Stocking a 125 gallon predator tank

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SHADY FARMER said:
Not a whole lot, My only LFS is Petco and they really only carry undesirables ... I'd probably do majority of my fish buying online.
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I meant that as in what can you keep/not keep legally in your state (mainly applies to piranhas and snakeheads).

If you want a community predatory tank, there are a few options open to you that would probably work anywhere within the USA.

Predatory African cichlid tank (the larger haps such as eyebiters, Malawi gar, Christyi, etc) where you can have 8-12 large predatory male haps that will be both colorful and capable of existing as a community as, even though they are predatory, they aren't necessarily super aggressive towards each other and, because they are Africans, you can always crowd them to minimize any issues.

You can keep something like an Oscar in there along with some bichirs that will eat the feeders you throw in.

You can try to go native and get a bunch of small/medium sized NA preds like a grass pickerel.

You can get a small group of needle-nose gar and keep them with other fish that they can't eat.

Up to what you're looking for besides that fish eating.
 
I live in Pennsylvania, So basically the only thing I can't have are Snakeheads and a few species of carp from what I have found.

I've had this tank for about 2 weeks now and I'm really not sure what I want to put in it, it just sits here empty.. I guess I was just more or less looking for ideas and what everyone has found out, what fish work and what don't..

I've had Oscars in the past and I kinda want to go a different route with this tank.
The fact the they don't really need feeder fish to survive kinda turns me off, like they just eat fish because there bored... :p

As of right now I'm pretty set on a set of Red Tail Barracudas, a set of Senegal Bichir, someone had mentioned mota, kinda interested to see if that would work in the tank to add some color, however I do like the color of those eyebiters...

I'd really like to figure out a predatory bottom feeder as well, however I don't think the footprint of my tank will allow for any. and a gulper would definitely eat everything.
 
how about a leopard ctenopoma? really cool predatory fish that will spend most of their time in the lower strata of the tank. they only get 4-6" but their body shape might make them ok, depending on their tankmates. in a tank that size you may be able to get more than one, but they normally don't like each other unless they each have distinct territories to hunt in
 
SHADY FARMER said:
I live in Pennsylvania, So basically the only thing I can't have are Snakeheads and a few species of carp from what I have found.

I've had this tank for about 2 weeks now and I'm really not sure what I want to put in it, it just sits here empty.. I guess I was just more or less looking for ideas and what everyone has found out, what fish work and what don't..

I've had Oscars in the past and I kinda want to go a different route with this tank.
The fact the they don't really need feeder fish to survive kinda turns me off, like they just eat fish because there bored... :p

As of right now I'm pretty set on a set of Red Tail Barracudas, a set of Senegal Bichir, someone had mentioned mota, kinda interested to see if that would work in the tank to add some color, however I do like the color of those eyebiters...

I'd really like to figure out a predatory bottom feeder as well, however I don't think the footprint of my tank will allow for any. and a gulper would definitely eat everything.
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I just saw a red tail cuda the other day and man it was real cool looking. Maybe just start with those 4 fish and see where it goes. Thats probably better off long term than just cramming stuff in there just to fill it.

Sens are cool but tend to stay in the smaller side thats something to consider and may affect any future stocking plans. Captive bred endli are cool and dont get monsterous like some of the wild caughts do.
 
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I was thinking about starting a new thread for this but I don't think its worthy so I'll just ask it now..

I have an extra FX6, would that create to much current in there for Red Tails? I've read yes and no...? Could I get away with only using this filter? It'll have a sand bottom because well.. I have extra sand..
 
SHADY FARMER said:
I live in Pennsylvania, So basically the only thing I can't have are Snakeheads and a few species of carp from what I have found.
I've had this tank for about 2 weeks now and I'm really not sure what I want to put in it, it just sits here empty.. I guess I was just more or less looking for ideas and what everyone has found out, what fish work and what don't.
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While you trying to figure out your list of live stock you should start fishless cycling your tank. Do some aquacape if you're bore :) I usually spend more time aquascape, decor my tank before I put any live stock in there and it's easier to do that without fish.
 
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Yuki Rihwa said:
While you trying to figure out your list of live stock you should start fishless cycling your tank.
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Yeah, I'm going to try and start it today, Its a used tank so I'm at like 48 hours of leak down with no leaks. I'm hoping my FX6 will work out.
 
I would suggest a few types of the upper jaw bichirs to make it more interesting vs. just the Senegals. Delhezis are awesome looking, for example.
 
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SHADY FARMER said:
Yeah, I'm going to try and start it today, Its a used tank so I'm at like 48 hours of leak down with no leaks. I'm hoping my FX6 will work out.
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Are you far from NJ ? Absolutely fish has some ornates and weeksii
 
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