After nearly two years with no fish....
- Thread starter Chicxulub
- Start date
Sorry to hear about the obstacles Rob, but I'm glad you're back and able to share this hobby with your boy. I know I'm excited for when my son is old enough to help with the maintenance part. He already likes walking into my fish room and screaming "FEESH!" as he points to different tanks (he's only 18 months, I'm not too picky about his pronunciation at this point).
Given what I know about your preference for fish:
a) you like teeth
b) you don't mind a challenge
Have you considered a couple cudas? I've got 2 red tails and a yellow tail in my 180. Breaking the red tails was more nerve-wracking than breaking my ATF, but now they hit shrimp and tilapia pieces nightly now. The yellow tail broke much easier. I house these guys with my sen bichir and 2 mystery cichlids I inherited from a friend (one is definitely small enough for them to eat too). They've also cohabitated with an ATF and a Scomb without issue. I think you would like the look of them, and as long as you are ok not having expensive feeders like danios swimming in the middle, they should be fine with the rest of the fish you mentioned.
Given what I know about your preference for fish:
a) you like teeth
b) you don't mind a challenge
Have you considered a couple cudas? I've got 2 red tails and a yellow tail in my 180. Breaking the red tails was more nerve-wracking than breaking my ATF, but now they hit shrimp and tilapia pieces nightly now. The yellow tail broke much easier. I house these guys with my sen bichir and 2 mystery cichlids I inherited from a friend (one is definitely small enough for them to eat too). They've also cohabitated with an ATF and a Scomb without issue. I think you would like the look of them, and as long as you are ok not having expensive feeders like danios swimming in the middle, they should be fine with the rest of the fish you mentioned.
I can't really add much in the way of suggestions for fish, seems most have covered that very well - just wanted to say that's a fine looking young man. Everything after that in life is pretty much just gravy. Glad to hear that you are back on your feet.
Some of the larger rainbows. Stay up high, colorful and won't bother anyone. And most are inexpensive.
Thanks for all the feedback guys! I like the idea of hujeta pikes for the tank! I really enjoyed the one that I had before, and I"m definitely going to get some for my topwater fish!
The midwater is the tricky part. I'm thinking Mytennis maculatus for the primary dithers, with a/some chalceus for color. I've had all of those before and really enjoyed them. For the centerpiece, I could do a trio of Aces with either a tat or a crenicichla. I know the tat would work, but not sure about the creni.
koltsixx
, do they play nice with others, or would I be better suited to sticking with my silvery tooth fishes for this community?
As for the smaller, schooling/dither fish like danios, I'm well aware they'd end up eaten over time. I've actually used them in this capacity before, I'd special order them in bulk from the LFS for about $0.30 a piece, then replace them after a month or so when they're gone. I did this in Max and Drogo's old tank when all the predators were well broken to pellets without any real problems. Though I'll admit that I went into it knowing full well that they wouldn't last lol
The midwater is the tricky part. I'm thinking Mytennis maculatus for the primary dithers, with a/some chalceus for color. I've had all of those before and really enjoyed them. For the centerpiece, I could do a trio of Aces with either a tat or a crenicichla. I know the tat would work, but not sure about the creni.
koltsixx
, do they play nice with others, or would I be better suited to sticking with my silvery tooth fishes for this community?As for the smaller, schooling/dither fish like danios, I'm well aware they'd end up eaten over time. I've actually used them in this capacity before, I'd special order them in bulk from the LFS for about $0.30 a piece, then replace them after a month or so when they're gone. I did this in Max and Drogo's old tank when all the predators were well broken to pellets without any real problems. Though I'll admit that I went into it knowing full well that they wouldn't last lol
A Creni would be fine depending on the Creni of course. I've got my Scats with a Tapajos I and she barely pays them any mind. If they get too close she gives them a quick snap and they keep it moving. No body damage on any of the TI's tankmates. Though she does go hard at my Trachycorystes Cats. I'm not sure what the deal is but none of my cichlids take to them well.I know the tat would work, but not sure about the creni.
If you go Creni Zebrina you should definitely be good to go.
mrrobxc
has two in a sweet set up with Discus with no issue as far as I know. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/zebrina-out-with-the-discus.649560/ If they can get along with a fellow cichlid as delicate as Discus I imagine they can peacefully cohab with most other fish. Even better is they seem to exert force only when necessary so they can even deal with aggressive tankmates as easily as they seem to acquit themselves in peaceful surroundings.
or African odoe p
or African odoe pike. very slow growingThanks for all the feedback guys! I like the idea of hujeta pikes for the tank! I really enjoyed the one that I had before, and I"m definitely going to get some for my topwater fish!
The midwater is the tricky part. I'm thinking Mytennis maculatus for the primary dithers, with a/some chalceus for color. I've had all of those before and really enjoyed them. For the centerpiece, I could do a trio of Aces with either a tat or a crenicichla. I know the tat would work, but not sure about the creni.
As for the smaller, schooling/dither fish like danios, I'm well aware they'd end up eaten over time. I've actually used them in this capacity before, I'd special order them in bulk from the LFS for about $0.30 a piece, then replace them after a month or so when they're gone. I did this in Max and Drogo's old tank when all the predators were well broken to pellets without any real problems. Though I'll admit that I went into it knowing full well that they wouldn't last lol
Ok, real talk guys.... If I got a smaller juruense of the variety called 'flash zebra', how realistic would it be to have it in there for a while until I'm forced to sell it? I know people keep them and tigs for life in 180s, so... how about it? I know a bigger tank would be better, but I literally have no room for anything bigger than a 72x18 footprint, otherwise I'd set up one of my larger tanks lol. Juruense is easily one of my favorites, and I'd love to have another. I'd give up a LOT of my other bottom dwellers to have one. I could keep it fairly effectively under most of the mid and top level fish considered above, too; and I know that from experience.
Lepisosteus
, an odoe is a great idea! Lol I had forgotten how many cool fish that there were that I had forgotten about lol
Lepisosteus
, an odoe is a great idea! Lol I had forgotten how many cool fish that there were that I had forgotten about lol