Upgrade planning - fun stock options?

[magpie]

Give me things to research / plan while I bide my time waiting for my upgrade.

The ultimate tank size depending on the space where we move and what is available. I would ideally like a 180 or 220, but may have to settle for a 150 - I know that can make a difference... but this is just for researching for now.

I won't be planting as densely as I do now - less rooted plants. More mid to upper water plants with some wood for more open floor space but still with cover.


Current stock:
WC bichirs - Delhezi, Mokelembembe
CB bichirs - Polli, Teugelsi
Rope fish x 3
Butterfly fish x 3 - not overly attached to these but like them
Congo tetra x 4 - not attached to these

The Teug and the Del need the larger tank, but I would ideally like to move all of the Polys to the big tank. The Polli won't be huge but she is active. I could keep the 65 running after the move to keep any fish separate if need be, say I get upper jaws (so ropes are a bad idea).

WANTS:
- Lower jaw bichir(s).
If it would be better I guess I could get an Ornate and/or Weeksii and just focus on upper jaws.
- Polleni
I was planning on a single one so there is less likelihood for aggression, but maybe someone with experience could tell me what they're like to other non-cichlids when a pair spawns...?

FISH I LIKE, just for an idea of what my tastes are: (I know I have African fish but am not opposed to mixing it up.)
- Fire eel (REALLY want one, know a 150 rules one out, and a 180 is about the smallest I could go. Worried about feeding.)
- M. dayi eel, borneo python eel. I basically like eels that you would see, not hide 24/7.
- Knives - again, want one I would see, so I think BGK are out. African brown, tiger, zebra?
- Spotted/florida gars - I know they grow too large for my plan but I think they are super cool looking.
- Freshwater archer fish (blythii)
- Dats

Other cichlids maybe?
- Severum
- Heterospilus (maybe a group?)
- Green Terror - Andinocara rivulatus
- Pinstripe Damba - Paretroplus Menarambo (maybe a group?) another african fish I'm interested in (many others aren't that attractive or are too aggressive.)
- Frontosa? Not sure if they are OK single. A group might pick on the Polleni?

Other schooler fish maybe?
- Red rainbows?
- Red mascara barbs? (too small?)

Some cool catfish I've not considered?

Some other rando oddball I've not considered?

I obviously like snake/eel type fish and spotted / striped ones. I'd like fish for all levels of the tank.

Thanks for playing with me!


tlindsey kno4te J jaws7777 kewpiefishypewpie twentyleagues - feel free to tag any other appropriate peeps

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Speaking from my personal experience, it's a smart move to not densely plant the tank. I tried it with my Polleni pair and their two cichlid tank mates- they seem to destroy the plants just for the fun of it. I do still have some floating plants, but my Polleni are such pigs that they would start eating them if I don't keep up on feeding.

At one point I had my little group of Heterospilus living with the Sens I used to have- they all got along swimmingly.

Paretroplus Menarambo get enormous. Not just long but tall.

I would personally stick with cichlids on the lower end of the aggression scale ex. Heterospilus, Rainbows, Thorichthys.

If I were you I would get the bigger tank and only add the Polleni you've been wanting for so long now and maybe a couple of other polys.

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

Give me things to research / plan while I bide my time waiting for my upgrade.

The ultimate tank size depending on the space where we move and what is available. I would ideally like a 180 or 220, but may have to settle for a 150 - I know that can make a difference... but this is just for researching for now.

I won't be planting as densely as I do now - less rooted plants. More mid to upper water plants with some wood for more open floor space but still with cover.


Current stock:
WC bichirs - Delhezi, Mokelembembe
CB bichirs - Polli, Teugelsi
Rope fish x 3
Butterfly fish x 3 - not overly attached to these but like them
Congo tetra x 4 - not attached to these

The Teug and the Del need the larger tank, but I would ideally like to move all of the Polys to the big tank. The Polli won't be huge but she is active. I could keep the 65 running after the move to keep any fish separate if need be, say I get upper jaws (so ropes are a bad idea).

WANTS:
- Lower jaw bichir(s).
If it would be better I guess I could get an Ornate and/or Weeksii and just focus on upper jaws.
- Polleni
I was planning on a single one so there is less likelihood for aggression, but maybe someone with experience could tell me what they're like to other non-cichlids when a pair spawns...?

