Stocking ideas

[Achilles1763]

Hello, I just joined the site but have been reading articles in here for years. My issue is that I have just moved in to my new house and have been authorised by the misses to get a 7ft tank for my fahaka and cichlids, so this leaves me a 350 litre free for ideas. The only stipulation is that as it's going in the study it needs to be a quite tank, basically no power heads or air stones etc. It will have its normal large external filter (filter is for a 500 litre tank so above requirements), lights and heaters as normal. The dimensions are length 60 inches height 24 and width 16 inches. Basically not sure what to put In there, I like large predator fish and was considering snakeheads as they don't require large water movement or additional aeration of the water. However I am open to ideas or oddball types, predators etc any ideas would be appreciated but not cichlids or puffers as I have both in the big tank. Thanks

 

[tlindsey]

Apparently you don't live in the US where snakeheads are banned. It will depend on the species of snakehead you chose. Have you considered Wolf fish?

 

[Achilles1763]

No I am in the UK where there are few restrictions on snakeheads (aside from the large invasive species such as channa Argus) I was considering channa stewartii or channa obscura as both would fit the tank size and see interesting. I would love a wolf fish but they are all too large for the tank (it would need to be a all of their life tank as I can't upgrade it) the only one that would fit is the red wolf fish which is quite small and from what I understand sedentary so would I the okay without power heads and air stones?

 

[tlindsey]

If you use outside filtration such as a canister filter, the wolf fish would be fine. I do like your idea with the Snakehead's though.

 

[Achilles1763]

Yeah I plan on using a open dual direction head on the return pipe for the filter so there will be a reasonable amount of water movement and a single specimen shouldn't deplete the dissolved oxygen faster than it is replaced I guess. What species of wolf would you suggest? Yeah I love the snakehead idea as well but wolf fish are just the epitome of a monster fish... teeth, power, aggression.

 

[tlindsey]

You could raise a group of Gold wolves . Not sure but maybe a smaller species of mala.

 

[tlindsey]

Do you like polypterus ?

 

[tlindsey]

Most wolf fish , and polypterus are not very active. I like polypterus mainly because of their prehistoric look, and the ancient history of them.

 

[Achilles1763]

Gold wolves look like a realistic option but the Mala genus all look to get 20+ inches which is far to big for my little 350 litre sadly. I really want a black wolf fish but I am never going to be able to house on realistically. Yeah I like polypterus, I did have a delhezi for a while but the stupid fish decided to crawl up the in pipe to the filter... Long story short ... It died. My fault for not putting a cover on it but I didn't think anything would fit! I am considering a ornate for my 7ft 1000 litre but my fahaka (although not anywhere near as aggressive as most) take exploratory bites of fish that don't swim away from her and most polypterus are quite sedentary. It's a possibility worth considering.

 

[tlindsey]

Gold wolves look like a realistic option but the Mala genus all look to get 20+ inches which is far to big for my little 350 litre sadly. I really want a black wolf fish but I am never going to be able to house on realistically. Yeah I like polypterus, I did have a delhezi for a while but the stupid fish decided to crawl up the in pipe to the filter... Long story short ... It died. My fault for not putting a cover on it but I didn't think anything would fit! I am considering a ornate for my 7ft 1000 litre but my fahaka (although not anywhere near as aggressive as most) take exploratory bites of fish that don't swim away from her and most polypterus are quite sedentary. It's a possibility worth considering.

What ever you decide please post, and keep us updated.