Educate me on my community

[rolandk10]

Hi guys.

I recently returned to the hobby with a 29g and have just upped it to a 125g with an Fx5 for filtration. The fish were out growing the 29, as I knew would happen. They lasted 2 months in there.

Years ago I had a 75 with an Oscar, Jack Dempsy, Florida gar, and Common Pleco. I had them for 7 years until I moved and gave them away with the tank. That was in 2002.

I have a larger tank now but also the added benefit of your guidance. Based on the way I was taught to keep fish in the past, I could shove 10 more fish in my new tank. After reading around here, I'm finding that is not true.

Here's a rundown of what is in the tank now:

1 5" Tiger Oscar
1 3" Jack Dempsy
1 7" Common Pleco
4 2-2.5" Clown Loaches

I was hoping to add another fish or two.

Here are some of the fish I like.

Salvini Cichlid
Texas Cichlid
Florida Gar
Pictus Cat

Any thoughts on what else I could put in there? Maybe the best thing would be to not put anything else in there. I know I could sell those loaches for a pretty penny if they start to get too big.

Here is a couple shots of how it's set up now. I realize as Oscar gets bigger, he will re-landscape to his tastes.

You can see the oscar in the lower left of the tank.

The Jack and Oscar. I chose the sizes based on my previous fish. The Jack was a little more aggresive but having him just a little smaller kept him off Oscars back. That has been true here. the JD picks on the clowns once in a while but never on the oscar.

Edit: based on the last image, is it possible to tell the sex of those two?

 

[ziggy2]

I don't think you can sex them yet. I'm not sure I would add much of anything. That Jack looks good, but they do get mean.

 

[biguebs]

Nice setup and stock!

I think you would be ok adding any of the fish you were interested in. I will say that the Florida gar would outgrow the 125 eventually (it would get real narrow for him to turn around once he gets up around a foot long).

I think you could probably put any of the others in there "for life" since you have plenty of cover and places that could be separately "claimed" by the JD/Texas/Salvini. The catfish would be fine as long as he was big enough to avoid being eaten.

 

[smitty03281964]

You can add one of each for now.

 

[Jon M]

You could definitely add a salvini and I think it would be your best bet with success since they're so docile.

I don't think the size of the JD makes it leave the O alone more likely that you've just had some good luck with the two times you've done it. I had my O and JD in a 125g and the JD was the same smaller size than the O and he saw the O as the only cichlid threat in the tank as he was bigger so he constantly shredded my O. I had to move him into his own tank.

Clown Loach do sell for decent money when they are large but they take forever to grow and your O takes the opposite time to grow. Seriously doubt they'll last too long before your O decides to make them lunch.

 

[balton777]

I think you would be ok to add either a Salvini or a Texas. And I agree with Jon to watch those clown loaches.

Edit: based on the last image, is it possible to tell the sex of those two?

The JD is a female. I don't think you can sex an Oscar by just looking at it.

 

[rolandk10]

Thanks for all the advice.

I was concerned about the loaches but for now, they are big enough to evade the oscars wrath. I have a backup plan if the oscar gets to the point where he is threatening the loaches. I can move them back in to the 29 while I find them new homes.

I think I'll add 1 salvini and 1 texas in there and I'll be content with that.

P.S. what is that red/black fish in Balton777's signature?

 

[rolandk10]

I finally found and added the two fish I decided on. I was able to find a 4" texas cichlid that fits in perfect with the tank. The salvini I found is only about 2" but he seems quite good a darting in and around the small place that the oscar can't go. I think if the O wanted to, he could eat the salvini whole.

I'm hoping that he get's to at least 3" soon and with the way he eats, I don't think it will take that long.

Also, I fed the tank some blood worms for the first time. They went fricken nuts! I had never bought them before. I didn't even know how they were sold. I had to ask the guy at the lfs how to buy and use them! lol.

So now I'm rotating my feedings with cichlid pellets, veggie pellets, sinking shrimp pellets, frozen blood worms, and frozen brine shrimp. I'll throw some guppies or ghost shrimp in there every now and then as a treat.

Anything else I can feed them that they may love?

Thanks for the help everyone.

That is Tex, my texas cichlid

This is Vinnie, my salvini cichlid. He's not even yellow yet but I expect, like my JD, the color will start to show up soon.

 

[cmj15]

seems like a good little group that should end up being alright in that tank, but you could keep the loaches, just grow them out a little in a smaller tank and keep them as they are a good bottom feeder and are entertaining to watch

 

[MartinBoy]

The clown loaches should be fine unless you start feeding the Oscar minnows. Give the CL a place to hide on each end of the tank that the other fish can't get to. I have a 1.5" CL with a 10" oscar, 10" Arowana and others and he is real happy in my rock/cave creation.