So how strict are you at keeping a biotope?

[duanes]

I find that fish from different continents often work surprisingly better together than some fish of the same area, maybe they don't instinctively see the other as a competitor like they would a natural neighbor.
So although my my visual/geographic sense is sent askew, I combine them anyway.
And on a personal note, my girlfriend is from a different continent, and I can't understand 90% of what she says.
Then again,I also combine ginger root with jalapeno.

 

[krichardson]

I have always tried to keep my tank inhabitants rather segregated in terms of geography but I am running two growout tanks that are hodgepodge of fish from all over the globe...I have Pom Pom knife with my juvenile cichla and I can't wait to get him out of there.

 

[woofy]

I don't think I've ever had a strict biotope. Except in salt water. I just don't see the point. The average person that comes to my house to gawk a my tanks won't appreciate it anyways. If fish get along and diets match then it's a free for all.


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[krichardson]

With me,as much reading about fish and where they come from as I have done over the years it just bothers me a little to see them all mixed in...like those JDM tanks.My tanks are in the basement and I invite very few guests and visitors down there to see them so that doesn't even factor in.

 

[Inglorious]

I have no problem mixing them up as long as they all need similar water parameters

 

[Joao M]

I like biotopes and used to be a "biotope guy".
But when I set up the big tank dedicated to CA/SA (mostly cichlids) cichlids, I "had to" put there the RTG arowana because it would be plain stupid to have a 10x4´tank and put that fish in any of the (much smaller) others... That tank also has a panaque, an L-001 and a flatgtail.
Then I add a "primitive theme tank" with gars, polys and a CK... so no biotope.
And a couple of species tanks: 2 that will hold snakeheads (waiting for the fish to be shipped) and one with a bunch of festae (the parents died so only have the fry) and spotted SD´s as dithers.

So...it´s nice, but not totally practical, specially with bigger tanks, IMO

 

[decoy50]

When I first started fishkeeping - way too long ago to mention - I always had melting pot communities. As I've gotten more educated in the hobby, seeing a fish from a different continent in the tank can ruin the aesthetic for me. I really dig clown loaches too, but if I had a big SA tank I would pack the bottom with cories.

 

[Fishnthehood]

I'm a hybrid guy ...So maybe I should be speaking on this topic but If I were to keep a non hybrid tank then I would not mix fish from different continents.

 

[Pole]

if they can live together, then they do. provides variety.

 

[Chicxulub]

Title changed per request