Uruguayan cichlid community

[duanes]

It's a 125 gal tank, with a 40 gal planted sump, into another 30 gal sump with filter socks, and pumps. It is also in line with a 60 gal tank for juvie ceibals, and 75 gal tank for the over winter holding of goldfish.
In the Uruguay tank are 5 wild saxatilis pikes. a pair of Australoheros ceibals, and 7 Gymnogeophagus Rio Yerbalitos.
Temp in the 60sF, the above pics at feeding time.

planted sump

75 for goldfish

 

[robmcd]

Very nice !!! I love Uruguayan cichlids. 2 questions:
How is the pike on pike violence ??
Is hornwort a native plant there ??

 

[duanes]

Although the pikes are a little bit scrappy with each other, I haven't seen anything that I'd consider serious, and the other fish are not bothered at all.
Don't know about hornwort in Uruguay, maybe Matt or Armand could chime in. I like it because it grows like crazy in the cool water I have, and substandard light (I use simple rusty hardware store shop lights over the tank).

 

[bbortko]

Amazing as always.

 

[abarilot]

Looks Great!!! I don't remember seeing Hornwort but that doesn't mean it's not there. We collected in one area and the lagoon was loaded with anacharis, a non native plant. Glad the pikes are behaving themselves. When I had my Cr. lepidota they only got nasty once the water warmed up.

 

[cl0wn knife]

I love that tank design looks so cool and the fish look fantastic

 

[mrmann]

Fish look right at home duane...nice work.

 

[cichlidfish]

Nice tank and fish!


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[dogofwar]

Awesome tank, Duane!

I think a 125g should be big enough to diffuse aggression, even if the pikes and/or chanchitos breed. Red Ceibal can be nasty when they spawn... I'd keep an eye on the pikes eating the female Gymnogeos. I think the males will be too big

I can't remember seeing hornwort specifically but there are plenty of hornwort-ish plants as well as lots of water hyacinth, swordplants, etc. Lots of round river rocks, granite, geodes and amethyst as well.

Uruguayan fish do so much better when they're given lower temps in the winter. Just don't use heaters...and do cool water changes in the winter. And when spring comes, everyone's refreshed for the next season!

I kept 4 of the pikes from Cardozo and have a nice sized-pair. They ate an extra male and I have one other smaller one (a male, I think, in another tank). Would love to spawn them in the spring...unless you beat me to it.

Matt