new large fish tank and stock list please advise

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
This is all good stuff guys keep it coming, I like the idea of a flagtail and will ditch the Columbian shark and get a couple of pictures instead. Regarding the Texas or gt I always thought that they can become VERY aggressive but u might be wrong? Was thinking along the lines of a few mire cichlids cause of the rock caves going in one end of the rank. I need to source a large arched piece of wood for the tank can I use anything other than bogwood?
 
Everything looks good to me. I think only 1 Motoro would be best. The pictus cat, although a more insignificant fish among the rest of your stock would be better having a partner or two. I originally bought 1 about 1.5 years ago and noticed he was very skiddish and spent all of his time hiding. I added a second at the advise of my LFS and they have been doing great.....they are fantastic bottom dwellilng/cleaning fish and maintain a good look. Sounds like it will be a great tank. I have not kept a tiger shovelnose myself, but I know other who do and they do get large and will eat ANY fish they can swallow...Pictus cats will make a quick meal down the line...LOL.
 
This is all good stuff guys keep it coming, I like the idea of a flagtail and will ditch the Columbian shark and get a couple of pictures instead. Regarding the Texas or gt I always thought that they can become VERY aggressive but u might be wrong? Was thinking along the lines of a few mire cichlids cause of the rock caves going in one end of the rank. I need to source a large arched piece of wood for the tank can I use anything other than bogwood?

Texas and Gt r slightly more agressive then other fish u have in there but with enough hiding places like rocks and dw u won't have any problems. The Oscar will get bigger then them and keep them in line down the road and won't let them take over the whole tank. Plus with the dollars and others u have enough dithers to spread out the agression.
 
my oscar is currently 6" so would i need to get the other cichlids around the same size or would this not matter provided there are enough caves for them to hide in. birchirs may work but im thinking the bottom of the tank may become a little crowded with a motoro ray, small group of pictus cats and the geos i need somethin that will occupy the top part of the tank but im not allowed an aro the missus point blank refuses to let me get one cause they are in her words "f****** ugly" lol. i also have a 4" silver shark & white tip pleco( not sure what its L number is) from my existing setup that will be going in but that isnt really going to effect anything. feel like the stock list is coming together now.
 
i would still advise against the motoros and either go with a hystrix or a reticulata ray as they are some of the smaller species but even then the disk gets to be 14"+ in diameter and that is not including the tail, if you get a motoro you will need to upgrade in a very short time
 
I cant seem to get any good pictures of the hystrix ray and the retics are very plain can you help please cmj15? What about ebjd as a tank mate?

Here u have profiles and pix of most rays available : http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?149245-gt-Freshwater-Stingray-Profiles-lt
EBJD should work too provided u have enough covers in the tank any oter cichlids u add with the oscar should b around the same size or a bit smaller if they're more agressive, if they're too small O will eat them and if they're bigger they'll beat him up and make ur tank a war zone.
 
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