Better bottom dweller

[moe214]

....and it could also introduce unwanted pathogens into your tank. IDK WHY people are so quick to put locally caught fish in their captive tanks of Cichlids and other fish. They need to be quarantined and dosed with medication as a safeguard and then should NOT be returned to public waterways afterwards

Good point.

So synodntis would be the best option?

I'd say so. I had a leporinus that was around 11" give or take, with cichlids and then oddballs and catfishes. He was pesky with fish he could out maneuver. I had a wolffish that kept him in check though.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Leporinus are known jerks. They will nip fins every chance they get. That does not mean it won't work with a large and aggressive cichlid like an oscar.

Adult pictus at 5" or 5" or larger syno could work as well. A bullhead could too if over 5"-6".

In such "unconventional" communities, the method is often trial and error. One needs to have plan B and C if things don't work out.

 

[JeffT123]

would an oscar an one of these fish be over stocking the tank?

 

[JeffT123]

I really like Leporinus, and they have them at my LFS, so if you think an oscar would be able to keep its aggression in check it would probably be my #1 choice. Do you think an oscar is aggressive enough for it. Also what is a Leporinus' bio load like?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Leporinus are slender fish, not big eaters IME.

I'd not say the tank would be overstocked at all at present... but 75 gal is borderline ok for an adult oscar. Leporinus need much space to swim but you probably have years before you'd need to upgrade.

Oscars are quite messy eaters. IDK if leporinus would pick up their crumbs. Pictus and bullhead would. Not so sure about synodontis, these may be more picky.