]V[ONSTER Central American Community Tanks Discussion

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Tank is 180 --6x2x2 (mix ca/ sa )
As of 8/2011, residents include:

6.5" Bifas (M)
5" Argentea (M)
5" Guttulatus (M)
4.5" Syns (F)

6" Festae (F)
6" Chocolate (?)
5" Ornatum (?)

Dithers: 4 Schomburgkis and 3 CLs.

As far as techniques, I think the main thing would have to be to grow all them out together as it really allows them to create a real hierchy. I've kept most of these fish together from 2 - 3" and have noticed hardly any changes within the chain of command. I guess everyone really knows their place in the tank, and so there is less fighting. Atleast that seems to the case so far. I know things can turn ugly any given day :/ but those are the risks you have to take when keeping large ca/sa, just be ready to deal with it properly i suppose.

So far i've lost 5 fish due to aggression in the growout thank. No breeding going on in that tank. I try to keep mainly males, re-arrange the decor evety other week, and stock heavy so that the aggression can be spread out.
 
Thanks to those who have responded. I would think this thread would have gotten more of a response on a website that revolves around big tanks, but maybe there are less of us trying this than one would think. So far, some techniques I see people using are growing out fish together, keeping males only (or primarily), re-arranging tank decor, over stocking, and seemingly just getting lucky. :)
 
hey clockwork i will be trying the males only strategy starting tuesday. I have a 5" Black belt, 5" Regani and 7-8" Argentea coming in to occupy a 240 with some red hooks and silver dollars,

also your Maculicauda is what made me chose it for my 3rd purchase
 
I have currently a 225 gallon community 5x3x2 very roomy.
all the fish are around the 4-5" mark and so far no aggression problems at all.

Red devil x1
green terror female x1
salvini female x2
Vieja bifasciatus x1
Ptychochromis sp. x2 (madagascans)
champsochromis caeruleus x1
chocolate cichlid x1
sun catfish x1
senegal bichir
flag tail prochilodus x1
+ columbian tetra dithers

everyone gets on great, the flagtail cleans all the algae. the red devil runs the tank and keeps everyone in check. the worst that ever happens is just a chase. there is about 4 caves all located away from eachother with openings that do not face. The tank was planned out to create many mini territories in the event of a conflict.

So far so good, I will add and remove stock as I see fit as the time goes on. But so far so good.

must add, its 3 feet wide, not tall.
 
I have a 265g 7'x 2"x 2.5" with two FX5's and a Penguin 400 HOB.

Red Isletas 10.5"
Midas 11"
Xilo 10.5"
Green Terror 7.5"
Festae 6.5"
Trimac 5"
Bifa 6"
Pearsei 5"
Synspillum 3.5"
Granulosus catfish 17"
reg pleco 5"
busynose pleco 5"
feeder crayfish 5"

These fish are listed in their pecking order from top to bottom. I've has the Red Isletas for 1 1/2 years, the Midas and Xilo since last March, the rest were added about two months ago. The three largest were hold overs from my last mix of large cichlids. For me keeping my tanks all male has really helped... I have tried three times over the past two months to add my 3.5" female Festae and each time all hell breaks out within 60 seconds... she goes after everyone and is a killer mean fish!!! Also, it makes it so much easier if the boss of the tank is a laid back type that will just stare the others down vs beating the snot out of them, which I have had my last two times doing this. I once had a large male Jag who kept all the other fish pinned into a corner. Most of all growing them up together is key. Luck plays its part too, lol.

The crayfish was food about four months ago and has just kept going strong so I left him in there. I only fed my fish these feeder crayfish once and thery were really for my TSN before I got rid of him... the other four were ate within a day, but this guy was never touched. Now he walks around during the day out in the open!!
 
i enjoy reading and learning about the various tank combos,jiant2520 i love that crayfish! it's amazing that the larger fish have not pinned him down,i guess they learned from getting pinched to stay away? do you worry he may gut someone in the night?
 
virgil2090 said:
i enjoy reading and learning about the various tank combos,jiant2520 i love that crayfish! it's amazing that the larger fish have not pinned him down,i guess they learned from getting pinched to stay away? do you worry he may gut someone in the night?
Click to expand...

Not at all worried about the crayfish... at his size he cant do much damage, if any. The fish come check him out, but really cant make out what it is, lol.
 
jiant, do you have a link to any recent photos? I would love to see your tank
 
Nexxus said:
hey clockwork i will be trying the males only strategy starting tuesday. I have a 5" Black belt, 5" Regani and 7-8" Argentea coming in to occupy a 240 with some red hooks and silver dollars,

also your Maculicauda is what made me chose it for my 3rd purchase
Click to expand...

Awesome! PM me pictures or a link to a thread with them when you get them!

Speaking of the black belt, he's currently in my sump. How's that for "compatability"... Sigh. ;)
 
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