Crypto / Archocentrus Community Stocking

[elting44]

Hey MFK,

My 135 gal is (slowly) getting closer to being set up, and I was wondering what you think of my stocking idea.

I want to do a community of some of the different species that were formally in the Archocentrus genus.

Cryptoheros sajica (T-bar / Sajica Cichlid)
Cryptoheros cutteri (Blue eyed / Cutter's Cichlid)
A. nigrofasciata (Convict Cichlid)
H. multispinosa (Rainbow Cichlid)

My plan is two have one male and one female of each.

Is 135 g enough real estate for this to happen without aggression issues? My main concern would be the convicts, but I hear sajica pairs can also be pretty aggro.

I plan on getting about 4 of each sp. @ 1 1/2" - 2" and then keeping the pairs that develop as they mature. Ending with a final stock of around 8 fish.

I will also be adding green swordtails (as close as I can get to wild type / natural) to us as dithers, I was thinking 6 of them.

Am I crazy? Do you think this will work?

I plan on using sand mixed with medium sixed gravel as a substrate, lots of large river rocks to create "caves" and driftwood branches coming in from the top to create the effect of a river root system, with small twigs and small stones littered around the bottom. See this tank for an example

I will be using a 30 gallon Wet/Dry Sump, a Fluval 404 and a Fluval 305 for filtration. Both Fluvals will be primarily mechanical filtration.

 

[MonteSS]

Centrachus are real nice too but can get aggresive and the males get big. But a 135g should handle them.

....Bill

 

[jgentry]

Shouldn't be any issues. If anything I would add more different pairs to help keep the aggression down some. If any of the ones listed above would be a problem it would be the cutteri. The are lightning fast and can be really mean. In a tank that big they will be fine though.

 

[elting44]

Shouldn't be any issues. If anything I would add more different pairs to help keep the aggression down some. If any of the ones listed above would be a problem it would be the cutteri. The are lightning fast and can be really mean. In a tank that big they will be fine though.

When you say more different do you mean more Cryptos sp. or more different non conspecifics?

I was thinking possibly C. nanoluteus but from what I have ready they are not very hardy and can be picky eaters.

There is also the issue of availability, Cutteri and Sajica are going to be hard enough to track down, I am hoping Rapps will have both when I am ready to stock the 135, but that will probably not be until the spring.

Thanks for your input

 

[jgentry]

When you say more different do you mean more Cryptos sp. or more different non conspecifics?

I was thinking possibly C. nanoluteus but from what I have ready they are not very hardy and can be picky eaters.

There is also the issue of availability, Cutteri and Sajica are going to be hard enough to track down, I am hoping Rapps will have both when I am ready to stock the 135, but that will probably not be until the spring.

Thanks for your input

More different Crypto/Archocentrus.

Both of those listed are readily available. I sold an adult pair of cutteri a couple weeks ago and have been selling sajica for months. Several others on here have fry from both as well. Cavamart always has several different crypto's available. I believe he has both sajica and Cutteri right now.

I would just choose what you want from this list below. nano's are not a good choice. They are not as aggressive or hardy as the others.

Panamensis
Cons (pink/regular/marbles, pick your poison)
HRP (several varieties available, I like the really blue ones best)
Centrarchus
Myrnae
Chetamulensis
Sajica
Cutteri
Sptemfaciatus (might be hard to find right now)
Spilurus (also hard to find right now)
Multispinosa

And the list goes on. Just decide what you like and roll with it.

 

[dogofwar]

You could also go with goodeids like Ameca splendens as dithers...in addition to or in lieu of swordtails or other livebearers...

The key to harmony in your tank will be providing separate breeding areas for each of your pairs. Like a piece of driftwood / caves for each.

Nanoluteus can more than hold their own with other small / medium CAs. I have some in with a pair of Blue Labs...which are maniacs...

Matt

 

[elting44]

Excellent, thanks. Being from smack dab in the middle of Kansas finding anything outside of livebearers and angelfish can be a trick.

I will contact you or Cavamart when the time comes. thanks for the input

 

[elting44]

You could also go with goodeids like Ameca splendens as dithers...in addition to or in lieu of swordtails or other livebearers...

The key to harmony in your tank will be providing separate breeding areas for each of your pairs. Like a piece of driftwood / caves for each.

Nanoluteus can more than hold their own with other small / medium CAs. I have some in with a pair of Blue Labs...which are maniacs...

Matt

Thanks, I plan on having many many caves, nooks and crannies. The plan is to have large pieces of driftwood to break up LoS and provide structure and security, and large river rocks to make caves and hiding spots in.

 

[jgentry]

You could also go with goodeids like Ameca splendens as dithers...in addition to or in lieu of swordtails or other livebearers...

The key to harmony in your tank will be providing separate breeding areas for each of your pairs. Like a piece of driftwood / caves for each.

Nanoluteus can more than hold their own with other small / medium CAs. I have some in with a pair of Blue Labs...which are maniacs...

Matt

Interesting Matt. I've had others tell me that there nano's do fine with aggressive stuff as well. Mine always get slaughtered if I try it or end up hiding all the time and never eat. Maybe the 2 pairs I have had are not the norm.

 

[elting44]

As far as diet goes, do all of these species eat similar diets, I was planning on feeding them the same as I do my convicts, Hikari Gold as the primary staple, with Brine Shrimp, Krill, and Bloodworms, 3 or 4 times a week. Do they need more veggie matter?