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Now that I have my 75g figured out I need to concentrate on the 125g. I have a few fish in mind but still need some pointers and direction. Heres what Im thinking

2-3 Semiprochildous(sp) or African Pikes
1 True Parrot
1 Royal Plec
1 Lima Shovelnose
1 Jaguar Cat

Hows that sounding. This spring before everything gets going I am going to add a 75g sump to help with the load. Any suggestions would be welecome. If anybody can suggest some rarer cats I would definatly take a look.

It's sounding like some fish get too large for your aquarium. Believe me, if some of those fish fit in a 125 gallon tank I would get them too.

The Lima Shovelnose in particular will get too large. Though many sources say that they will only reach approximately a foot long, making them a prime candidate for a 125 gallon aquarium, I have seen specimens reach 22", which is quite a stretch.

By size one would assume that the Semaprochilodus would be good. However, like Bala Sharks it's a stretch. Because of their activity the tank could actually be deemed small. It's possible, but in the long run I wouldn't be surprised if you see rubbed off noses.

The "True" Parrot, the Royal Plec, and the Jaguar Cat (Liosomadoras oncinus, right?) should all be fine, as their sizes are all quite within the range of a 125 gallon's capacity. Watch out for aggression from the Parrot, though; I don't have experience with them, but it is a possibility unless I'm mistaken.

I have no experience with African Pikes so I won't say anything about them...

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I have done a little bit of wittling down for stock. Heres what Im thinking.

2 African Pikes
2 Royal Plecs(gotta see if this would work)
1 Jaguar Catfish(If I could find one)
1 Bichir (Don't know species yet)
1 Largish SA cichlid(something smaller than an Oscar.
1 Lima Shovelnose(I will not give up on these)

What do ya think, hopefully in the next month I can get my speed water change system set up for 2 water changes a week. I will also be upgrading filtration.

Maybe a Jack Dempsey for SA cichlids ? 8" full size, beautiful colours, thought might / will harrass smaller fish if any.

Sponge

You're way overstocked on the bottom rung. I have to disagree with shin on this one: none of the cats that you list, save the auchey, are suitable for life in a 125 gallon aquarium. As stated, lima grow far larger than oft quoted. Royals, if kept properly, reach 16"+, and most well kept fish can hit 18". There's no room there for one, not to mention two. I suppose you could keep it in there for a while, as they aren't exactly explosive growers, but I wouldn't suggest you keep two in any case. Panaque keepers, in suitable tanks, prefer a group of 4+ panaque to disperse aggression, as a pair of evenly matched fish can be very destructive.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 21-Dec-2005 12:27

Im going to stick with the royal, talking to many people and looking at many resources, I feel that a 125g is enough for one. They are very slow growers and arn't very active fish. As far as the lima, I'm not completely decided on it. I have seen references on both sizes. I think that the larger sizes is in reference to wild caught sizes, and not fish grown in the aquarium.

Healthy royals constantly browse the tank for food, and with the 12 inch woodcat, the 20 inch bichir, and the 18+ inch pim, there's no way he'll be able to fit in there, but whatever. Allow me to add, however, that "your feelings" do not necessarily bode well for your fish, and if you ask any panaque specialist, or loricariid specialist at that, he or she will tell you that a 125 is not suitable for a permanent home for your fish. Again though, it's your tank and what I say probably will have little if any effect on what you stock it with.

EDIT: Just read your thread on PC. Mr. Petersson knows what he's talking about.



Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 22-Dec-2005 00:22

Who says that the bichir is 20", I never said what species of bichir Im getting. I still believe that the royal wil be fine. It will take many years for it to come even close to 18", if it even will. If I would have to sell it, Im sure that somebody would want a very large royal. Like I said I still haven't decided wether or not to get one, I still have a list of other cats that get only 12" that I like.

Senegalian bichirs are undisputedly the most common and one of the smallest species on the market. They have been quoted past 20", but fairly large specimens are around that length. Likewise, hte royals simply WON'T reach a full 18" in a 125 gallon, regardless of growth rates.

20" maybe the record for the wild ever but common is around 12", there are a lot of others too that are around a foot like the palmas, delhezi, and retropinnis.

I beg to differ. I know a few indivduals well aquainted with crossopterygiids and similar fish, and I can assure you, they regularly reach 18"+ in aquariums. I recall there even being a certain indivdual from this site that specialized in polypterids who mentioned this as well.