New tank note sure what direction to take

[jaws7777]

I just ordered a 300 gal 96x30 tank and at first i wasnt going to add anything besides 1 or 2 more polypterus.

The subject came up in another thread but figured i post this as to not further derail the thread.

The issue is i have a pearsei that's always been a handful right now he shares a 150 gal with a bunch of polys. Gets along fine with them but ive never been able to keep him long term with other cichlids or plecos.

So the real question is do i wanna do the whole trial and error thing again.

I would only want to add 1 other cichlid as to keep the bioload manageable.

Options im interested are bocourti, parachromis loisellei, melanurus/synspilum or a couple of aequidens.

I would really like a bocourti but remembered other members stating that pearsei and bocourti didnt mix well.

 

[dan518]

Don't think it would work only adding one other cichlid, unless it's female and they breed, a much smaller cichlid might work as he won't see it as competition, but it's always going to be trial and error.

 

[jaws7777]

Don't think it would work only adding one other cichlid, unless it's female and they breed, a much smaller cichlid might work as he won't see it as competition, but it's always going to be trial and error.

Yeah is a bit of a douche.... i have a small heterospilus that he somewhat tolerates but it never worked out long term in the same tank. I felt that the smaller one was always stressed

 

[dan518]

I have 3 to 4 inch thorichthys in with my 12 inch bifasciatus, so far he completely ignores them, but if I put another 12 inch male in there I am 90% confident he would kill it in less then 24 hrs

 

[jaws7777]

I have 3 to 4 inch thorichthys in with my 12 inch bifasciatus, so far he completely ignores them, but if I put another 12 inch male in there I am 90% confident he would kill it in less then 24 hrs

See im resisting the urge to add a bunch of fish. I like having openess and not seeing fish in every inch of the tank. Figured that i wanna do this right instead of always ending up overstocked.

 

[dan518]

I am the same a pair of bifasciatus and 3 male thorichthys in a 180 gal soon to be a 210 gal and that's it.

 

[jaws7777]

and that's it.

Lmaooo aah if it were that easy lol

 

[robham777]

Congrats on the new tank! Ahh, stocking the ultimate grey area in the hobby. I think I would try something that is a different shape from the pearsei, since he does not mess with the bichir maybe a more elongated compressed cichlid would be ignored.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

I would probably avoid other cichlids,maybe get a couple bala sharks since they r different shaped.

 

[isde02]

My pearsei calmed down alot he's in with a 12" kelberi, a 8" loisellei, a 13" vulture cat, and a 8-9" SP. Green silver dollar and it works. The pearsei and bass are best buds, the silver dollar is the whipping boy, and the loisellei doesn't take crap from anyone. The vulture cat is kind of the outsider that hangs alone.