Tank size and compatibility

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pwmin

pwmin

Giant Snakehead
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Nov 26, 2007
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I have a few combinations of fish in mind and I'm wondering what y'all think would be an appropriate sized tank for the combinations long-term (assuming they work together).

A lot of these combinations depend on what fish get along together (if I get a mean jardini or mean cichlids, they would either be put into a different tank or turned in for store credit). It would be nice if they could all share a tank, but that's probably dreaming, no make that 99% sure it won't happen. I'm not really looking for what will be compatible, but more like IF my combinations turn out to be compatible, what will I need. I hope you understand what I'm asking. Here goes:

Combination 1: Cichlids (of compatible size), Lima Shovelnose, Black Ghost Knife, Bichirs (similar in size to ornate), Fei Feng (Flagtail Prochilodus), Jardini or Red-Tail Barracuda (any other suggestions for top water?)
Combination 2: Cichlids, Fei Feng, Jardini
Combination 3: Lima Shovelnose, Black Ghost Knife, Bichirs, Fei Feng, Scomb or Tat, Cichlids (like Green Terror or Oscars)

Thanks. Please tell me if I'm :screwy: :D
 
The proch & lima will get pretty big, I'd think a 180 at least for any of those combos. Problem is the jar is likely to kill everything. I agree with Holmes, go for a silver or black instead, but in that case you'd need a bigger tank like a 300, something with an 8x3 footprint. If you're not set on an aro as an upper-third type fish something to consider is a pink tailed chalceus. I like these a lot, they're not huge like the aros and they look very cool. You might still want the 180 but you'd have plenty of room.

I guess my biggest concern would be somebody beating up/killing the black ghost...
 
I already had a young silver that died from being beat up (and subsequently died) by a 4" 4-Lined Pimodelus, so I decided to get a different aro (jar) so that I didn't have to worry about getting a huge tank and to try something different. I'm hoping the jar turns out to be the rare one that plays well with other, but if not, it will go in with cheap cichids that I wouldn't care too much if they were killed or not and maybe end up by itself.

As far as the BGK goes, no one in the current tank it's in messes with it. (S)he actually chases away anyone that gets near its spot, even when the 4-lined pim was in there (the one that beat up the aro). If anyone starts beating it up at all, they are gone. I've had the BGK the longest of all my fish (by far) and it has priority.

I'm not too sure how much I like the pink-tailed chalceus. I think I like the red-tail 'cudas better. I did actually see one at the LFS yesterday and it looked cooler than in the pics I've seen. Do you think a FF would fit in any of those? It's pretty much going to be either #1 or #2 and 3 (if it works out, of course).
 
someone else has to have an opinion, pretty please :hearts:
:ROFL:

hypothetically, what if i would do a jardini, red terror, midas and flowerhorn (if they would get along okay), what size do you think I would need?
 
Ah if it's a 4line pim you will have better luck, I thought you were talking normal pictus which I haven't seen grow big enough to handle your other stock. 4line could work though.

I'm guessing the 240 your looking for (per your sig) is for this group? If so that probably works provided your jar isn't the murder everything kind. The proch ought to be fine with that group too...I've never kept the 'cuda, how big do they get? With the RT, FH, and midas you'll probably want some dithers, got any ideas? Would have to be bigger ones I'm thinking, red hooks or tinfoils, something like that.
 
actually, i traded the 4-lined pim in at the LFS asap after he beat up the aro.

I'm hoping to get a 240 or 300 or larger, yes (to house all of the fish I have plus the FF)
I want to have an extra tank in case it doesn't work out (a 180 - i know my 125 will be too small for a lot of those fish separately because they will get too long for the 18" width of the tank). If I want a payara in with all of those, I'm probably going to need to get a larger tat in order for it to work.
 
Yeah if you can track down a 300 that would be awesome. How is the tank market in CO? Down here it's tough to find anything over 90 or so gallons used, I lucked into a 150 and I'm thrilled...the California guys have it made re: big tanks.
 
most of the LFS only have up to 210's (72x24x29). I can't find any 84x24x24 210's, which would work pretty well, too. I haven't really looked into where I can get any larger ones locally as I'm trying to find something on Craigslist. You can buy new 240 longs for $400 in Cali. i may have to road trip some day (i love socal)

as far as the 'cuda, i would probably have to get
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Acestrorhynchus isalinae (get up to 15", i think)[/FONT]
 
Do you like gar? I'd love to get a true gar, a Florida or tropical, if I had the tank for it.
 
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