Ropefish Tankmates

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Cat Fish Mama

Feeder Fish
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Mar 19, 2018
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Hi, folks. I am planning to set up a new tank (about 50 gallons, heavily planted) centered on 2 or 3 ropefish. I have been doing a lot of research on how to set up the tank, and the plan is to upgrade to a 75 gallon in two years, when we move into a larger house. (Don't worry, I know to keep the top secure and don't have any places for the ropefish to get stuck.)

Can anyone with experience contribute their thoughts on these potential tankmates?

1) opaline and gold gouramis (same species) - either 1 M and 2 F or all F, watching for more agreeable individuals at LFS and introducing them all at once to avoid territorial aggression, or I could just get pearl gouramis because they're more mellow, but my husband has them and I want something different

2) single angelfish - I hear they are hit or miss when mixed with gouramis though...

3) either a good-sized pleco or synodontis catfish when I get the 75 gallon - concerned about pleco eating slime coat, synos might be a no because they need to be in groups and like higher pH?

4) Apistogramma dwarf cichlid - probably too big for the ropefish to eat, but might be pushing it and they are expensive so I wouldn't want to take chances unless one of you has done it successfully

Thank you! You are such a wonderful, supportive community of fellow fish enthusiasts.
 
twentyleagues twentyleagues T thefredpit

Im not a expert with ropefish but i have experience with polys, i think rope fish dont get big on grith but gets long, so i think any fish that grows 4” and 3” top to botttom should be fine with them. They have small mouth so anything that is bigger than their head should be fine.
 
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Ropes can get up to 24" long and about an inch in diameter, avg is more like 14-18 and about .5". So I'd steer clear of apistogramma. You could do acara. Gouramis should be fine, I don't know much about them . I like plecos I'd stick to smaller ones like bristlenose or a cool one like goldnugget or zebra but they are poop factories. A group of multipunctatus are always fun 4-6" a smaller synodontis pretty active usually. I love synodontis. Usually hiders, I'll catch my multis out and about occasionally but deffinatly when feeding time is here. If you have a large enough group they'll be out alot 5+. I have a flavitaeniatus that I never see. There are also gold synodontis that are newer not sure on size or what there scientific name is. Its shaped more like the larger synos but I've been told they don't get much bigger then 5" hides alot but comes out for food.
What are you doing for scape? I know this sounds counter intuitive but ropes like plants and hiding spots. You'll see them a little less at first but they will be more calm and exhibit a more natural behavior overall. I would shoot for at least 5. They are social and the activity you'll see will outweight the little extra bioload you get. Really as for space used 1 rope or 5 ropes it's about the same. I had 4 then got magpie magpie 3 they mixed with no issues. So if it's "hard" to get 5 at once you can add them as you go. The problem with that is they are all wild caught so qt is a must before adding to group. But I'd start with at least 3. The 75 should be perfect. I think most of what you want for tankmates should work also.
 
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twentyleagues said:
Ropes can get up to 24" long and about an inch in diameter, avg is more like 14-18 and about .5". So I'd steer clear of apistogramma. You could do acara. Gouramis should be fine, I don't know much about them . I like plecos I'd stick to smaller ones like bristlenose or a cool one like goldnugget or zebra but they are poop factories. A group of multipunctatus are always fun 4-6" a smaller synodontis pretty active usually. I love synodontis. Usually hiders, I'll catch my multis out and about occasionally but deffinatly when feeding time is here. If you have a large enough group they'll be out alot 5+. I have a flavitaeniatus that I never see. There are also gold synodontis that are newer not sure on size or what there scientific name is. Its shaped more like the larger synos but I've been told they don't get much bigger then 5" hides alot but comes out for food.
What are you doing for scape? I know this sounds counter intuitive but ropes like plants and hiding spots. You'll see them a little less at first but they will be more calm and exhibit a more natural behavior overall. I would shoot for at least 5. They are social and the activity you'll see will outweight the little extra bioload you get. Really as for space used 1 rope or 5 ropes it's about the same. I had 4 then got magpie magpie 3 they mixed with no issues. So if it's "hard" to get 5 at once you can add them as you go. The problem with that is they are all wild caught so qt is a must before adding to group. But I'd start with at least 3. The 75 should be perfect. I think most of what you want for tankmates should work also.
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yeah I'd stay away from zebras with ropes they are small, slow growing, and stupid expensive they would become an expensive meal
 
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