stocking for fronts

[mike dunagan]

I have talked to a few people, but I want more opinions. I have a 135 that I have setup it is 18 inches deep... My fronts are 4 inches, and 2 inches... Do you think that this 72 inches long 24 tall, 18 deep will be big enough for my guys????????

[toehead11183]

how many?

[mike dunagan]

That is part of it as well... Right now I have 3 that are 3-4 inches, getting another close to that... and 3 1-2 inchers that I am going to add when they get just a little bit bigger... I know it will be a long time before they are big

[rallysman]

I have 8 that range from 3-8" in my 135 and I have found females holding 3 times. As they mature I may thin the stock, but I would say that you're more than OK for now ( I also have 2 ornate bichirs and 4 jewels in the tank)

[toehead11183]

7 total. they will be fine for quite a while. id suggest bigger in the long run. i got 6 in my 150 and i plan on getting something 200+ probably 5 years or so from now. if all you have is the 7 fronts. you might be able to keep them in there forever. your not going to be overstocked but just crowded. remember fronts like lots of swimming room in the wild. your filtration and cleaning habits are also in question. if you are good on your cleaning and filtration, you're ok, but if you are slacking in those departments, they wont do well.

[mike dunagan]

so you think that I would be able to put some trophus or comps in with them? and how long do you think I will be okay for... years or what...I was also thinking of getting a 7 stripe to add No fear on the filteration and cleaning... I am pretty good with that... Right now the 135 has a ton of haps and mbuna in them... I am going to move them into different tanks and put the fronts in there with a few round rocks... not many at all...

[rallysman]

When I added 2 7 stripes to my group one got killed, so I gave it to a friend with another colony of burnudis, and they killed the other.

[mike dunagan]

that is why I plan to add it soon... I have a small 7 and it died magically when it was with my three zaire blue lil guys... it is almost like they hate them...

also do you think I can not add anymore fronts and just add some comps and trophs?

[toehead11183]

after your current stock of fronts form a group, any new fronts will be chased off. i have 6 in my tank and one was added a month after the others and he is still cast out

[mike dunagan]

That is why I will move them all at once into a new tank...

[freeskierrocket]

trophs and fronts would be your best bet as all my trophs ...when i has africans that is, were totally chill, but refused to get beat up (ie....stood their ground but never fought unessassarily!!), and never conflicted with their tankmates.........:)