Stocking my 52/47 Gallon Fluval Roma 200.
- Thread starter Justepic
- Start date
I totally agree and like to have tanks that are geographically correct. Although I have heard that there have been findings of firemouths in South America and wether they were introduced or not I don’t know but if they weren’t then it would be cool to see them with SA cichlidsIf you don't care about being geographically correct, then don't read on.
I however am a bit anal about it, and always see tanks of mixed continent fish to appear articial, and at times even goofy.
Firemouths are from Mexico, and share waters with livebearers, and Astyanax tetras.
Barbs are either Asian or African (Odessas come from Myanmar (Burma), and to me would never be found with fire mouths.
Same with jewels being African, beside being uber aggressive compared to FMs.
Even Apistogramma seem out of place with FMs being from no where near Mexico, and are generally considered to be a soft water genus, unlike the Thorichthys which are generally hard water fish.
If you are dead set on barbs, the Asian cichlids Etroplus canaraensus or maculatus would be more apropos, at least coming from the same continent, and these cichlids would actually fit in your size tank.
I believe a proper size group of FMs will quickly out grow your tank. I have seen 10-12" males.
canarensus below.
Arlight I'ma do jewels with african Barb', just gotta see which Barb's.
Just as there are Oscars in Florida, Cichla in Lake Gatun, Panama, and Jewel cichlids in Cuatro Cienegas Mexico, these either intentional, or unintentional releases are aberrations.
I expect FMs in S America are also aberrations, (if they are true).
Here in Panama a Dr had a pond back in the 60s, with 6 p-bass in it. During a seasonal monsoon, they escaped, and since then they have severely reduced endemic cichlid populations in the lake, to become the dominant cichlid predator.
In order to reduce their populations P-bass fishing jamborees are held every year.
Last year I ended up with lots of p-bass filets after a recent jamboree.
In lake Victoria many species of Haplochromis have actually gone extinct due to the introduction of the nile perch. An the result being an increase in the disease river blindness in humans, because the Haplochromines help control disease vectors.
Same thing happening to rare and beautiful cichlids in Madagascar, with introduced snake heads.
Below African Tilapia and Mexican uropthalmus in Florida
I suppose if I wanted to have a man introduced aberration tank, there are plenty of geographically correct ways to do it.
I expect FMs in S America are also aberrations, (if they are true).
Here in Panama a Dr had a pond back in the 60s, with 6 p-bass in it. During a seasonal monsoon, they escaped, and since then they have severely reduced endemic cichlid populations in the lake, to become the dominant cichlid predator.
In order to reduce their populations P-bass fishing jamborees are held every year.
Last year I ended up with lots of p-bass filets after a recent jamboree.
In lake Victoria many species of Haplochromis have actually gone extinct due to the introduction of the nile perch. An the result being an increase in the disease river blindness in humans, because the Haplochromines help control disease vectors.
Same thing happening to rare and beautiful cichlids in Madagascar, with introduced snake heads.
Below African Tilapia and Mexican uropthalmus in Florida
I suppose if I wanted to have a man introduced aberration tank, there are plenty of geographically correct ways to do it.
How about Congo tetras, they get pretty big and are really cool imo. You could do a west African tank with the tetras and some west African cichlids like buffalo heads
I recently read an article online about having a west african biotope aquarium. He focused on the Congo River and his 190 litre had 6 african red eye tetras, 6 congo tetras, some upside-down catfish and a leopard bush fish.
There isn't much info about african red-eye tetras but they seem to be in at my lfs so I will have a go at those. And congo tetras are also in my lfs. Upside down catfish look interesting and leopard bush fish are not available at my lfs which is a pity.
So all in all
6 african red eye tetras
6 congo tetras
2 jewels
3 cuckoo catfish
Is that alright?
