ADVICE NEEDED, PLEASE

[VRWC]

Here's another thing I noticed,but for the record,it could be meaningless and all in my head-however, I did notice that I have a lot less aggression issues when the tank temperature is up around 78-82 degrees. Not to derail but anyone agree or disagree? It is after all trying to help the OP anyway.

I too keep my tanks in that range, but mostly around 78-80 and I have little to no aggression in my tanks. Now, that being said, I also have growouts so Im not talking mature full grown fish. When they are larger and have gained confidence and territories, its a crapshoot at best, unless you overstock IME.

i have 3 clown loaches & 3 redfin botia and a bushy nose pleco and the texas so i will trade the others in and look for the red points , what dithers would go good with those VRWC ?

I think that you might have the perfect almost aggression free tank with exactly what you have. I consider the loaches and botia dithers for the most part, as they are fast and non aggressive (compared to cichlids).

Your aggression problem will be solved by keeping the texas as the only cichlid. You could add HRPs if youd like because they tend to be fairly docile.

I have a 75 setup almost identical with 4 carpintis 'vontehillo'(trying to get a pair), 6 HRPs, 4 clown loaches and a leopard pleco, all under 4 inches and its aggression free. Oh, and I also have a 'Red' Istlanum growout in there as well. Once I get a pair of the Carpintis, Im selling the other carpintis and moving the pair into my 265, leaving the 75 as a HRP/Loach tank. Im not a big fan of the clay pots, but I left them in there from when I used this tank as a quarantine tank (and Im also trying to get pairs to bond) and they seem to enjoy it...and I WAY over filter as well and do 50% water changes weekly.

Sounds like a great setup to me. Post some pics of it when you can please. Id like to see all the color.

 

[Big Dempsey]

HRP's are rare around here and last time i saw them they were 20 - 30 $ each is that high priced ?and could i keep the salvini ?it's becoming very beautiful, i also have a hifin spotted pleco in my 20 that i want some size to before i put him in the 90 it's only about 2 " right now

 

[VRWC]

yea, thats expensive. You could definitely try the salvini. It all boils down to the fish itself...could work, could fail. It would definitely be a nice color in the mix of all the others. Also, in new setups, fish will bicker and establish their hierarchy so dont let a few hours of bickering bother you. Its when it goes on for 6+ hrs that I think action might need to be taken. You clould try the pleco in there as well. Usually fish leave plecos alone...usually.

 

[TheFishJunky]

I too keep my tanks in that range, but mostly around 78-80 and I have little to no aggression in my tanks. Now, that being said, I also have growouts so Im not talking mature full grown fish. When they are larger and have gained confidence and territories, its a crapshoot at best, unless you overstock IME.

Yeah I agree-crapshoot as usual but worth it. We also have to think here-its nature-thats what happens in the wild and it will occur just the same in our own tanks.

I think that you might have the perfect almost aggression free tank with exactly what you have. I consider the loaches and botia dithers for the most part, as they are fast and non aggressive (compared to cichlids).

Your aggression problem will be solved by keeping the texas as the only cichlid. You could add HRPs if youd like because they tend to be fairly docile.

I have a 75 setup almost identical with 4 carpintis 'vontehillo'(trying to get a pair), 6 HRPs, 4 clown loaches and a leopard pleco, all under 4 inches and its aggression free. Oh, and I also have a 'Red' Istlanum growout in there as well. Once I get a pair of the Carpintis, Im selling the other carpintis and moving the pair into my 265, leaving the 75 as a HRP/Loach tank. Im not a big fan of the clay pots, but I left them in there from when I used this tank as a quarantine tank (and Im also trying to get pairs to bond) and they seem to enjoy it...and I WAY over filter as well and do 50% water changes weekly.

Sounds like a great setup to me. Post some pics of it when you can please. Id like to see all the color.

Your set up is beautiful I may add. And I see you also keep the plants/clay pots etc which is what I mean when I say a place to hide or swim off to.I'm not a big fan of sunkin ships and all the other stuff available as decor ~ I stick with the same as you,some more branch like driftwood and even pvc elbows etc as "houses" I guess if I could throw a shopping cart or tire in my tank it would probably mimic our natural lakes and streams better. But I like the bare bones look for the most part-or I should say natural as can be...

 

[VRWC]

Your set up is beautiful I may add. And I see you also keep the plants/clay pots etc which is what I mean when I say a place to hide or swim off to.I'm not a big fan of sunkin ships and all the other stuff available as decor ~ I stick with the same as you,some more branch like driftwood and even pvc elbows etc as "houses" I guess if I could throw a shopping cart or tire in my tank it would probably mimic our natural lakes and streams better. But I like the bare bones look for the most part-or I should say natural as can be...

Thanks man! Its my newest tank and was setup out of the need to quarantine some fish from my big tank...but somehow, Ive ended up with another tank

Yea, My other tanks are planted or lots of driftwood and rock, but I decided to see if leaving the clay pots in would help with the pairings of the carpintis and HRPs..and also give them their own tank instead of being in the mix of all the other fish. Everyone was right when they said it wouldnt last as a quarantine tank for long.

 

[Chaz88]

I did notice that I have a lot less aggression issues when the tank temperature is up around 78-82 degrees.

I have noticed the opposite mine are slower and less aggressive if I run it on the colder side. I also have better luck with fish that don't traditionally get along if I get them small and grow them together. It is hard to do some times but I am a fan of getting all the fish for a given tank small and keeping them together for life. It makes the tank look empty when they are small but it fills up quick as they grow.

 

[Big Dempsey]

thanks , my fish are doing better now , i took out the jags , got rid of my dempsey and black shark to my lfs .
the jags are in the 30 w my gt and pleco , threw in 3 silver dollars in the 90 ,the salvini & texas are still working it out.
their seems to be less aggression now ,so will see how it goes . have'nt decided what to do w the jags and gt yet