monster in community tank - solve swordtail problem

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HarleyK

HarleyK

Canister Man
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Aug 17, 2005
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Howdy,

First of all: This is what I have in my 220 gal tank:

2 Ancistrus dolichopterus (7 cm)
5 Corydors paleatus (4 cm)
5 Pantodon buchholzi (7 cm)
4 Trichogaster trichopterus (≤ 10 cm)
2+ Xiphophorus helleri (4 cm)

So far, the sword tails enjoyed the privilege of being my wife's favorites. But because the fry is now taking over the tank, her mind changed last night. I have to act fast before it changes again :D . My tank is heavily planted, which is probably the reason why my butterflies haven't snacked on them, yet. Furthermore, they prefer the surface and my tank is 29'' tall. The young sword tails hang out at lower water levels most of the time.

Anyhow, I am now looking for predators with the following characteristics:

1) eat fry (3/4'') (and maybe the parent sword tails)
2) do not harm any of the other fish
3) eat crickets or pellets when there is no more fry
4) I guess the size is determined by 2), but they shouldn't grow much beyond 5-6'' anyhow

Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch,
HarleyK
 
Spotted Pike Characin

Boulengeralla Maculata (spelling, off the top of my head)

They get 12-13", but hey, you got tank size for em! They are peaceful and predatory, and a great topdwelling addition to your already oddball butterflys.
 
rumblesushi said:
acestrorhynchus
Click to expand...


Thanks for your answers so far!

Won't all acestrorhynchus attack the gouramis as well? I think Miles' Boulengerella Maculata are a great idea, since their "beak" doesn't look robust enough to swallow tall fish like gouramis, while they seem to be made for sword tails :D

?

HarleyK
 
Try some golden wonder killifish (A. lineatus). When I had some of these guys in with mollies, I -never- had any fry survive.
 
Try putting a polypterus in there, the fry will slowly dissapear at night, but the larger fish will be unharmed. untill that is , they can fit into the bichers mouth.
 
Harley - I have 2 acestros, around 6 inches. They nail fish at light speed, but if something looks slightly too big to fit in their mouth they leave it alone, they don't try etc.

They are in with a spotted climbing perch, just over 2 inches, and they have never gone for him as he is too high bodied. I would imagine gouramies would be oke.

Oh and of course the adult swordtails would be toast.

I recommend acestros though, they are cool and there is something weird about them.

spotted pike characins look very boring from what I have seen of them.
 
I have to say that I think a Sengal Bichor would be a great addition. All the fry would be gone in a matter of weeks. As for the adult Swords...they would be next on the menu. With so much food available your Bichor he would grow quickly.
 
Thanks a lot,

That's great info!!! I was also looking around in the LFS, and the have Xenentodon cancila. They look quite fragile to me, I like "beefier" fish better. Does anyone have any experience with them? Will they "fill out" a bit?

Thanks,
HarleyK
 
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