Hey,
in early 2017 my new tank will arrive.
It´s a custom made tank with the dimensions 200x55x55cm (which will cost 150 Euros more than the standard 200x50x50 tank but you know.. to me it´s worth it).
But I am not sure about the stocking.
These fish from my current stock will move in:
-1 Mastacembelus dayi
-3 Polypterus delhezi
-6 Metynnis altidorsalis
Primary the purpose of this tank is to house my Datnioides microlepis until I find a person with a bigger tank.
I just need to get this tank to not always have to think about getting rid of the Dat within the next month ´cause this feeling is stressing me out more than everything else.
I know some will say that the tank is big enough but you have to know that I am not a fan of barebottom/empty tanks I am always trying to make them look as natural as possible and this is taking a lot of space so I do not think a 50cm Dat would have enough space to move between all those driftwood and rocks!
But of course I am not getting rid of this tank after rehoming the Dat!
So I want to think about the stocking now although it might take some time after I am going to get the planned stock.
So we´re facing one big problem at the beginning:
The Dayi is a little over 30cm long and will kill anything he is able to "grab".
But since I´ve got more tanks growing out the new stock in 50 to 120gal would not be a problem!
So I can´t stock it with fish that stay small or thin since he already managed to crush the head of a 10cm angelfish and rip of a piece of the stomach of a Hyphessobrycon anisitsi.
He´s a real predator..
Since it´s not a small tank I thought about "collecting" clown loaches within an area of 30km from people who keep them in small tanks.
I think those loaches would be safe after reaching 10-15cm and as I said I´ve got several 50gal/75gal and 120gal as growout-tanks.
But the question is if 200cm x55cm will be enough for those loaches since they get past the 20cm as well.
I know juveniles are quite active fish and if a full grown specimen (I know they will rarely pass the 20cm) is still as active as a juvie this tank would be too small imho.
I thought about keeping smaller Datnioides in there.
Undecimradiatus or Polota (depending on which I am able to find) should be good for this dimensions since they do not pass the 40cm mark.
I´d love to keep larger knifefish such as Apteronotus albifrons but they might end as food since their "tail" is too thin.
Maybe I will get more Polypterus.
A Polypterus ornatipinnis would be a dream but I do not think the tank is big enough since it´s a very active species maybe Endlicherii should be better since adults are not active at all lying around all day and just being a living sausage
But that´s the point where I am out of species that would fit.
Any type of "baracuda" characin will be in danger since they are pretty thin and might be mistaken as food by a Polypterus.
Astronotus are a dream as well but I don´t know since they might be too aggressive for the rest of the fish.
I really do like flagtails but I basically know nothing about them.
So what exactly am I looking for?
A species that won´t be eaten by Polypterus or Mastacembelus.
A species that will not grow out of this tank!
A species that is not too aggressive to be kept with Datnioides and the other fish.
in early 2017 my new tank will arrive.
It´s a custom made tank with the dimensions 200x55x55cm (which will cost 150 Euros more than the standard 200x50x50 tank but you know.. to me it´s worth it).
But I am not sure about the stocking.
These fish from my current stock will move in:
-1 Mastacembelus dayi
-3 Polypterus delhezi
-6 Metynnis altidorsalis
Primary the purpose of this tank is to house my Datnioides microlepis until I find a person with a bigger tank.
I just need to get this tank to not always have to think about getting rid of the Dat within the next month ´cause this feeling is stressing me out more than everything else.
I know some will say that the tank is big enough but you have to know that I am not a fan of barebottom/empty tanks I am always trying to make them look as natural as possible and this is taking a lot of space so I do not think a 50cm Dat would have enough space to move between all those driftwood and rocks!
But of course I am not getting rid of this tank after rehoming the Dat!
So I want to think about the stocking now although it might take some time after I am going to get the planned stock.
So we´re facing one big problem at the beginning:
The Dayi is a little over 30cm long and will kill anything he is able to "grab".
But since I´ve got more tanks growing out the new stock in 50 to 120gal would not be a problem!
So I can´t stock it with fish that stay small or thin since he already managed to crush the head of a 10cm angelfish and rip of a piece of the stomach of a Hyphessobrycon anisitsi.
He´s a real predator..
Since it´s not a small tank I thought about "collecting" clown loaches within an area of 30km from people who keep them in small tanks.
I think those loaches would be safe after reaching 10-15cm and as I said I´ve got several 50gal/75gal and 120gal as growout-tanks.
But the question is if 200cm x55cm will be enough for those loaches since they get past the 20cm as well.
I know juveniles are quite active fish and if a full grown specimen (I know they will rarely pass the 20cm) is still as active as a juvie this tank would be too small imho.
I thought about keeping smaller Datnioides in there.
Undecimradiatus or Polota (depending on which I am able to find) should be good for this dimensions since they do not pass the 40cm mark.
I´d love to keep larger knifefish such as Apteronotus albifrons but they might end as food since their "tail" is too thin.
Maybe I will get more Polypterus.
A Polypterus ornatipinnis would be a dream but I do not think the tank is big enough since it´s a very active species maybe Endlicherii should be better since adults are not active at all lying around all day and just being a living sausage
But that´s the point where I am out of species that would fit.
Any type of "baracuda" characin will be in danger since they are pretty thin and might be mistaken as food by a Polypterus.
Astronotus are a dream as well but I don´t know since they might be too aggressive for the rest of the fish.
I really do like flagtails but I basically know nothing about them.
So what exactly am I looking for?
A species that won´t be eaten by Polypterus or Mastacembelus.
A species that will not grow out of this tank!
A species that is not too aggressive to be kept with Datnioides and the other fish.
