I actually feel the same way as duanes, in that biotope tanks are best, and I have in the past been in a position to get everything right for a biotope (correct fish, plants water etc.), while I was working in Belize, Botswana and Brazil. But now I live in the Andes and I am largely dependent on what the fish stores sell so its not very easy. However I do stick to fish from the same continent and with similar habitat requirements, even if they would not necessary occur together naturally. In your situation I would actually choose some larger South American tetras in place of the Congo tetras. But Congo tetras should be fine if you like those best.
Help with tank stocking
- Thread starter Pednurkim
- Start date
Thank you. I do also like the Buenos Aires tetras. May end up with those.
I know this thread is old but hoping someone sees it and can help. I am looking for some advise on my tank. I have 16 Buenos Aires Tetras, a small Bristlenose, a Rainbow Severum and a Chocolate Cichlid. I had an Electric blue acara, but he died after seeming to be stressed and hiding for a day. He bullied the Chocolate frequently until the Chocolate became bigger than him and attacked back. The Severum and Chocolate get along well. The only thing I have seen with them is some chasing away by the Chocolate mostly at feeding time. I did notice today a small piece out of the Severum's tail. I would like to have other cichlids if I have the space to spread out any aggression. Maybe a small group of geophagus? Or would that be too much in the tank? Thank you for any suggestions!
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I believe your tank is 125 gallons?
Personally I would probably not add Geophagus, although calm with other species they can be quite aggressive amongst themselves, and depending on the species, get very big. I have 3 G. abalios in a tank of abut 220 gallons (tank measures 200 x 65 x 65 cm), I also have a huge severum, some Mesonauta, a couple of dwarf pike cichlids, some silver tetras and 4 Abramites. I also recently added 2 Guianacaras as their own tank was getting too crowded (I had 7 in there). But honestly I am seriously thinking of rehoming the Geophagus and moving the Guianacaras to the big tank, then I would put put the Mesonauta with my 4 angelfish in an approx 152 gallon planted tank, as for the Guianacaras I would set up the tank differently with more rocks and more flow. Even though my tank is big, I feel the Geophagus are now too big for it, I would really prefer to have species in there no bigger than the Guianacaras. This might be a personal opinion, but I liked my tank better when all the fish were smaller, and ideally the Geophagus should be kept as a bigger group than I have at present. In your 125 the fish would be more cramped and both the severum, and chocolate cichlid will get very big.
If you do want more cichlids you could consider a few Mesonauta (as mentioned elsewhere), or perhaps a couple of dwarf pike cichlids, I find these to be trouble free, the Mesonauta would occupy the space at the top.
Personally I would probably not add Geophagus, although calm with other species they can be quite aggressive amongst themselves, and depending on the species, get very big. I have 3 G. abalios in a tank of abut 220 gallons (tank measures 200 x 65 x 65 cm), I also have a huge severum, some Mesonauta, a couple of dwarf pike cichlids, some silver tetras and 4 Abramites. I also recently added 2 Guianacaras as their own tank was getting too crowded (I had 7 in there). But honestly I am seriously thinking of rehoming the Geophagus and moving the Guianacaras to the big tank, then I would put put the Mesonauta with my 4 angelfish in an approx 152 gallon planted tank, as for the Guianacaras I would set up the tank differently with more rocks and more flow. Even though my tank is big, I feel the Geophagus are now too big for it, I would really prefer to have species in there no bigger than the Guianacaras. This might be a personal opinion, but I liked my tank better when all the fish were smaller, and ideally the Geophagus should be kept as a bigger group than I have at present. In your 125 the fish would be more cramped and both the severum, and chocolate cichlid will get very big.
If you do want more cichlids you could consider a few Mesonauta (as mentioned elsewhere), or perhaps a couple of dwarf pike cichlids, I find these to be trouble free, the Mesonauta would occupy the space at the top.
Thank you! I didn't realize the geophagus would be quite that big. Your tanks sound really nice! My 125 is the biggest I have room to keep. I think I may have found part of the trouble with the Chocolate going after the severum more lately. It seems as though the chocolate wants the severum's spot in the tank. I have found that the right 1/4 of the tank is not really used by the fish. I think it may be due to the flow by the filter coming to the bottom of the tank. I am going to try to diffuse the flow and see if that helps to allow the hiding spots on that side to be used.