FISH I LIKE, just for an idea of what my tastes are: (I know I have African fish but am not opposed to mixing it up.)
- Fire eel (REALLY want one, know a 150 rules one out, and a 180 is about the smallest I could go. Worried about feeding.)
- M. dayi eel, borneo python eel. I basically like eels that you would see, not hide 24/7.
- Knives - again, want one I would see, so I think BGK are out. African brown, tiger, zebra?
- Spotted/florida gars - I know they grow too large for my plan but I think they are super cool looking.
- Freshwater archer fish (blythii)
- Dats

Other cichlids maybe?
- Severum
- Heterospilus (maybe a group?)
- Green Terror - Andinocara rivulatus
- Pinstripe Damba - Paretroplus Menarambo (maybe a group?) another african fish I'm interested in (many others aren't that attractive or are too aggressive.)
- Frontosa? Not sure if they are OK single. A group might pick on the Polleni?

Other schooler fish maybe?
- Red rainbows?
- Red mascara barbs? (too small?)

Some cool catfish I've not considered?

Some other rando oddball I've not considered?

I obviously like snake/eel type fish and spotted / striped ones. I'd like fish for all levels of the tank.

Thanks for playing with me!


tlindsey kno4te J jaws7777 kewpiefishypewpie twentyleagues - feel free to tag any other appropriate peeps

Polleni are amazing but predatory your congo tetras and butterfly fish wont last long , frontosa will be the same and need different water parameters, severum will eat your plants some good cichlid options include
Festive cichlids (15-20cm)
Rainbow cichlids (10-13cm)
Nicaragua cichlids (very colourful too/15-24cm)
Belly crawler pike cichlids (15-20cm)
Oddballs to consider
African leaf fish (10-14cm)
Leopard bushfish (12-15cm)
Spotte pike characin (15-20cm)

Give me things to research / plan while I bide my time waiting for my upgrade.

The ultimate tank size depending on the space where we move and what is available. I would ideally like a 180 or 220, but may have to settle for a 150 - I know that can make a difference... but this is just for researching for now.

I won't be planting as densely as I do now - less rooted plants. More mid to upper water plants with some wood for more open floor space but still with cover.


Current stock:
WC bichirs - Delhezi, Mokelembembe
CB bichirs - Polli, Teugelsi
Rope fish x 3
Butterfly fish x 3 - not overly attached to these but like them
Congo tetra x 4 - not attached to these

The Teug and the Del need the larger tank, but I would ideally like to move all of the Polys to the big tank. The Polli won't be huge but she is active. I could keep the 65 running after the move to keep any fish separate if need be, say I get upper jaws (so ropes are a bad idea).

WANTS:
- Lower jaw bichir(s).
If it would be better I guess I could get an Ornate and/or Weeksii and just focus on upper jaws.
- Polleni
I was planning on a single one so there is less likelihood for aggression, but maybe someone with experience could tell me what they're like to other non-cichlids when a pair spawns...?

FISH I LIKE, just for an idea of what my tastes are: (I know I have African fish but am not opposed to mixing it up.)
- Fire eel (REALLY want one, know a 150 rules one out, and a 180 is about the smallest I could go. Worried about feeding.)
- M. dayi eel, borneo python eel. I basically like eels that you would see, not hide 24/7.
- Knives - again, want one I would see, so I think BGK are out. African brown, tiger, zebra?
- Spotted/florida gars - I know they grow too large for my plan but I think they are super cool looking.
- Freshwater archer fish (blythii)
- Dats

Other cichlids maybe?
- Severum
- Heterospilus (maybe a group?)
- Green Terror - Andinocara rivulatus
- Pinstripe Damba - Paretroplus Menarambo (maybe a group?) another african fish I'm interested in (many others aren't that attractive or are too aggressive.)
- Frontosa? Not sure if they are OK single. A group might pick on the Polleni?

Other schooler fish maybe?
- Red rainbows?
- Red mascara barbs? (too small?)

Some cool catfish I've not considered?

Some other rando oddball I've not considered?

I obviously like snake/eel type fish and spotted / striped ones. I'd like fish for all levels of the tank.

