125g stocking ideas

[Cadillac15]

So my wife left me recently, so I decided to do what I've wanted to do and get myself a larger tank. I'm planning on adding a 125g and there is only one piece I know for sure and that's that I want a Sunshine Pleco in it. Outside of that, I'm really open to ideas. I'm wanting to take my first real step into larger fish.

So far I've thought about Oscars and Jack Dempseys. As it's my first real foray into larger fish, I'm not even sure what I want. Id be ok with it only being 2-3 other fish in there. I was thinking of 12-14" fish. I don't want to try breeding anything, so although a pair of Oscars would be cool, I'd rather a single Oscar and something else (Oscars just used as an example).

Thoughts?

 

[Bertie07]

So my wife left me recently, so I decided to do what I've wanted to do and get myself a larger tank. I'm planning on adding a 125g and there is only one piece I know for sure and that's that I want a Sunshine Pleco in it. Outside of that, I'm really open to ideas. I'm wanting to take my first real step into larger fish.

So far I've thought about Oscars and Jack Dempseys. As it's my first real foray into larger fish, I'm not even sure what I want. Id be ok with it only being 2-3 other fish in there. I was thinking of 12-14" fish. I don't want to try breeding anything, so although a pair of Oscars would be cool, I'd rather a single Oscar and something else (Oscars just used as an example).

Thoughts?

With big cichlids it’s hard to just say one species will work with others as they’re all different, you best chances are with mellower SA like Severums, uaru and maybe a green terror. I currently have a jack dempsey with a group of thorichthys in my 125 so if you like the idea of 1 big fish and some smaller ones then you’d open up your options.

 

[Cadillac15]

With big cichlids it’s hard to just say one species will work with others as they’re all different, you best chances are with mellower SA like Severums, uaru and maybe a green terror. I currently have a jack dempsey with a group of thorichthys in my 125 so if you like the idea of 1 big fish and some smaller ones then you’d open up your options.

I would be open to one big with a few smaller. That's essentially what I have in my 55g (1 rainbow cichlid, then tetras and a couple plecos). I'm ok with that as long as I have one cool looking big guy with the sunshine pleco

 

[Bertie07]

I would be open to one big with a few smaller. That's essentially what I have in my 55g (1 rainbow cichlid, then tetras and a couple plecos). I'm ok with that as long as I have one cool looking big guy with the sunshine pleco

Then what kind of big fish do you like, There are many options, jack Dempseys, parachromis loiselli, cribroheros robertsoni, pike cichlids ect. It really depends on what you like and what kind of water you have so start from there.

 

[Cadillac15]

So the more I think about this, the more I want catfish to be the central idea of the tank. I just genuinely like catfish. Would a Sunshine Pleco, banjo catfish, Hoplo catfish, and pictus catfish all fit and get along in a 125g? If so, what of them should have more than one present and then what other fish could go in with them if something could? Thanks!

 

[Bertie07]

Well if you want a group of interesting cats then a group of four lined pims would work but if your going for activity then pictus are a better choice. Synodontis catfish are a great choice as well. I’ve always wanted to try a group of maybe 5 synodontis eupterus and see how it turns out. As for other fish, really as long as the cats can’t eat them it’s fine. Just nothing too aggressive. If you want to go with the catfish you’ve said then I think it would work but pictus and hoplos like to be in groups. You could do a group of hoplos with a solo bigger catfish and the pleco, as for other fish I would say it’s really up to what you want.