Tatauaia and scomberoides together. Would this combo work?

[Stuginski]

Hi lix. Armatus is out of my plans because they grow to big and I don't have intention to upgrade my tank for 2 years. I live in a apartment as great part of the 11 milion people from my city (São Paulo), I and I don't think it is a smart idea put tanks much heavier than this in apartments. My total volume: display plus sump is 180 gallons.
Do you think that kudas trio and B.maculatus trio with the tatauaias would be overkill??? Cause I really don't want to have a 6ft tank in my house with just three fishes. Cudas and Boulengerellas seems to be placid characins and I don't think that they will be bothering the payaras. Don't you think?
I know that a pike cichlid is different but if she starts bullying my other fishes she will go to my friend's tank


Thks
D.

 

[lix.ma14]

Hi lix. Armatus is out of my plans because they grow to big and I don't have intention to upgrade my tank for 2 years. I live in a apartment as great part of the 11 milion people from my city (São Paulo), I and I don't think it is a smart idea put tanks much heavier than this in apartments. My total volume: display plus sump is 180 gallons.
Do you think that kudas trio and B.maculatus trio with the tatauaias would be overkill??? Cause I really don't want to have a 6ft tank in my house with just three fishes. Cudas and Boulengerellas seems to be placid characins and I don't think that they will be bothering the payaras. Don't you think?
I know that a pike cichlid is different but if she starts bullying my other fishes she will go to my friend's tank


Thks
D.

The maculatus do grow pretty big. In the wild for sure. If it was me I would do a trio of red tail tats. You could keep some pikes in there I guess.


Why don't you put 3 tats and a red wolf fish? you could add some cudas I guess but it's risky.

 

[Stuginski]

I never saw a maculata or a lateristriga with more than 10-12 inches in captivity. Did you see? I was thinking that this was a good list of calm medium size characins.
What kind of problems with cudas?
I like erythrinus erythrinus but I was concerned about his agressions against payaras.


Don't get me wrong lix. I don't want to push the bottom or something like that but I truly believe that my tank and my filtration could handle with more than 4 fishes. I know many aquarist that keep much more fishes in less gallons. By the way here in Brazil freshwater aquariums crowded are very common. I don't like these kind of tank and I'll not be the guy that will put a arapaima, armatus or peacock bass in this tank but I really don't like a "empty" tank. I need something in the midway.


My red tai sabbertooth tetra:





D.

 

[cl0wn knife]

looks nice

 

[Stuginski]

Thank you clown! She is alright now after my dentistry intervention. It was impressive how fast the tooth grow up!

D.

 

[Chicxulub]

That's probably the best looking tat that I've ever seen! Very well done.

If I were you, I'd keep her as the showpiece of the tank and build around her with dithers that won't detract from her. I think a hujeta for a surface fish would be very nice looking.

 

[Stuginski]

Thank you Chicx! Do you think that boulengers and cudas could be a problem?

Her name is Laika...here in Brazil Hydrolycus are know as Cachorras (*****es), so my wife gave her this name (wich is a very common name to *****es here in Brazil)!


D.

 

[Stuginski]

... ok ******es = female dogs

D.

 

[lix.ma14]

I never saw a maculata or a lateristriga with more than 10-12 inches in captivity. Did you see? I was thinking that this was a good list of calm medium size characins.
What kind of problems with cudas?
I like erythrinus erythrinus but I was concerned about his agressions against payaras.


Don't get me wrong lix. I don't want to push the bottom or something like that but I truly believe that my tank and my filtration could handle with more than 4 fishes. I know many aquarist that keep much more fishes in less gallons. By the way here in Brazil freshwater aquariums crowded are very common. I don't like these kind of tank and I'll not be the guy that will put a arapaima, armatus or peacock bass in this tank but I really don't like a "empty" tank. I need something in the midway.


My suggestion:

View attachment 943638
View attachment 943639


D.

i understand what you are saying. Theoretically you could create enough filtration for the tats, macs, and cudas in the 140 gallon tank. What concerns me is the aggression. macalatas are generally very skittish fish. They sppook very easily. I've seen a bunch of 10 inchers in my LPS and ALL of them had bend and damaged beaks. from all the years of seeing these characins i've almost never seen a perfect beaked mac. With so much activity in the tank from your tats and cudas, those maculatas going to go flying. Especially in a 140, you can't possiblly keep 3 different packs of predetory "apex" fish.

My idea:

3 tats
3 smaller silver dollars
1 red wolf (sub with a 12 inch or smaller catfish)

honestly, a red wolf is quite a decent choice in the tank. I did have a red wolf in with my armatus that didn't go very well. I didn't have any hiding spot for the wolf though. Maybe add some plants and hiding spots and a wolf will be fine. No serious damages anyways. You don't have to do what I say. Just trying to help.

 

[Chicxulub]

i understand what you are saying. Theoretically you could create enough filtration for the tats, macs, and cudas in the 140 gallon tank. What concerns me is the aggression. macalatas are generally very skittish fish. They sppook very easily. I've seen a bunch of 10 inchers in my LPS and ALL of them had bend and damaged beaks. from all the years of seeing these characins i've almost never seen a perfect beaked mac. With so much activity in the tank from your tats and cudas, those maculatas going to go flying. Especially in a 140, you can't possiblly keep 3 different packs of predetory "apex" fish.

My idea:

3 tats
3 smaller silver dollars
1 red wolf (sub with a 12 inch or smaller catfish)

honestly, a red wolf is quite a decent choice in the tank. I did have a red wolf in with my armatus that didn't go very well. I didn't have any hiding spot for the wolf though. Maybe add some plants and hiding spots and a wolf will be fine. No serious damages anyways. You don't have to do what I say. Just trying to help.

+1.

I'd avoid the 'cudas for the same reason as the macs. They are flighty and can smash themselves to death easily, plus they can be quite difficult to get eating anything other than live. Hell, they can be hard to get eating live even!

I like lix's idea, though I would include a hujeta as a topwater fish to round it out. They're like a mac but normally don't get over 8" or so. I feel it'd be a better match for your tank.