Tropical Pond Stocking

[Manhattan63]

I'm looking at a 3125 litre (687 Imp/825 US Gallons) small tropical pond (Malawi) in a new fish room.

I'd like to be able to let the fish breed, preferably without cross-breeding. I have plenty of tanks if I'm inundated with fry, but if I have to give away/sell some, would prefer them to be mixed batches rather than worry about the desirables versus less so. Also like some Cuckoos in there, which hopefully can breed and play their part in population control.

I also plan to stock only wild caughts (yeah I know it'll cost me!). I have stacks of rock and can create space for free-swimming areas.

I was thinking maybe 4 or 5 different species (rather than loads of different fishes) but happy to be advised.

If you were setting up this pond what would you stock?

 

[NotoriousSway]

You could get way with it but I would just recommend just two species that are distantly related, like one hap sp. and one peacock sp and have plenty of females for both. Cuckoos (I guessing you mean synodontis multipunctatus) will be a great addition.

If your wanting more than two species I would go will all males IMO but if you really want 4 or 5 different species make sure they are at least not in the same genus, that should help.

 

[Mikehcfc]

The options are limitless really with malawi's.Just give us a mix you would like and we can see if it will work and tweak it if need be

 

[Mokujin22]

The options are limitless really with malawi's.Just give us a mix you would like and we can see if it will work and tweak it if need be

Yeah, give us some basic ideas of what you want. Also, what are the pond dims?

 

[Manhattan63]

Thanks for the replies folks. Things have been a little manic with work and stuff, so my fish room development has experienced some delays. Also looks like I am building the indoor cold-water ponds first, so my warm-room might be a little way off. The malawi pond is 2.5m x 2.5m and 60cm deep. I thought I might get away with a few different species, but looks like I should stick to larger numbers of fewer species.

I have some ideas for stocking, but my original post was badly worded. I was wondering what you guys would stock in something similar - it might give me some fresh ideas. I'm thinking a large rocky area in the middle with free-swimming available around the perimeter and further rock if needed. Or I would build one half (from a corner) as rocky and the other half free-swimming (cut in half on the diagonal). Needs to be a 'busy' look to the water, so looking to stock pretty heavily. Can only be viewed from above so bear that in mind for fish suggestions. Just want my only tiny lake in the fish room

 

[Mikehcfc]

Havent got time to write you a list now.But seen as you can only see fish from above i would not really bother with peacocks and that.

A couple i would include would be yellow labs and Callainos.You will be able to spot them easily from the surface

 

[Manhattan63]

Thanks again guys.

Here is my current thinking for stocking (changes during the day subject to caffeine and nicotine levels). Would be wild caughts so I don't think there's anything too crazy-expensive!

Metraiclima Membe Deep or Msobo

Cynotilapia Afra Nkhata Bay and/or Labeotropheus Trewavasae Likoma

Pseudotropheus Elongatus Ruarwe or Mbenji (pref blue)

Synodontis Multipunctatus

Happy to be told I'm an idiot, be a change to hear it from somewhere other than the wife!

Any tweaking?

 

[Mokujin22]

I would let your mbuna population get going before you added the synos. They're really good at taking care of fry.

Maybe add some open water/sand-dwelling fish?

 

[alexpie001]

if you are only going to be able to view from above, i would reccomend that you stack the rocks around the perimeter and have free swimming space in the middle of the pond, think about it

 

[Manhattan63]

I would let your mbuna population get going before you added the synos. They're really good at taking care of fry.

Maybe add some open water/sand-dwelling fish?

The female cynos often take to the open water. Anything you could suggest?