Guys - I'm struggling here. I have an empty 180gal which I want to put big active fish in. I have medium to hard water and a PH of ~7.5 out of the tap. I had originally planned on a couple of oscars and then maybe some SDs and a bichir. Now I'm reading a bunch of threads on HITH and it's just not something I want to deal with. Is HITH rarer than it appears ojn forums? Or else is there a biggish fish that would make a good alternative to an oscar pair in a 6ft tank?
Struggling with stocking a 180g
- Thread starter rvadog
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Most Central and North American Cichlids are perfect for your water.
Anything from the Herichthys genus, to Chuco to Amatitlania would work.
With some genera only a pair would work, but some genera are more social being more tolerant of others
Herichthhys carpintus below
Chuco micropthalmus below
Cribrihoers and Thosichthys are more social types, C rostratus below
Many people might suggest one of the Parachromis species, although I'd caution that a 180 gal is really only large enough for a pair, and no other fish.
Because their territorial needs, and lethal defense of the territory they protect, makes other fish problematic.
They'd easily eat bichirs when they are mature adults.
Anything from the Herichthys genus, to Chuco to Amatitlania would work.
With some genera only a pair would work, but some genera are more social being more tolerant of others
Herichthhys carpintus below
Chuco micropthalmus below
Cribrihoers and Thosichthys are more social types, C rostratus below
Many people might suggest one of the Parachromis species, although I'd caution that a 180 gal is really only large enough for a pair, and no other fish.
Because their territorial needs, and lethal defense of the territory they protect, makes other fish problematic.
They'd easily eat bichirs when they are mature adults.
Technically, from a continent point of view Central America is part of North America. But if you want to separate CA (Guatemala/Belize through to Panama) from North and South, then all the cichlids from Mexico are considered part of North American cichlids.
I find it funny how people only believe that there are 3 countries in North America.... also, what about the cichlids in the Caribbean?
Yes, part of North America. If you want a list of native versus introduced/invasive cichlids in the Caribbean Islands, you can find it here. https://fish.mongabay.com/biotope_countries.htm
One of my favorite fish is Archocentrus centrarchus. Those + some Thoricthys or Astatheros rostrus would be a great mix in a 180g. And work with your water.
Agree with not trying to keep oscars and other HITH-prone fish (Satanaperca come to mind) in water not suited to them. No matter how clean you keep the water, they'll eventually get HITH.
Agree with not trying to keep oscars and other HITH-prone fish (Satanaperca come to mind) in water not suited to them. No matter how clean you keep the water, they'll eventually get HITH.
Too small - I want something at least 12". One of the reasons oscars are great, big and generally docile enough for a few other fish. Many options on here would be asingle fish tank which I don't want. I'm really out to put 3-4 of the biggest fish I can comfortably fit in a 180.