Cosmopolitan stocking

[esoxlucius]

I realise that we have a few members on here who are totally anal regarding their stocking. "Geographically correct stocking", I believe, is the terminology that is used. To those purists, i apologise in advance for any unneccessary suffering during this thread, lol.

But of course what you want in your tank is your choice, there's nothing written in stone that states you must stock one way or the other, unless of course you're into your biotopes where your choice of stock and even decor need to be aligned. And i'm betting that over 80% of members on here have tanks full of fish that aren't geographically correct, myself included.

And of course, if you look at it from our own human perspective, we have different nationalities spread all over the planet, so why not mix it up a bit in our tanks? Now obviously you're not going to mix cold and tropical, nor are you going to mix species with extremely contrasting parameters, at least we'd hope not!! But there's a myriad of species all over the globe that can be mixed and can co-exist in perfect harmony.

I suppose there needs to be a question to kick it off so....is it important to keep fish from different "nationalities" seperate? What is the harm, if any, of keeping a hodge bodge of species.

duanes , during this thread can you please refrain from using any bad language. Lol.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Personally I appreciate both hodge podge and biotope tanks. I lack the discipline to keep any of my tanks geographically correct...sometimes it happens purely on accident through my various rearranging though.

I will say that imo large barbs like balas, tinfoils, etc. are THE superior dither fish for large aggressive CA or SA cichlids despite being from different continents.

 

[duanes]

Abhorrant water parameters, and temps aside, there are some intangibles, that may not cause acute problems, but can nevertheless cause chronic issues long term.
Fish from Africa may not have an instictual awareness that Pleco's and some other new world species are somewhat dangerous.
I'm thinking about an MFK post where a Nimbocromis did its natural play dead feign and had a Pleco put a hole in its side before the Nimochromis realized the situation, I have seen other posts they are easily remedied by putting the correct species with others of the same ilk.
Malagasy fish often have little to no immunity to Ick, and if put in the same tank with carrier yet siymptomless fish maybe become easily overwhelmed with it.
And because some bacteria, or different strains of bacteria an protozoa are endemic to certain areas, can do similar type damage.
Some cichlids require more highly oxygenated waters than Asian or African species with abilities to use atmospheric oxygen, which may also go in tandem with higher necessary flow rates than others that live in more placid conditions that could cause stress.
I have combined different geographical areas in the past, but usually not in display tanks, that to me, just don't look right to me.
But I often grow out young fish together that because of their differences, live harmoniously, because of them.
Many fish that look alike, see each other as competition, unlike humans who often see difference in appearance as an excuse to alienate, denigrate, or subjugate others.

As adults I will sometimes separate fish from the same country, that are not found in the same lakes or rivers.
Above the center cichlid is Saratherodon linellii from Barumbi mbu, in Camaroon, and to the right is Alcolapia alcalicus from lake Natron is Tanzania.
Lake Barumbi mbu has neutral pH, relatively soft water, with a mild temp (70sF), Natron is saltier than the ocean, and high temps(90sF), so they only grew out to a certain point together.

 

[A201]

I'd venture to say that the percentage is higher than 80%.
My African community has species from all three of the major Rift Lakes as well as Asian Botia Loaches. No African Riverines yet. Lol. At one time I had a group of African Cichlids, Rivulatus, Festae, Silver Dollars & Plecos living together. There were really no unusual problems. I was in the process of transitioning to an African tank, but there was relative harmony between the species for several months. In the pic a Peacock Cichlid is swimming above a Festae. A Mbuna is in the foreground and an Eye Biter is at the very tip top of the photo. There were many more Africans in the tank, but as usual they were in their favorite hole or crack in the rocks.

 

[esoxlucius]

Personally I appreciate both hodge podge and biotope tanks. I lack the discipline to keep any of my tanks geographically correct...sometimes it happens purely on accident through my various rearranging though.

I will say that imo large barbs like balas, tinfoils, etc. are THE superior dither fish for large aggressive CA or SA cichlids despite being from different continents.

This is very very true. You start off with good intentions of having a "sensible" tank, but all it takes is a trip to your LFS, spot a fish you've just got to have, and your sensible plan can soon turn to a ridiculous one. Lol. And yes tinfoils and balas do seem to be the go to larger dither fish in many monster tanks, geographically correct or otherwise.

 

[Toiletcar]

My goal is to keep my fish in the long term so they reach their full size or even bigger in some fish. I want them to have perfect conditions so I keep fish based on my water. I like to learn everything about the fish and find that more fascinating than colors or aggression. I like the ecosystems they live in and recreating that. I also don’t like having to manage aggression and health issues which often happens when mismatching fish. And everyone starts out mismatching different species in one tank. I did been there done that, and no desire to do it again.

 

[Deadeye]

It really depends on what is being mixed.
I prefer the look of a biotope correct tank, but sometimes it is just boring or doesn’t work out. As long as water parameters and general aggression are in line enough, it can be fine.
There are some fish that work so well together it seems like they are naturally found in the same place.

 

[celebrist]

My tank is the UN, they are from all over the world and mill about accomplishing nothing

 

[Zanzag]

i always seem to throw that one oddball in a tank because of that have to have factor. a syno in my s/a-c/a tank , a lateracara in my bichir tank, and a goldfish in my pleco tank

 

[Ogertron3000]

I think like most things it comes down to personal taste. As long as like has already been said the fishes parameters are fairly compatible then whatever floats your boat. I'm more drawn to biotope as I learn more about the hobby and fish but there's an element of snobbery in that way of thinking I try to avoid.
Also a biotope can mean different things to different people, some people likely try to exactly replicate an exact 5 foot length of river, others go for the more broad "South American" or "amazon" biotope which can cover 1000s of kms of area and isn't really a true biotope by the strict definition.
One of my most enjoyable and successful tanks was a true mix and match with fish from all over the globe interacting and breeding without any issues. I didn't know any better at the time and just randomly brought fish I liked. Somehow it all worked out. My. Current set up was going to be a broad Central American fish biotope with random plants. Due to the difficulty in sourcing the fish I want it's very likely it will become something else as my patience wears thin.
Back to the original question, as long as the fish are mainly compatible and well cared for then it really shouldn't matter?