To change or not to change, that is the question…

[danotaylor]

I recently stocked my big tank w F1 moba w a long term plan to grow and breed them.

A friend reached out and I now have an opportunity to acquire a 30” AUL

It would mean dedicating my 500gal to this ancient beast for the foreseeable future. A very cool display w suitable tank mates could be created.

The moba group could be downsized to 8 & go into my 125gal.

Now to the poll…

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

Depends on what you want and how much time, I bet. Can't speak for what an AUL is like but I'd imagine they're moreso slow and lumbering 'wet-pets' that don't do a whole lot. Whereas the frontosas would at least do enough to be worth sitting down and watching.
Would be pretty neat to do a PNG/Aussie native tank with a bunch of larger rainbows, Neosilurus, grunters, etc. though.
Your call but if you're not losing all the frontosas and think you'll be able to put together a nice 500G worth watching I'd say the AUL might be worthwhile.
Ignoring money, at least, I assume the AUL would cost a pretty penny and so would redoing the stocking arrangements for the entire tank.

 

[Milingu]

AUL pros:
- they are AULs
- can be kept with rainbow fish etc

AUL cons:
- pretty inactive
- might outgrow a 500 g in some years
- not shiny!!

C. Moba pros:
- active while still being majestic
- can be bred
- can be kept with other Tanganyika cichlids
- beautiful blue
- they shiny!!

C. Moba cons:
- can be skittish
- may eat smaller tank mates


Looks to me like C. Moba have more pros and less cons...

 

[danotaylor]

Thanks for the reply Fallen_Leaves16 & Milingu

Good input for certain. I really needed the pros & cons to think thru. Being an Aussie myself, and growing up on the Brisbane River where the AUL were once plentiful, it’s hard to decide against the big changes.

As far as more active tank mates go, I have a large group of loaches 4-8” and the bloke w the AUL has a group of 4 large bala sharks I’d grab as well. Not super active, but I planned on buying an 20” fire eel locally as well.

I would definitely keep a group of 8 moba in my 125gal.

Appreciate the replies and votes

 

[ken31cay]

I googled Frontosa just now, even switched to that AI option, to see what the internet thought about these awesome fish. The words 'majestic' and 'king of Lake Tanganyika' kept popping up. You know how I voted. Happy fish keeping whichever way you decide the go.

 

[danotaylor]

Thx ken31cay I hear you mate. Just to be clear though I have no intention of getting rid of the moba, just considering a smaller group in my 125gal

 

[ken31cay]

Of course, I'm just joshing with you a little. I know that we have to mix it up once in a while or it can stop being fun, which is the whole point of the hobby. Once it becomes just work then it's time to call it quits.

 

[HUKIT]

I don’t know anything about them but how long does it take for one to hit 30 inches? Just like that fire eel you were looking someone took a lot of time and care to grow him out.

 

[danotaylor]

I know that we have to mix it up once in a while or it can stop being fun, which is the whole point of the hobby.

This my big problem, I bored easily & quickly. Most fish I keep are 1-3 years. My main enjoyment used to come from breeding and raising the fry of different species, but I am tryna move away from that model and the work involved, to enjoy a nice display.
The moba project, though ultimately a breeding project, is a long term commitment tha I bought into.
Maybe having the AUL is the 500gal with some other cool species will help the display I am looking to enjoy

 

[danotaylor]

I don’t know anything about them but how long does it take for one to hit 30 inches? Just like that fire eel you were looking someone took a lot of time and care to grow him out.

This one is about 3-4 yrs old I believe.

I think the AUL and the fire eel would be cool together Foshizzle