Thanks for playing with me!


tlindsey kno4te J jaws7777 kewpiefishypewpie twentyleagues - feel free to tag any other appropriate peeps

Polleni are predatory however if you got rid of the butterfly fish /Congo tetras they would work, breeding is very tricky often the male will kill the female if he isn't happy (as I have found out) in a community tank of they breed they will be very oscar like and try to defend against predators but the bichirs will most likely eat the babies, Frontosa prefer shoals and have different water requirements and will eat the smaller fish
Severums will just eat your plants and make them look crappy
Other options to consider (if you keep the Congo tetras And butterfly fish)
Festive cichlids (15-20cm)
Nicaraguensis cichlids (15-24cm) very colourful do best 1 male and 3 females
Rainbow cichlids (10-13cm)
Blockhead cichlids (12-15cm)
Belly crawler pike cichlids (15-20cm)
Striped pike characin (15-20cm)
Angelicus Synodontis (20-24cm) rare
Featherfin catfish (15-25cm)
Synodontis Decorus (25-30cm)
Pyjama catfish (12-15cm)
African leaf fish (12-15cm)
Leopard bushfish (15-18cm)
Fish to consider if you get rid of the tetras and butterfly fish (and go for a 180 plus)
Tyre track eel (35-70cm)
Rainbow Wolf fish (20-25cm)
Polleni (25-30cm)
Venezuela pike cichlid (35-45cm)
Indo datnoid (30-50cm)
Mala wolf fish (30-35cm) temperamental
Vieja synspilum (35-45cm)
Frogmouth catfish (15-20cm)
Dwarf giraffe catfish (25-30cm)
Rainbow snakehead (15-20cm) if there legal
Flagtail fish (35-40cm)

 

[Bertie]

I would personally keep with the african theme and go for a group of pinstripe damba(6-8), the polleni, some lower jaw bichirs and a featherfin catfish, you could possibly get away with a dat or fire eel in that stock as well but only if you got the 220. But I would personally scrap the polleni

If you got the 150 then go for semi agressive cichlids like chocolates or the heterospilus with the bichirs and a african knife fish. These are just suggestions and may not work depending on the fish

 

[magpie]

Thanks guys!

kewpiefishypewpie - a Polleni and a couple of more bichirs still gives space, right? Do you agree that the Polleni would eat butterflies and congos?

Will look more closely at the long list you posted, TheMoneyTank(TMT) .
I don't need to keep the congos and butterflies (or they can stay in the 65.)

What size tank did you have your Polleni in where the male killed the female? With what other fish?

Bertie - why would you scrap the Polleni?

 

[Bertie]

I wouldn't keep the polleni as I think they would limit your options for stocking but every fish is different

 

[magpie]

I just love them....

What fish in particular would be most limited? Or do you think they're just likely to be more aggressive if they're an aggressive individual?

I'm not trying to pester, just trying to learn.

 

[Bertie]

I think that they can be aggresive as individuals, you may have to try to find out. You might get lucky and get a fairly peaceful one, in the end it's about trial and error, what works for you may not work for others. It would limit your options if you went for the Congo tetras and the butterfly fish, you would need a fish that can stand up for itself

 

[AquaAlex1993]

For cichlids, I recommend Geophagus and green terror. Green terrors are beautiful and color up nicely as they mature. However, because Polleni cichlids can be aggressive, these may not work. How is your Pollenis temperment?
For knifefish, a BGK could work for a while. They are slow growers and should do well in a 6' 150-220 gallons.
For a cool oddball fish you such consider an African Odoe Pike, they are stunning fish!

 

[twentyleagues]

I do like some of the geos as I have two, good tempered "larger" "show" fish. I'm unsure of the polleni but most cichlids will tear up your plants the geos wont. I agree with the ctenopoma but know the story of the one you had. If you go lj the only ujs i'd put in the big tank that you have now would be the dels and teug. At that point you could get ornate and weeksi and polleni but I think everything else would be off the table. The mascara barbs are like my filamented barbs just a little smaller still around 5" average, they will eat your plants. I am having thoughts as to what to put in the tank as a dither fish that wont eat the plants like the barbs did. LFS had a tank full of von rio tetras all schooled in the center of the tank that looked super impressive just to small for either of our tanks, my ctenopoma would love me for about a day and a half. Thinking congos for me good size, pretty, shouldn't get eaten.