panda aura with large uaru

[Wjugolfer99]

Hi all I have a 90g freshwater set up reef ready with a eshopps sump thats been running for 8 years. I do a weekly 50% water change. I was at a lfs about a hour away for a reef club meeting and they had a panda uaru for sale about 3-4 inches they said they qt it for 2 months and it was healthy and eating well. I have a large uaru currently about 9-10 inches who's a gentle giant. I really want this panda as its a dream fish for me but they didn't recommend having them together the kid kept referencing flower horns and green terrors and not having 2 in the tank, I thought kid a flower horn and green terror isn't even int he same ball park as uaru they are 10x more aggressive. My other stock in this tank is
1 black ghost knife 8 inches
3 roselines
6 congo tetras
1 keyhole cichlid
4 rainbow fish
1 bristlenose
and my uaru.

What do you guys think I personally think they would be fine knowing my fish because Ive been doing freshwater for 10 years and have had lots of fish over the years and breed fish and grow high end corals.

 

[tcav88]

I’d upgrade to atleast a 6ft 125 eventually but you should be fine co habiting them together given proper husbandry.... I just got 6 pandas myself that are 2.5” growing out in a 90 by themselves to go in a 300 with some geophagus sveni

 

[Wjugolfer99]

Thank you

 

[ryansmith83]

You are going to need a larger tank and you are going to need soft, acidic water. Without it, pandas wilt every time. They will eventually end up with HITH or bacterial infections. I have a dedicated panda setup that includes a 200gpd RO unit and a 225 gallon storage container. It’s a lot of work but the best way for long term success with fernandezyepezi.

Personally I wouldn’t keep them with amphiacanthoides. Pandas are actually more pushy/aggressive than amphs.

 

[Wjugolfer99]

I have a 10k coral system with a 5 stage rodi system I use 50% rodi and 50% tap with prime.

 

[ryansmith83]

I have a 10k coral system with a 5 stage rodi system I use 50% rodi and 50% tap with prime.

You’re already most of the way there. I’d get a 6’ tank and raise a group of at least 6 or more. Pandas are shy and tend to enjoy being in groups when they’re young. I’ve found that pairs are often very rough on the group and on each other, so you may have some issues once they pair off, but they definitely do better in a group than as singles.

Keep the pH below 6.5. Mine settled in the high 3s but if you can aim for 5.5 that’s good. Almost zero hardness. The water should also be warm; I kept them around 84F.