300 stocking advice.

[Randys]

If I list the particular Centrals I'm interested in could you folks offer me your opinions/experiences?
Maybe like which ones would work well together, how many to start with, and quantity to target down the road? I'm not really interested in spawning. That just causes too much drama.

Pearsei
Bocourti
Robersoni
Bifasciatum (although I don't see any currently available)
Synsphilum
Midas (I've always wanted a nice creamsicle but maybe just asking for trouble)

Or any other recommendations that come to mind.

Thanks gang.

 

[duanes]

Grown up tother from juvies to adults I could see those working together in a 300.
I usually don't like keeping 2 of the same genus togetther because of competition issues, nd hybridization, but in a 300 they may never arise.
I have kept all the above at one time or another, usually not together, although I had pearsei and bifas togther without problems .

 

[Randys]

Thanks Duanes

If I picked one of the cincelichtys and one of the vieja can you think of anything else that may fit in well?

How many of these big guys would fit in a 300 without being overcrowded?

 

[duanes]

I had 3 pearsei (reached about 15" each), moved to a 300, pretty crowded (think with bocourti I had 4 or 5 equally as imposing). Kept bocourti with Chuco intermedia.

I think the robertsoni being slightly smaller might work well, especially since they tend to be more substrate hoverers, while the Cincelichtys are more mid water types.

 

[Randys]

Yup, that's what I liked about the Robertsoni. I read they were sifters.

 

[duanes]

Some of the other Cribroheros I've kept are equally as nice, and sand sifters, they do seem to do best as a shoal.
C longimanus, spitten image of fire mouths

and C rostratus

I kept 15 of the rostratus together that I received from COA, and I believe that the large group held aggression down to nothing. They were just maturing when I left, and gave them to a friend who they spawned for soon after.


Hoping to get some of the Panamanian Cribroheros one day soon.

 

[jaws7777]

I definitely going to be in the minority here but i found that even a 300 wasnt big enough. Not just in terms of aggression but visually having the one large pearsei and some smaller cichlids +oddballs (bichirs) worked out best. It really is impressive to see one large cichlid claim a 300 for his own.

 

[Randys]

I totally get what you're saying.
When I stand in front of that 8 foot take it looks huge until I visualize a couple of foot long fish inside. Then not so much.

 

[jaws7777]

I totally get what you're saying.
When I stand in front of that 8 foot take it looks huge until I visualize a couple of foot long fish inside. Then not so much.

Yup. 300 is a nice sized tank but i feel after the fish put some size on them it really doesnt look big at all.

But then again theres no right or wrong answer. Have fun with it man.

 

[Randys]

Allrighty, I've got my stocking done with plans of keeping the "lookers" and re-homing the rest as they grow.

I know this is a butt-load of fish.

(3) C. Pearsei (had four but one poor little guy got too close to the overflow the first night)
(4) C. Bocourti
(4) V. Synspilla
(4) A. Robertsoni
(4) A. Sagittae
(4) Convict (all males)
(4) Jack Dempsey
(2) Firemouth

The convicts, Dempeys, and Firemouth I already had in another tank.