wills

for the bottom go for pim pictus cats i love these guys and if my parents would let me get another tank your size i would get a group of these.

 

[Wills]

Yeah I really like pictus cats! But dont they get a bit big for a 4 foot tank? Are there some dwarf varieties?

I got really bored at work today and ive got a big big list of fish I could think of and want to read about tonight.

One thing I am stuck with is mid to top water non cichlid fish, any ideas?

 

[Davo86]

Yeah I really like pictus cats! But dont they get a bit big for a 4 foot tank? Are there some dwarf varieties?

I got really bored at work today and ive got a big big list of fish I could think of and want to read about tonight.

One thing I am stuck with is mid to top water non cichlid fish, any ideas?

IME you won't find a better catfish than hoplos, keep them in a small group of 2 or 3 and you certainly won't regret it,
They are a highly active, sociable species (similar to clown loach) that really do visibly interact with eachother.

I would say pimelodellas would be too predatory towards young HRP fry and there is a good chance that the cichlids could bite off their barbels. IMO they aren't the best cats to mix with cichlids

As for top water fish, you won't find a better species than Panchax, they are incredibly colourful, hardy and stick to the upper 3rd of the tank, and work well with they types of cichlids you are looking to keep, Butterfly fish are another option but may be too shy with the larger cichlids unless you keep them in a good sized group (4-5) and have plenty of top cover.

As for other cichlids, I'd say a Female Nicaragua cichlid would be fine, or if you don't mind going for an african cichlid species Anomalochromis thomasi would be fine,

You could also maybe go for a EBJD, IME these are commonly only seen at 1-2inches in size and are much more tolerant of other species than your common JD

 

[Wills]

Thanks again Davo good point on the pictus barbels, my male HRP is a softie but he has rage times and i can imagine problems with them. I was looking at the hoplo and the close relatives, names escape me but they seem like a really good option Also thinking about a few more small plecs like a flash panique (sp) and/or a king tiger. Also thinking of a spotted dora catfish? But a bit put off them if they stay hiden all day.

As for cichlids there are quite a few I am interested in, I'm still trying to find an earth eater that could work in a group in this tank not a big fan of the cupids but something similar with more colour if anyone knows of anything? Alternative I was quite interested in Satanoperca acuticpes (sp) but I cant get a definite size on them Ive seen sources say 6 inches and others 10? Was thinking of a pair of these rather than the group but only if they stay at the smaller end of the scale.

Also interested in Aequidens diadema which Im looking up etc at the moment as well.

An other one I was wondering about was some dwarf pikes? I was thinking of the compreciseps but im 75% certain they will be too aggressive.

Oh for the top I want to keep this tank American mainly south so I was thinking of some large hatchets? Maybe like silvers I used to have some in my old 90 and they were huge after about a year.

One last question for this post, my local MA has a heros notatus in should I wait to get the tank before I find my sev or should I get the notatus now before it sells? Its around the 3 inch mark at the moment the new tank will be here within 3 months but I dont want to crowd the sev and the HRPs in the 3ft tank... thoughts?

Thanks again Wills

*edit one more cichlid to add into the think pot Laetacara thayeri.

 

[Davo86]

*edit one more cichlid to add into the think pot Laetacara thayeri.

Laetacara Dorsigera is another one to consider

 

[Davo86]

Also thinking of a spotted dora catfish? But a bit put off them if they stay hiden all day.

tbh, I find them far too nocturnal for most setups

As for cichlids there are quite a few I am interested in, I'm still trying to find an earth eater that could work in a group in this tank

Have a search for Gymnogeophagus species, especially Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus


not a big fan of the cupids but something similar with more colour if anyone knows of anything? Alternative I was quite interested in Satanoperca acuticpes (sp) but I cant get a definite size on them Ive seen sources say 6 inches and others 10? Was thinking of a pair of these rather than the group but only if they stay at the smaller end of the scale.

Most of the larger eartheaters have the potential to reach circa 10" although in your average aquarium 6" is more likely

Also interested in Aequidens diadema which Im looking up etc at the moment as well.

An other one I was wondering about was some dwarf pikes? I was thinking of the compreciseps but im 75% certain they will be too aggressive.

Admittedly I don't really know much about pikes so can't comment here


Oh for the top I want to keep this tank American mainly south so I was thinking of some large hatchets? Maybe like silvers I used to have some in my old 90 and they were huge after about a year.

Hatchets are fine


One last question for this post, my local MA has a heros notatus in should I wait to get the tank before I find my sev or should I get the notatus now before it sells? Its around the 3 inch mark at the moment the new tank will be here within 3 months but I dont want to crowd the sev and the HRPs in the 3ft tank... thoughts?

If its the right fish for you then i would get it now, notatus don't come around very often and if its a quality specimen you may not find one again

Thanks again Wills

*edit one more cichlid to add into the think pot Laetacara thayeri.

 

[Wills]

Thanks again davo - Ive looked at the gymno's and I love them, saw a meridionalis and nearly bought it a while ago because I felt bad for it, he was being beaten up by convicts but I decided not to impulse buy. The thing that puts me off them is the cooling period I can think of ways to do it but I just dont have the room at the moment.

Hmmm might go see if that sev is still there tomorrow...

 

[Wills]

Okay so I think I've come up with a stocking plan.

1 Heros Notatus
2 HRP
2 Aequidens diadema
5 Anastomus Ternetzi
4 Hoplo's - or similar
1 L135
1 L235
maybe a few more small plecs - like the L204?

Do you think I am at my limit with the cichlids? And how about over all do I have any room for "something else"? The planned tank is a 48x18x24 (which ive found a few commercial brands that have these dimensions) so I think thats around 75UK gallons or 88US. Initially it will be with the external that it comes with (going down the second hand route) but eventually I will be getting a Fluval FX5 or something in that kind of ball park.

Wills

 

[Davo86]

If you wanted, you should be ok with a group of hatchets or similar for the top, especially once the FX5 is added,

Also you may need to give the occupants a month or two, before you can see if they would benefit from having some smaller more active dithers to make them feel more secure; especially the Aequidens sp. may be inclined to be quite shy around the larger Severum.

But personally I think the stocking you have will work well and shouldn't really need anything more

 

[Wills]

If you wanted, you should be ok with a group of hatchets or similar for the top, especially once the FX5 is added,

Also you may need to give the occupants a month or two, before you can see if they would benefit from having some smaller more active dithers to make them feel more secure; especially the Aequidens sp. may be inclined to be quite shy around the larger Severum.

But personally I think the stocking you have will work well and shouldn't really need anything more

Thanks I think once the sev and the aequidens stock out a bit it will look awesome, from some pics they the aequidens get pretty big seen a few documented species at 6 inches plus some at 20cm as well. Might try the dithers if they are reclusive.

Bad news about the sev though its sold So going to have to wait now but I can easily imagine I will be just as happy with a gold But see whats around when this tank gets here. Thanks for the help Davo

Wills