Festae question

[Robinhood]

I am new to festae keeping and was wondering weather I should have a scavenger in with them to help with house keeping. Suggestions as to what might not get eaten by 6-7'' festae pair.
Tank is a 5'x2'x38'' 200gal. With overflows on each end

 

[Rocksor]

You don't need a scavenger, and a mated pair will kill it during breeding. Best to not overfeed the pair if you don't want scraps.

 

[BIG-G]

I have to agree.
Your better off not having anything else with a Festae pair.
Not much can take an angry Festae defending fry.
Especially a bottom feeder that may try to get the eggs and fry it will not end well.

 

[duanes]

I agree with the others, house keeping is best done by the aquarist vacuuming the substrate, and replacing old water with new.
Scavangers add back exactly as much waste as the remove.

 

[Ozzie73]

If they do spawn keep a close eye on them afterwards. My male offed my female after a spawn an I've heard of many others that lose one or the other after spawning. May not be the case with everyone, but be cautious.

 

[BIG-G]

I put a divider up that the female can only fit through.
It works well if there’s a size difference.

 

[Robinhood]

I built an auto drip system w/ overflow that dumps water outside so water changes done very rarely. This is done in 75gal. Sump filter.

 

[Ozzie73]

I built an auto drip system w/ overflow that dumps water outside so water changes done very rarely. This is done in 75gal. Sump filter.

Is there a link to your setup? I need to do something like that in a bad way. Too much time changing water and not enough time studying behaviors of my fish....ie...female festae death. They got along great, but he flipped out after spawn.

 

[Ozzie73]

I put a divider up that the female can only fit through.
It works well if there’s a size difference.

I live by that advice now.

 

[duanes]

I put a divider up that the female can only fit through.
It works well if there’s a size difference.

I do the same, because males will often be double in size, the females need a sanctuary.

The divider will quickly become obvious to the females, and will use it to escape aggressive advances.