Getting back into the hobby, empty 90g, help me fill it !

[Astralmind]

Well, I knew I should have never walked into that petstore!

A few years back, before I moved to a 2nd floor appartment, I had a 90g with 5 piranhas in it (2 Caribe, 3 RB). I happily kept them for 5 years and even had a breading couple.

Since then (that was almost 8 years ago) I had put aside the whole aquarium business... that was up until this weekend.

Long story short, my wife-to-be and I saw a couple of Motoro Rays (5-6 inches roughly) and were amazed. Spectacular creatures... Unfortunately, even though the store owner said they'd be fine in a 90g I later figured out this was out of the question after doing some reading.

Very much disappointed but we cannot afford to buy a new tank, considering I still have that 90g in a locker room and that we are dealing with limited space on a 2nd floor appt.

Considering the fact that the rays are out of question for now (Boooooo!!) we are looking at alternatives. What fascinated us so much about the rays was their obviously unique appearance but also their behavior. They were just different from anything we had ever seen.

So the question: What other similar aquatic life form besides actual fishes (cichlids and other fresh water) could be properly housed in a 90g ?

Thanks in advance

 

[killclock]

You should make a calvus tank there cool fish only get around 4 inches but are colorful.

 

[Nyghtfire]

Maybe look into a species of crab, or turtle even.
but to be honest i'm not sure, i wouldn't write out fish completely but, alot of even the most commonly sold fish in my opinion can have alot of personality with interesting and funny behaviour to boot.
Maybe just go to some pet stores, and just watch everything for a little while, and if any catch your eye, look into them.
i fell in love with some of my LFS clown loach's, there behaviour and swimming, was amusing and quite funny behaviours displayed, but as my only up and running tank is cycling i probably won't end up getting them

 

[Valous]

if you dont want fish. I would say look into southern painted turtle, or a common musk turtle. They stay small enough to live in a 90 there whole life. I would stay more toward the painted as they will use the whole tank alot more then the musk.

 

[Matt724]

There's plenty of fish that will live comfortably in a 90 their whole lives that are intersting and odd just like the stingrays. How do you think us in cali survive without stingrays, pikes, snakeheads, etc.??? all the cool fish?
lets see:
wolf fish, rope fish, fire eels, puffer fish, senegal bichir, african butterfly fish,... u just have to look around a little bit. but fish diversity is enormous, so you're bound to find something you like.

 

[Astralmind]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'm not ruling fishes out completely, in fact if I can find something that would be "fun" I'm all for it.

Still hooked on the rays... I had turtles before, would probably not do it again for now.

I also had fire bellied newt which were a lot of fun but underwhelming for a 90g tank.

I had some interests on Oscars back a while ago but somehow saw a lot of discouraging comments (again the tank size was limiting.. no more than 2 I believe).

 

[Astralmind]

hmmm Matt, your suggestions are exactly the type of fishes I'd be looking for, ie "unusual".

The fire eels and the African butterfly are particularly intriguing. Do you know how expansive/rare they are ?

 

[JK47]

IMO if you want something totally different and REALLY funny behavior, go with Indian mudskippers. A 90g could house a clan for life no problem. They are one "fish" I will deffinatly own again one day as I had fun raising mine. The other thing I loved about them was tank set up. Half land, half water, mangrove plants etc... I like tank set up as much as the actual fish so this can be a fun route. Your wife will fall in love with them too.

On a seperate note, if the tank is glass and been empty for 8 years, do yourself a favor and reseal it before you fill.

 

[knifegill]

You could do the mudskippers as suggested. Or you could go for the brackish flounders. They get about 6" and who wouldn't be confused by the sight of a flounder in your tank?

 

[JK47]

You could do the mudskippers as suggested. Or you could go for the brackish flounders. They get about 6" and who wouldn't be confused by the sight of a flounder in your tank?

Do flounders show any activity or behavior? Ever one I have ever seen just hid all day. Pretty much a hard to feed flat pleco IMO.