Pearl Eartheater and a Starry Night Cichlid???

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R

RWaltman

Gambusia
MFK Member
Aug 19, 2009
494
1
16
Warren, PA
I'm getting ready to move my pearl eartheater to a larger tank, he's about 8-10" now, and a male...with his caudal hump starting to form. He recently beat his female to death...I'm assuming since he wasn't set up with a harem of fish ladies instead. He's paired up with a tiger shovelnose cat that is approximately a foot or so now...maybe a tad smaller...they are both getting moved to a 180 gallon tank soon and I'm moving the african brown knife fish out of that tank, into a tank with my albino bichir and tire track eel for his own safety. While I don't have a problem with two fish in one tank, it's pretty big, I'm thinking of adding another fairly aggressive cichlid that could hold it's own...I love the starry nights but I'm open for suggestions or comments. I've even toyed with the idea of an arowanna....Thanks.

Oh, and before this gets out of hand...YES, I KNOW THAT A 180 ISN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR MY TSN, THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE, HE WILL BE FINE...HE'S GETTING MOVED TO A LARGER SETUP ONCE HE'S GOTTEN A TAD BIGGER...
 
I'm assuming you're referring to Paratilapia polleni and not Tropheus duboisi when you say "starry night cichlid", and that the caudal hump is hopefully a nuchal hump, otherwise you've got an earth eater with a hemorrhoid.

A 180 is quite large, but honestly I wouldn't do an Arowana unless you plan on upgrading the tank size. There's a ton of debate on that, but after speaking with people who have problems in 200+ gallon tanks with them jumping out, I think they're best suited for a home built monster tank or pond.

There are plenty of other tankmates that would be fine with that Geophagus though, especially in a 180! I think a starry night cichlid would do fine! I would just make sure that whatever you get is around the same size. You may even be better off adding a couple tank mates at the same time just so one doesn't pick solely on the other.
 
NACHUL! not Caudal! sorry...yeah Paratilapia polleni is the fish in question...I have the same fear with an arowana...the jumping. I don't want to 'overload' the tank and excite squabbling, but i would consider adding something else along with the starry night as you suggested...maybe an oscar? I'm not sure yet. Pretty set on the polleni though if it'll work.
 
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