Top dweller compatible with my SA cichlids?

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I have a Flagtail, a Festivum, and six Chalceus in my Eartheater tank - I must like top-dwellers!


My Flagtail has never bothered anyone, but I have definitely heard stories of them rasping on large, slow-moving fish.
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A lot of people have said that Festivums are not top-water fish, but mine spends most of his time in the top 6" of the tank.
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The Chalceus are some of my favorites. I haven't had any aggression issues, but they are very skittish and tend to flip out if you startle them. They definitely need a very tight lid - I lost one that jumped out through an opening for a HOB that was only about an inch or less wide. Chalceus are definitely the most top-oriented by far, they never leave the surface of the tank.
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My fesavum also spend most of their time towards top third of the tank. My Choclates also spend alot of time stairing at the surface waiting for somthing to fall in I guess.
 
Wow $60 for a chalceus!? We normally sell them $18 at 3" and $25-$35 for 6" +. My vote remain for a red bay snook, most CB are females reaching 12" realistically. Also consider some larger rainbowfish, they are def. "pretty"


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I missed the $60 part - I paid $9/each for mine at 2", The Wet Spot has them for $10 now.

Hatchetfish are another fish that would work well and always stay at the surface. If you get a good-sized school of them they are pretty cool, I'm planning on picking some up for my Angelfish tank.
 
I put 12 Hatchet fish in my anglefish tank now I have 6. Every now and then I find a dried up body they jump and get through the space in the cover at the back of the tank. The 6 that are left have been there a while now maybe 12 was too much compatition and the weaker ones were driven out IDK. I like them in the tank though.
 
lonzoencho said:
Wow $60 for a chalceus!? We normally sell them $18 at 3" and $25-$35 for 6" +. My vote remain for a red bay snook, most CB are females reaching 12" realistically. Also consider some larger rainbowfish, they are def. "pretty"


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Click to expand...

I was able to get ahold of another local shop today who could get them in, but still wanted $35 for a 3".

Not a huge fan of the snook. The body shape is a little weird to me. And I keep pulling up pics of ones with their faces/mouths being pulled off.....which doesn't help. LOL


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Dan F said:
I have a Flagtail, a Festivum, and six Chalceus in my Eartheater tank - I must like top-dwellers!


My Flagtail has never bothered anyone, but I have definitely heard stories of them rasping on large, slow-moving fish.


A lot of people have said that Festivums are not top-water fish, but mine spends most of his time in the top 6" of the tank.


The Chalceus are some of my favorites. I haven't had any aggression issues, but they are very skittish and tend to flip out if you startle them. They definitely need a very tight lid - I lost one that jumped out through an opening for a HOB that was only about an inch or less wide. Chalceus are definitely the most top-oriented by far, they never leave the surface of the tank.
Click to expand...

I definitely get what Ryan was saying about the flagtail. My little geos are only going to be 5-7", which is half the size of a flagtail. I may still give it a shot just to see if I can get one to work out. I have wanted one for a long while.

I like the idea of festivum, but I like the ones that have a lot of greens and blues, not the black and white looking ones. Is there a specific species I should look for to get those nicer festivum colors?

I am going to pass on the chalceus. The skittish behavior and the jumping thing are two big negatives for me. There isn't anything I can do about that 2-3" gap in the back and I would hate to lose a fish because it refused to stay in the tank. LOL


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