Stock list for 125 - Need help!

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C

cage623

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 30, 2011
127
0
31
Iowa
Hey guys,

I am new to Monster Fish Keepers but have been keeping Central American Cichlids since 2003 and been very active on other forums. I was directed to this forum because I wasn't getting much help at the other I had been on. Anyways...I have only ever had 'smaller tanks' (a 55 and a 72 gallon bowfront) and live in rural Iowa (almost no selection at our LFS). I just got a 125 and need help coming up with my future stock list. I will be getting my fish from an online seller so that I can broaden my choices.

I was thinking of the following stock list:

Pair of C. myrnae
One A. lyonsi
One A. rhytisma
One A. robertsoni
One V. hartwegi

What does everyone think?

Also to help, beside the above cichlids I am also interested in the following (incase you think something above needs to be replaced):

T. elliotti
A. spinosissimus
C. sajica
C. cutteri
H. nicaraguensis
C. godmanni
H. bocourti
A. altifrons
A. nourisatti
V. bifaciatus
V. synspilus
V. zonatus

Sorry for such a big list. As you can see I need help. (I know that the Vieja are not likely because of size and aggression).
 
I have never kept the fish in your proposed stock but have in interest in each species and have done some searching on them. From what I've read it sounds like its worth a shot.
 
Are you wanting a community or are you willing to do a single pair in a 125? For me, a pair really has all the interaction I need in a tank.
 
i know it's hard,but you kind of need to know what type of tank you want.i agree with aclockworkorange,breeding pairs are great tanks! if you keep the smaller growing species you could have 2 pairs possibly.your original list could work,just have back up tank ready for overly aggressive tankmates.if they grow up together you will have a better chance of it working.
 
aclockworkorange said:
Are you wanting a community or are you willing to do a single pair in a 125? For me, a pair really has all the interaction I need in a tank.
Click to expand...

virgil2090 said:
i know it's hard,but you kind of need to know what type of tank you want.i agree with aclockworkorange,breeding pairs are great tanks! if you keep the smaller growing species you could have 2 pairs possibly.your original list could work,just have back up tank ready for overly aggressive tankmates.if they grow up together you will have a better chance of it working.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice. Your original list is probably fine, but now is a good time to think about what you want to create with this tank, instead of just an assortment of fish. I also agree that the interactions between a breeding pair is the funnest part.
 
aclockworkorange said:
Are you wanting a community or are you willing to do a single pair in a 125? For me, a pair really has all the interaction I need in a tank.
Click to expand...

I currently have a breeding pair of geo iporangensis in a community setup and understand your feelings about watching a pair. In my community are also a 10" & a 12" common plecos that keep population in check since I do not have the desire to sell/give away fish once they're big enough. What options would someone like me have to control populations if they were to keep a air such as your Cubans that could hold their own against a pleco. Just thought this might be a valid concern for others.
 
Well, looking back over the stock list, if I wanted these fish this is what I would do... I'd keep the lyonsi as a pair, their breeding coloration is really what appeals to most. Get a large show male hartwegi that won't see anything else as a threat. Probably drop the myrnae. Maybe replace robertsoni with nourisatti. I've got some more ideas I'll post later.
 
First off, thanks a ton for all the replies. I had a similar post on another forum and really didn't get much feedback and mostly the replies consisted of people saying they were not familiar with those fish.

Secondly I would say that I am not that interested in breeding for this tank as I will also soon be setting up a 29 in my office and would like to do something smaller for breeding there. Biggest reason I am not that excited about breeding too much is that again I live in more of a rural area and getting rid of the fry becomes a pain. Maybe I will do the pair of myrnae in the 29. So what do does everyone think if I go without the myrnae in the 125 and just the above community? Again thanks a ton.

-Cage
 
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