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 | New Cichlid Tank. Stocking Questions. |
Darthannihl8or Enthusiast Posts: 206 Kudos: 140 Votes: 20 Registered: 27-Apr-2003   | I'm setting up an 8*2*2 foot tank and I have a stocking question. My planned stock list is as follows: 2 Jack Dempseys 2 Oscars 2 Green Severums 2 Blue Acaras 2 Firemouths 1 or 2 Jewel Cichlids 6 Silver Dollars Something for Cleanup My Questions are: How does the list sound? Any changes you would make? What would be good for a clean up crew? My main question is I already have the 6 Silver Dollars, 2 Severums and 1 Blue Acara and they are basically fully grown. Should I trade these in and buy all of the fish as Juveniles? What do you think? Thanks iin advance. |
 Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 |     |
amilner  Big Fish Posts: 429 Kudos: 654 Votes: 0 Registered: 05-Jul-2004  | With those large and aggressive cichlids, I'd suggest a pleco. They are the only thing that could really withstand the hammering that those cichlids are going to deal out. The plates should protect them fine, and if you but a fairly decent sized one, it will save on the cleaning rather than waiting for it to mature. That way, you can 'recycle' other people's who 'return' their outgrown plecs. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
inkodinkomalinko   Fish Guru Posts: 2441 Kudos: 833 Registered: 18-Jan-2003  | Keep the 6 silver dollars and severums right now. It'll be better if they are smaller so they wont get teased by the larger fish yet. For the other fish, get juveniles. Get larger fish for the less aggressive species, and smaller fish for the aggressive species, to balance it out easier and prevent as much aggression. You might actually want to try crayfish (big ones) to help clean the bottom. I used them before and they were great. Otherwise plecos, catfish, or armored cat would work. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| Darthannihl8or Enthusiast Posts: 206 Kudos: 140 Votes: 20 Registered: 27-Apr-2003 | Inko. Do you mean get new Silver DOllars and Severums now? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| inkodinkomalinko Fish Guru Posts: 2441 Kudos: 833 Registered: 18-Jan-2003 | I meant keep the ones you got already, because they arent as aggressive as the other fish, so being full grown will keep the other aggressive fish at bay. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| Darthannihl8or Enthusiast Posts: 206 Kudos: 140 Votes: 20 Registered: 27-Apr-2003 | Someone else must have an opinion on this, what wbout the stock list, is it ok? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| amilner Big Fish Posts: 429 Kudos: 654 Votes: 0 Registered: 05-Jul-2004 | I personally feel you're mixing too many of the most aggressive fish to have. I know that the tank is huge but this will only mean that the fish will grow quicker and it won't really solve the problem. Once territories are established, I see problems as even that sized tank is not big enough to accomodate 6 territories... and the silver dollars are going to be harassed wherever they go. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003 | You could try a crawfish for clean up crew. [span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-07-26 10:50][/span] |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003 | A blue craw would look awsome. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| Darthannihl8or Enthusiast Posts: 206 Kudos: 140 Votes: 20 Registered: 27-Apr-2003 | What is a crawfish???Is it some kind of lobster. Are they available in Australia?? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003 | They are like lobsters but they are smaller ( usually ). If you look up on the internet then you can see some beautiful blue craws. OH and craws are native to america. Here is a link http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1641 |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003 | Oh be careful don't put them with fish that are less than 2 or less times there size cause no matter how small the craw is it will take a wack at catching and eating your fish. Especially at night. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| inkodinkomalinko Fish Guru Posts: 2441 Kudos: 833 Registered: 18-Jan-2003 | Really depends on the crayfish... mine never touched my fish and let the pleco clean it's shell... |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| tetraman1225 Banned Posts: 155 Kudos: 51 Votes: 0 Registered: 03-May-2003 | Yeah i guess it does. That is true with almost any fish. Mine are caught wild out in my creek so i guess that is why they tend to catch fish. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
| amilner Big Fish Posts: 429 Kudos: 654 Votes: 0 Registered: 05-Jul-2004 | My blue crayfish was relatively calm with the other fish, but if they strayed too close, he'd reach out for them. I caught him nip the fin of my parrot cichlid once and he stood his ground when the parrot turned to 'face off'. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:01 | |
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