72" tank 2 X CA pairs

[sajica]

Hi,
I’m looking at setting up a 72” tank with 2 pairs of smaller CA cichlids such as Archocentrus and Thorichthys species and hoping you good people can recommend a type of non cichlid fish that could be added. The purpose of this fish is to keep the number of fry/ juvies in the tank to a minimum but I also don’t want something that will grow too big and prey on the adult cichlids. I was thinking maybe a pictus cat but I’m sure someone else can suggest something? The tank will be decked out with a heap of root wood, river stone and a sand, pebble substrate. I will also be adding a school of some kind of small dither or maybe a heap of live bearers??

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Actually, Archocentrus is actually now known as Cryptoheros. And you are not actually saying which type of fish you have. My guess is you have 2 firemouths and 2 convicts.

 

[sajica]

evilxyardxgnome,
I'm not too sure if Cryptoheros has really been scientifically published as the new genus to replace Archocentrus? Not that it matters.....I'm not sure which of these I will be stocking as yet...maybe Septemfasciatum and firemouths??

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

I like Septemfasciatum. But I don't know how 2 breeding pairs of cichlids, who are somewhat agressive in breeding mode could coexist in a 75. Its worth a shot.

 

[Jason_S]

he said a 72" (6 foot) tank not a 75 . that being said I think 2 breeding pairs of these fish in question would be fine in a 6 foot long tank.


I think this sounds like an awesome setup. I'd personally go with either nanoluteus, sajica or honduran red point for the Cryptoheros species and Thorichthys sp. mixteco gold, pasionis or helleri for the Thorichthys species. also, you could go with livebearers as the dithers as that would come closer to a biotope type tank and the fry would be tasty treats for the cichlids. however in that size tank I think I'd do either a big group of silver dollars or giant danios. I think the schooling action would make for a nice effect to go with the cichlids.

for something to take care of the fry you could try a smaller bichir species (delhezi is my favorite) but be warned that bichirs are very curious and will try to investigate the spawning sites. I had a palmas polli lose an eye to a breeding pair of honduran red points. that was a lesson learned and from now on I won't keep bichirs with breeding pairs of cichlids. even the most aggressive of cichlids though when not breeding tend to ignore the bichirs.

other choices would be some kind of catfish. a couple of raphaels maybe or you could go with pictus. a huge shoal of corys would be awesome but would only be able to pick off the smaller fry.

 

[sajica]

Some great ideas there Jason
I'm tempted about the silver dollars which I already have a group of six in another setup which are about the size of my palm but I'm tossing up whether to add some hardy plants attached to wood in places which if I added the silver dollars may be an expensive meal?? I also like the idea of a shoal of cory cats too! I'll have to go for a hunt around the LFS's and put together a shopping list

cheers

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

My bad. I thought he said 75 gallon.

 

[Nandus]

I agree with Jason S that two pairs of small cichlids should be fine in a 125.

Pictus cats may not be a bad idea, but they might be too good at taking care of loose fry.

If you have access to a larger species of tetra, that might work even better.
They are diurnal like the cichlids, so you wouldn't have to worry about them cleaning out your fry when the lights are out.

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

I wouldn't go with a pictus if you want fry though. I would imaging the pictus picking clean any nesting sites, especially if you go with a not so aggressive breeding pair.