Yup, another stock my 125 with some cool sa and ca cichs thread

[RD.]

You don't need fish to cycle your tank, why put tetras (or any fish) through the stress of such an ordeal?

Also, your stock list sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, and IMO you've been given some piss poor advice earlier on. Why not just choose some species that are suitable for a 125 long term? If your long term plan is to rehome most of everything, and add & substact as you go along, then just toss whatever floats your boat into the tank, grow them out and keep what you like.

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

You don't need fish to cycle your tank, why put tetras (or any fish) through the stress of such an ordeal?

Also, your stock list sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, and IMO you've been given some piss poor advice earlier on. Why not just choose some species that are suitable for a 125 long term? If your long term plan is to rehome most of everything, and add & substact as you go along, then just toss whatever floats your boat into the tank, grow them out and keep what you like.

Great post, could you expand on which fish are unsuitable in your opinion? Believe me, Im getting frustrated with the process. As far as the cycling, I'm seeding with filters, sponges and driftwood from an established tank and also using seachem stability, I thought that some hearty fish could manage with that, but if Im wrong Im here to find out.

 

[justarn]

a full grown oscar is a big fish, ive had large o's and other fish, currently my largest cichlid is my butti at an accurate estimate of 13-14 inch, i would consider it almost cruelty to have him in a 125 if im honest... cut out any fish that get over 10 inch or have 1-2 12 inch fish, just search about and buy larger specimens if you want a fuller tank from the start. good luck.

 

[RD.]

I'm seeding with filters, sponges and driftwood from an established tank and also using seachem stability

Then tossing a handful of 2-3" fish into the tank shouldn't be an issue. No need to start with just Tetras.

As far as what's unsuitable, I would suggest narrowing down your selection, and working off that. I'm not going to go round & round as to what will work, or fit long term. That info (and/or opinions) is available here & elsewhere in numerous discussions. Such as adding tinfoil barbs to the confines of a 125. Not only do they reach large sizes, but they are also gluttonous pigs, and will outmaneuver all but the swiftest of fish during feeding, especially when they and their tank mates are smaller.

Even as a rough draft, it's way off course IMO. My suggestion would be to think this out a bit more with a more realistic long term goal. Unless you find growing out young fish & then rehoming them more satisfying.

 

[Quo Vadis]

1 chocolate (2")
1 real parrots (2")
1 severums (2")
1 red oscar (2")
1 ebjd (2")
5 tinfoil barbs (1.5 inchers to start)
1 bgk (around 6")

I'd say choose the Chocolate OR the True Parrot (I like the True parrots better, but a Choco may be better suited in temperament), nix the Tinfoils, and you have got a nice stock list.

Be aware though that the EBJD will likely get outgrown by the Oscar, etc., and may get eaten, unless you get one that already is significantly bigger to begin with. JDs grow SLOW comparatively, and EBJD even slower the normal JDs, or so I have heard (I only have a normal JD).

Also, if you really want dithers look into Filament barbs.

 

[justarn]

why not keep it an all sa tank, i always mix fish then look back and why, why not go for a nice biotope type tank? a nice stock would be;

bgk although these get quite big...
chocolate
severum
firemouth
electric blue blue acara
spotted pim
gold nugget plec

parrots get 14inch as do ocsars, i would suggest forgeting these.

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

why not keep it an all sa tank, i always mix fish then look back and why, why not go for a nice biotope type tank? a nice stock would be;

bgk although these get quite big...
chocolate
severum
firemouth
electric blue blue acara
spotted pim
gold nugget plec

parrots get 14inch as do ocsars, i would suggest forgeting these.

Yeah, parrots and oscars are out.
1 of each: bgk, chocolate, severum, acara, ebjd

And 4-5 silver dollars

Hows that sound?

 

[Quo Vadis]

why not keep it an all sa tank, i always mix fish then look back and why, why not go for a nice biotope type tank? a nice stock would be;

bgk although these get quite big...
chocolate
severum
firemouth
electric blue blue acara
spotted pim
gold nugget plec

parrots get 14inch as do ocsars, i would suggest forgeting these.

FYI Firemouth are are not SA they are CA - I thought they were SA for awhile too though. I don't see a problem with in Oscar in a 125g - 18in is a pretty standard width for an O. I think many/most Oscar keepers keep them in tanks that are 18in wide...

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

I just saw a youtube video of a 125 from hell, two oscars, two green terrors, a jaguar, red devil, couple flowerhorns, a couple other small aggressive cichlids, I saw a video of them small, then an update where the oscars and rd are 6 inches and the rest 2 and 3 inches long and tons of aggression. Im going to stock my tank the opposite way.

 

[justarn]

FYI Firemouth are are not SA they are CA - I thought they were SA for awhile too though. I don't see a problem with in Oscar in a 125g - 18in is a pretty standard width for an O. I think many/most Oscar keepers keep them in tanks that are 18in wide...

well ill be damded, always learning!