I have a 180g with 8 silver dollars (which I am actively considering moving) with a single 7" Pearseii. I previously had 3 pearseii but had to rehome 2 due to aggression issues. The tank feels very empty right now. What fish would you add to this? I would prefer CA fish but not firm on that. Ideally I'm looking for 1-2 bigger fish.
What fish can I/should I add to my tank
- Thread starter rvadog
- Start date
Really depends on what you can GET. Do you have a supplier you can order from, or have you checked what's actually available to you? Rather than spout off a list of species you have no chance of actually finding, probably easier to have a look at what are available to you and we can work from that list.
In the past, I've kept pearsei with severums and it was always a nice mix. Geos/the eartheater species are typically a good fit. I have an 8ft tank now with a pair of marbled fenestratus that I will be adding pearsei to, as soon as they come back in stock with my supplier...
In the past, I've kept pearsei with severums and it was always a nice mix. Geos/the eartheater species are typically a good fit. I have an 8ft tank now with a pair of marbled fenestratus that I will be adding pearsei to, as soon as they come back in stock with my supplier...
I think that will work and give more activity less emptiness with the Silver Dollars. I personally have a Datnoid that is making the 180 gallon look smaller each day lol. Have you considered a bottom dwelling species.
Fair. I can get anything from:
Current Stock List | Tangled Up in Cichlids
Tropical fish Importer / exporter that specializes in Central & South American cichlids, as well as Characins, catfish, pleco, and other rare or unusual species from around the world.
But also I live near enough to enough stores I can get anything common and likely most anything uncommon.
Since your pearsei is only about half grown, that tank won't look empty looking for long.
When I kept pearsei, as adults they made a similar size tank look like a goldfish bowl.
And since the pearsei already owns the entire territory of the tank as its own, I wouldn't add any other territory threatening cichlids.
A shoal of CA Thorichthys might work, but that depends on the territorial attitude of the pearsei, previous aggression gives you a clue.
Adding other cichlids to an already established territory is often fraught with disaster.
If you are getting rid of the SDs because they aren't geographically correct, there are plenty of CA tetras that would fiy the bill, and get large enough such as Astyanax or Roeboides.
Roeboides tetras with Central American Andinoacara above
.
When I kept pearsei, as adults they made a similar size tank look like a goldfish bowl.
And since the pearsei already owns the entire territory of the tank as its own, I wouldn't add any other territory threatening cichlids.
A shoal of CA Thorichthys might work, but that depends on the territorial attitude of the pearsei, previous aggression gives you a clue.
Adding other cichlids to an already established territory is often fraught with disaster.
If you are getting rid of the SDs because they aren't geographically correct, there are plenty of CA tetras that would fiy the bill, and get large enough such as Astyanax or Roeboides.
Roeboides tetras with Central American Andinoacara above
.
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I keep hearing this, and I believe it, but also I've had this fish for 9-10 months and he's siting at 7" or so. I was hoping for a beefier fish by now as the point of the 180 was to hold big fish. There area time where the silver dollars dare schooled up and sitting in the corner while the Pearsei is on the other side and it looks like nothing's in the tank.
I've kept fish for a long time but never had a tank bigger than a 55g do maybe this is just a part of keeping these big tanks.
Mine took just under 2 years to reach the 12" range.
Since they come from very pristine, flowing waters, and eat a lot of vegetable matter, producing lots of waste, very frequent water changes are needed.
I was doing every other day 40% water changes, and vacuuming out plant waste at the same time, to keep nitrate level down, which I believe contributed to good growth
Mine could easily eat a head of romaine lettuce, or half dozen dandelion plants per day.
I kept C. bocourti later, and used the same techniques, and their growth rate was similar.
I would also grow hair algae in outdoor enclosures to supplement the terrestrial plants.
Since they come from very pristine, flowing waters, and eat a lot of vegetable matter, producing lots of waste, very frequent water changes are needed.
I was doing every other day 40% water changes, and vacuuming out plant waste at the same time, to keep nitrate level down, which I believe contributed to good growth
Mine could easily eat a head of romaine lettuce, or half dozen dandelion plants per day.
I kept C. bocourti later, and used the same techniques, and their growth rate was similar.
I would also grow hair algae in outdoor enclosures to supplement the terrestrial plants.
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You may be able to get your pearsei to accept new large cichlids, or may not, depends on your fish really. The pearsei has already established it's territory, so new cichlids will be intruding. I would add no less than 2 at a time, a single new cichlid will probably be relentlessly targeted (if your pearsei is territorial). Fish that look less like the pearsei the better.
Smaller fish in the convict range would probably be seen as less of a threat and the large cichlid wouldn't pay them much mind.
The pearsei are herbivores and not super fast-growing. They do eventually get huge though, and a single adult pearsei with 8 SDs would look about right in a 180 to me. However if you wanted more fish you could probably fit a few more just be aware that the bioload will be heavier.
Smaller fish in the convict range would probably be seen as less of a threat and the large cichlid wouldn't pay them much mind.
The pearsei are herbivores and not super fast-growing. They do eventually get huge though, and a single adult pearsei with 8 SDs would look about right in a 180 to me. However if you wanted more fish you could probably fit a few more just be aware that the bioload will be heavier.