Upgrade planning - fun stock options?

[magpie]

J jaws7777 My goal is definitely 1 WC a week. I know you and I are on the same page. I don't want to stress about my water quality or fish health.

If in theory all 4 of my UJs could go in the big tank, and it might work with LJs, I probably would only get a couple LJs. If the Polli and Moke have to stay in the 65, maybe I'd get 3 LJs to go with the Del and the Teug. Now if I got somewhat smaller LJs, that would give the UJs even more time to grow (vs. getting a 15+ inch one right away). I know they generally grow faster than UJs but mine should all be 10" I would think in the next 6 months.

I don't want a poly carpet - I'd rather have something different in there with them. I don't need every species.

 

[magpie]

twentyleagues - I read that they are actually quite interactive, are yours? I think the thing I read specifically mentioned tapajos if I remember right but not sure how different they all are.

I'm not sure yet, I need to look into them more. There are some really nice looking ones, and I know they're active so I like that.

 

[jaws7777]

Another thought are plecos.

L600 are amazing looking in person. I really miss mine kept with polys and had no issues actually had two different L600s and they never bothered the polys. Really regret having to rehome the last one. Only a hunch but since pseudacanthicus are carnivores i dont think they pay much attention to polys slime coats. Look at L273, L025, L024 too.

Im not sure but i think Scobinancistrus would be ok with polys too

Check out www.tangledupincichlids.com jeff has the finest stock around and a huge selection.

 

[twentyleagues]

Yes both are very interactive and in person knockouts very pretty fish. People are blown away when they see them and then they notice the polys and forget about my pretty geos. Lol.
They both have a cichlid like quality to them in the fact that they are slightly quarlisome with each other and love to see the people. They don't beat each other down or other fish like cichlids do but they give some attitude every once in a while.

 

[Hendre]

Chalceus would also be nice I think, they eat well and are beautiful, nothing has scales like theirs

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I have 8-10" in my notes.. what size do they get?

I was under the impression that they got bigger than that, duanes ciclasoman what size do menarambo get?

 

[twentyleagues]

twentyleagues - I read that they are actually quite interactive, are yours? I think the thing I read specifically mentioned tapajos if I remember right but not sure how different they all are.

I'm not sure yet, I need to look into them more. There are some really nice looking ones, and I know they're active so I like that.

I kind of looked at it like the fish is pretty, Its active, It is providing me a good service by helping to gravel vac. Wish the topajo would school more like some of the others itd be cool to have 5-6 to clean the sand bed. Not saying they wont school but from what ive read and seen they would bicker a lot between each other in all but some of the largest tanks.
Oh and I thought a 180 was gonna be huge its really not all that big to be honest. lol

 

[magpie]

I was under the impression that they got bigger than that, duanes ciclasoman what size do menarambo get?

Thanks for tagging, I may likely be 100% wrong.

I kind of looked at it like the fish is pretty, Its active, It is providing me a good service by helping to gravel vac. Wish the topajo would school more like some of the others itd be cool to have 5-6 to clean the sand bed. Not saying they wont school but from what ive read and seen they would bicker a lot between each other in all but some of the largest tanks.
Oh and I thought a 180 was gonna be huge its really not all that big to be honest. lol

I know that once it's all set up and you have fish in it it won't seem that huge anymore, especially adding larger fish into it, but I am soooo looking forward to getting rid of this stupid 3 foot footprint. I mean, it'd be great if I wanted to stick with the community fish and small schoolers, which is what I originally had - SA community, dwarf cichlids, but now that I'm hooked on polys honestly even a group of the smaller UJs need 4 feet IMO once they get larger.

For UJs I think a 4-foot 55 is better than a 3-foot 65. That's also why I'm hoping that i can get a 6 ft 180 vs. a 5 ft 150 in the new house - I know it'll be the same game.

 

[magpie]

TheMoneyTank(TMT) suggested these:

Rainbow cichlids - I've actually considered a group of these instead of some type of schooling fish. I am a little hesitant to add a group or pair of any cichlid to the tank d/t possible aggression but these are supposed to be milder.
Nicaraguensis cichlids - same concern with a group, but they are nice.
Blockhead cichlids - I've looked at these guys before as I saw them when I was at wet spot and they look goby-like (I love gobies). But I think they need some current and the polys aren't into that so I crossed them off the list.

Vieja synspilum - I LOVE the looks of these fish but had written them off because I plan on having some plants. Would they demolish any plants I had?

African leaf fish - Another fish I covet but have read that they're very hard to get feeding anything but live... if that's not the case I will certainly reconsider.
Leopard bushfish - A fish I've had and loved, but he became a jerk (uncharacteristically) to the congo tetras and it threw off the entire tank dynamic. Might consider anohter or a group in the larger tank. They are absolute pigs but mine was interactive. Great fish.

Spotte pike characin - I love these! They are like mini florida/spotted gars! Need to research more. Tangled up in Cichlids has some CB ones - wonder if they'd be easier to feed and spook less, two negatives I've read about them.
Striped pike characin - Like the spotted kind better, but might consider
Venezuela pike cichlid - I'm definitely into/interested in crenicichla, still not sure what type for my size tank and with the other fish I'm planning. In my notes I have listed that the Acutirostris and Saxitalis types are less aggressive?

Angelicus Synodontis, Featherfin catfish, Synodontis Decorus, Pyjama catfish - I like syno cats, but worry I won't see them much. Need to read up more on them.
Frogmouth catfish - Very cool looking!

Tyre track eel - I'd LOVE an eel that I'd see frequently. Have M. Dayi on my list as well as of course the fire eel, both of which I prefer the looks of to the tire track.

Rainbow Wolf fish - I thought wolf fish were aggro?

Indo datnoid - I'm definitely interested in Dats.

But if you decide to stick with just UJ's you may want to look at some of the cyrptoheros types like sajica, nanolutes, panemensis, honduran red points.

I like the looks of the HRPs, but yeah, I guess they'd be out with lower jaws. A group, again I'd worry about aggression...?
I prefer Heterospilus over the Sajicas.

You mentioned the jaguar cats and I think they're super cool. I worry I'd not see them much though....?

For Plecos, I didn't even put my current two in my stock list, oops - I have a blue seam ancistrus and L075 now. They are smaller plecos for sure. I don't see the ancistrus often but know where he lives, and I like that the L075 is always out at feeding time, and she also comes out during the day. I'm not opposed to getting larger ones, you posted some really cool looking ones!

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks for tagging, I may likely be 100% wrong.



I know that once it's all set up and you have fish in it it won't seem that huge anymore, especially adding larger fish into it, but I am soooo looking forward to getting rid of this stupid 3 foot footprint. I mean, it'd be great if I wanted to stick with the community fish and small schoolers, which is what I originally had - SA community, dwarf cichlids, but now that I'm hooked on polys honestly even a group of the smaller UJs need 4 feet IMO once they get larger.

For UJs I think a 4-foot 55 is better than a 3-foot 65. That's also why I'm hoping that i can get a 6 ft 180 vs. a 5 ft 150 in the new house - I know it'll be the same game.

Couldn't agree more!