In Need of Advice for my SA/CA Aquarium

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Murrayt

Murrayt

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 3, 2014
180
2
18
California
My current stock

1 - (Female) Festae 7"
1 - (Male) Red Tiger Motaguense 3"
1 - (Male) Green Terror 8"
1 - (Unknown) MidasXParrot Hybrid 6"
1 - Red Tailed Prochilodus 5"
1 - Climbing Perch Fish 7"
1 - Clown Loach 4"

Aquarium size - 135 Gallon Aquarium.

There are currently a lot of hiding places both big and small and thus far all fish are not causing a fuss. Anyone think with the right aquascape these fish could continue to work long term?

Obviously the Red Tiger and the Festae are the main concerns, but if there is enough swimming space along with caves and driftwood, do I have a chance of being successful?
 
Your clown loach is really a schooling fish and need others of their own species.
 
135 seems small for a RTM. Those are some mean fish, they get big, they'd need alot of room in a tank to have any hope of them sharing it with other fish.
 
ragin_cajun said:
135 seems small for a RTM. Those are some mean fish, they get big, they'd need alot of room in a tank to have any hope of them sharing it with other fish.
Click to expand...


To be honest, the Motaguense was more of an impulse buy. I am considering purchasing a new 75 gallon tank for him when he reaches 7 inches or so.

So two questions:
1. If I move the Motaguense to his own tank, do you guys think that the stock list I provided (minus the RTM) will be able to last for the long term?

2. With the Motaguense in its own 75 gallon, is there ANY other fish (Target fish, another Cichlid) that I could place in there with him? I read that a breeding pair would need 150-180 minimum.
 
Murrayt said:
My current stock

1 - (Female) Festae 7"
1 - (Male) Red Tiger Motaguense 3"
1 - (Male) Green Terror 8"
1 - (Unknown) MidasXParrot Hybrid 6"
1 - Red Tailed Prochilodus 5"
1 - Climbing Perch Fish 7"
1 - Clown Loach 4"

Aquarium size - 135 Gallon Aquarium.

There are currently a lot of hiding places both big and small and thus far all fish are not causing a fuss. Anyone think with the right aquascape these fish could continue to work long term?

Obviously the Red Tiger and the Festae are the main concerns, but if there is enough swimming space along with caves and driftwood, do I have a chance of being successful?
Click to expand...

Get rid off the red terror, RTM and the clown loach.
 
JackDempsey72 said:
Get rid off the red terror, RTM and the clown loach.
Click to expand...


.... I JUST said I was going to lose the RTM. (not to sound aggressive)

Based on what your suggesting, my stock would be:
1 Male Green Terror
1 MidasXparrot
1 Climbing Perch
1 Redtail Prochilodus


That seems awful scarce for a 135 gallon......

Anyway, I value your input.
 
Murrayt said:
.... I JUST said I was going to lose the RTM. (not to sound aggressive)

Based on what your suggesting, my stock would be:
1 Male Green Terror
1 MidasXparrot
1 Climbing Perch
1 Redtail Prochilodus


That seems awful scarce for a 135 gallon......

Anyway, I value your input.
Click to expand...

sorry didn't see that bit. What I meant to say was that would all the cichlids then you could have some dithers maybe a catfish
 
Murrayt said:
My current stock

1 - (Female) Festae 7"
1 - (Male) Red Tiger Motaguense 3"
1 - (Male) Green Terror 8"
1 - (Unknown) MidasXParrot Hybrid 6"
1 - Red Tailed Prochilodus 5"
1 - Climbing Perch Fish 7"
1 - Clown Loach 4"

Aquarium size - 135 Gallon Aquarium.

There are currently a lot of hiding places both big and small and thus far all fish are not causing a fuss. Anyone think with the right aquascape these fish could continue to work long term?

Obviously the Red Tiger and the Festae are the main concerns, but if there is enough swimming space along with caves and driftwood, do I have a chance of being successful?
Click to expand...

Your stock is heavy. Filtration will need to be A++ for there to be no issues from a bioload standpoint.

The RTM and festae could likely become problems later on from an aggression standpoint. It will depend largely on their personalities and the personalities of their tankmates. However, knowing the typical aggression level these species are known for, I would say the peace won't last. I think they will eventually thin the herd for you if you don't do it sooner than they want.

Parrots are mutts to begin with and can display a wide range of aggression levels, so whether it becomes a victim, stands its ground or goes on the offensive is anybody's guess. It will be one of the smaller cichlids in the tank, the first two are more likely to occur.

The rivulatus is another guessing game. Most that I've encountered and heard about are what I like to call "bouncers" who keep the peace in the tank, but those specimens are kept in tanks where their tankmates are less than or equal to them in size and/or aggression level. In tanks with larger and more aggressive cichlids, I would think the rivulatus would become shy or end up a victim.

However, everything I've said is based on the "average" personalities of these cichlids. You could end up with worse or better. It's all in the luck of the draw unfortunately.




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