Rectic Teacup rays and Cichlids???

[Frostyone]

Ok, so here's the deal............I've got a 96"x24"x30" 300 gallon that's soon to get under way (waiting on the stand to be built) My plan is a SA/CA community tank with large SA/CA cichlids (Jags, Festae, Dovii, Carpintis, friedrichsthalii, loisellei, and a Pike or two) along with a pbass or 3 (for a while anyway) I'm going for a natural river bottom look with a mix of sand and various sized smooth river rock gravel and rocks, mixed with large pieces of driftwood. I've always wanted a ray, and we have some nicee Rectic Teacup rays where I used to work p/t. Would they be able to survive in a tank with such aggressive fish? I'm sure as my fish grow I'm going to thin the heard out and sell off some of the uber aggro ones and the uglier ones.

Thanks!

 

[stingray man]

The problem with cichlids is that they usally go for the tail and for the eyes because they look like food. 99% of the time is combo fails misrebly , but it does work some times.

 

[Bichir4Life]

Read the stickies one guy mentions that his 22" Leopoldi has killed several 24"+ arowwna's. Seems like your cichlids might turn into fishfood.

 

[andersp90]

The problem with cichlids is that they usally go for the tail and for the eyes because they look like food. 99% of the time is combo fails misrebly , but it does work some times.

99%? So if you try with a 100 different cichlid species 99 will fail? That is 100% BS.

Geophagus, Discus, cichla, any non aggressive cichlid will work!

Read the stickies one guy mentions that his 22" Leopoldi has killed several 24"+ arowwna's. Seems like your cichlids might turn into fishfood.

That is true, but rectis are insect eaters. Any fish over 10 cm will be ok.

Ok, so here's the deal............I've got a 96"x24"x30" 300 gallon that's soon to get under way (waiting on the stand to be built) My plan is a SA/CA community tank with large SA/CA cichlids (Jags, Festae, Dovii, Carpintis, friedrichsthalii, loisellei, and a Pike or two) along with a pbass or 3 (for a while anyway) I'm going for a natural river bottom look with a mix of sand and various sized smooth river rock gravel and rocks, mixed with large pieces of driftwood. I've always wanted a ray, and we have some nicee Rectic Teacup rays where I used to work p/t. Would they be able to survive in a tank with such aggressive fish? I'm sure as my fish grow I'm going to thin the heard out and sell off some of the uber aggro ones and the uglier ones.

Thanks!

Yes it could work. If the cichlids can get along anyway.

Make sure you add the rays 2 weeks before you add any cichlids.

Also, choose the pikes with care! Any large pike will see the other fish as snacks!

The only problem is if your cichlids gets fry. With that combo, everything will die.

 

[Matnil]

I think you will have to cut down the list, the cichlids you mention needs a lot of space! When they get big or starts to breed you will get problems, for example Dovii gets very aggressive when breeding and Festae is not far behind... Your tank will be way overstocked even without rays, and with the cichlids you mention I don`t think rays will work. Andersp90 suggests some cichlids that give you a better chance to work with rays. I keep a trio Geophagus with Motoro-rays and so far that works ok

 

[stingray94]

Severums work well with rays, there not aggressive though. And anders says that discus can go with rays, I am going to have to respectfully disagree-I have heard horror stories of discus getting their eyes eaten out by rays, so I guess that combo is hit or miss.

 

[Marius]

99%? So if you try with a 100 different cichlid species 99 will fail? That is 100% BS.

Geophagus, Discus, cichla, any non aggressive cichlid will work!

That is true, but rectis are insect eaters. Any fish over 10 cm will be ok.

Yes it could work. If the cichlids can get along anyway.

Make sure you add the rays 2 weeks before you add any cichlids.

Also, choose the pikes with care! Any large pike will see the other fish as snacks!

The only problem is if your cichlids gets fry. With that combo, everything will die.

What Anders said ... I'd ditch the big toothed monsters like Dovii, Jaguars. As mentioned, Geos, Discus, Uaru, Bichirs could make very nice tankmates. Not to mention arowana

 

[Nic]

i see feeding being a problem as well.... retics are not very aggressive