Hello, MFK! I am new here and this is my first posting. I have a 200 gallon FW with sand substrate. Currently I have only 2 fish: a 12" Tiger Shovelnose and a 12" ornate bicher. I am wanting to add tankmates again. Been a while as I was trying to decided if I wanted to change it out and go a different way. I ordered online yesterday for the first time. I have 3 Peacock Bass (7 - 8") being delivered tomorrow morning. I am considering adding the following and would love your advice: Severum (1 to start), Pacu (1 or 2??), Red Devil (1), Oscar (1), and 1 Jaguar Cichlid. This guy is a big "maybe." What are your thoughts about the mix? I love the Severums and understand they are a lesser aggressive fish and I could possibly have several. Thanks and I look forward to hearing your replies!
New to MFK and would love your advice
- Thread starter Texasmonstergirl
- Start date
Texasmonstergirl;4915274; said:
Hello and welcome. The size of the fish you are wanting to add would be an issue. the three peacock bass will outgrow that tank alone. With that being said, I would also leave out the follow fish that were listed, Pacu (waaaayyyy to big), Red Devil 9aggression might be an issue), and the Jag (also very aggressive and large fish). Hope this helps you some.
Thanks! I definitely wasn't sure about the Jag and the Pacu get huge. The store was really wanting me to add possibly a pair of Pacu, but I wasn't sure about even one. The Jag is so aggressive that I was doubting that, too. The Severum are supposedly not as aggressive and might go well in there. What I had previously was a silver arowana (had for years...still miss her), Oscar pair, and a pair of Blood Parrots. It's been years now and after the loss of my arowana (my fave), I lost interest and haven't added anything. She died suddenly one morning after laying eggs all over the tank. Don't know what happened to her. Had her for years and she was fine and looked beautiful and healthy.
Well, not trying to be a damper....but 200 gallons is really not near enough (dimension wise) for an adult arowana. Also, if you have a breeding pair of anything, the aggression is going to shoot through the roof and all other tankmates will be harrassed heavily.
Welcome to MFK... With your stocklist it sounds like your pretty much set the bass will outgrow the tank pretty quick but it may work for a year or so. Maybe you could add some target fish some good size silver dollars or tinfoils . But if you passed on the bass and rehomed the tsn that tank could be a nice central/south american cichlid tank
i would also get rid of the Tiger Shovelnose. If you really like the look of the shovelnose, look into a Lima Shovelnose cat, they rarely get about 20" max. going by what you were asking about I would do...
Ornate Bichir
Cuban Cichlid: Very pretty cichlid that looks alot like a JAG but does not get as big.
Red Hook Silver Dollars, Tinfoil Barbs or Flagtails: To fill that big dither slot
Polleni: very nice looking cichlid
Jack Dempsey (male if possible to determine at purchase size): My favorite
Black Ghost Knife or Fire Eel: to fill the other oddball spot
Tiger Oscar
Severums of your color choice: 1 or 2
IME and IMO:
The cuban, polleni and Jack will mainly test eachother but dithers will help break up aggression. Ornate, BGK, Eel will do their own thing, same with Tiger O and Severum.
And not sure of your substrate, but black will really make all their colors pop.
Some will say overstocked, but I don't think so. Would look great and very doable with proper filtration and maintenance.
Ornate Bichir
Cuban Cichlid: Very pretty cichlid that looks alot like a JAG but does not get as big.
Red Hook Silver Dollars, Tinfoil Barbs or Flagtails: To fill that big dither slot
Polleni: very nice looking cichlid
Jack Dempsey (male if possible to determine at purchase size): My favorite
Black Ghost Knife or Fire Eel: to fill the other oddball spot
Tiger Oscar
Severums of your color choice: 1 or 2
IME and IMO:
The cuban, polleni and Jack will mainly test eachother but dithers will help break up aggression. Ornate, BGK, Eel will do their own thing, same with Tiger O and Severum.
And not sure of your substrate, but black will really make all their colors pop.
Some will say overstocked, but I don't think so. Would look great and very doable with proper filtration and maintenance.
Wow, so getting rid of my tsn....I have had that fish for so long. Four years at least. Very attached. I held the tape measure up against the side of the tank just a few minutes ago and he's actually more about 15" than my original estimation of 12". Sounds like the Peacock Bass will be here temporarily. When they arrive, I may end up with only putting one in and taking the others to one of our "big fish" stores here in town to rehome. Will have to see when they arrive. I had been told the 3 would be fine in my 200g tank. One store has a 12" nice jumbo BGK, but they think my shovelnose might try to eat him???
a four year old tsn should be a beast at least 12" in the first year. bass tend to think bgks tails are food i tried one with my bass and the poor guy was harrased constantly . keeping your fish is up to you just know the possibilities of more stock are limitedTexasmonstergirl;4915637; said: