I need a "show" fish for a 180g community - Ideas?

14686 Views 78 Replies 24 Participants Last post by BryceM, Nov 2, 2008

BryceM

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2008

I have a 180g heavily planted tank that has been set up for 2 years now. The current stocklist includes:

12 Congo tetras - Phenacogrammus interruptus
30 Rummynose tetras - Hemigrammus rhodostomus
15 Cardinal tetras - Paracheirodon axelrodi
10 Harlequin rasboras - Trigonostigma heteromorpha
15 Otos - Otocinclus affinis 'niger'
6 Sidthimunki loaches - Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki
8 Corydoras loxozonus
a few dozen Amano shrimp

Since I set it up I've always had a few blue rams, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, but they're getting old, and the orignal group of five is now down to two. It's time to try something else.

I'm looking for something that will add a bit of color and personality like the rams did. The tank is large enough and densely planted so it should be possible to keep a few of anything small and relativley peaceful. With the exception of the sidthimunki's, everything in the tank is fairly common. Something rare or unusual might be fun.

I like the idea of other S. American or African dwarf chiclids, but I'm open to ideas. Whatever it is must be peaceful, but I can tollerate a little spawning-time aggresion.

There are some new W. African dwarf chiclids coming on the scene. Anyone know where to get these?

The tank is reconstituted RO with GH 5, KH 3.

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BryceM

Discussion Starter · #21 · Jul 3, 2008

Thanks ingg & Jan.

I tried calling the guys at Rehoboths. Their website looks great but they wouldn't really give me the time of day. It seemed like I was annoying them by calling.

I'll try these other guys.

The more I look at the W. African chiclids, the more I want some. The photos of these fish are absoloutely stunning.

milalic

· #22 · Jul 3, 2008

BryceM said:
Thanks ingg & Jan.

I tried calling the guys at Rehoboths. Their website looks great but they wouldn't really give me the time of day. It seemed like I was annoying them by calling.

I'll try these other guys.

The more I look at the W. African chiclids, the more I want some. The photos of these fish are absoloutely stunning.

Twofishguyz is pretty good. I have dealt with them.

JanS

· #23 · Jul 3, 2008

milalic said:
Twofishguyz is pretty good. I have dealt with them.

Yes, I think I would try them first.

lauraleellbp

· #24 · Jul 4, 2008

A few other places that have pretty good reps are www.AnubiasDesign.com and www.oddballfish.com

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jul 6, 2008

2

OK,

Ryan at twofishguyz replied. It looks like I'll have some Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Moliwe" on the way next week. These photos are from Erik Olson at "The Krib."

We're definitely spoiled when it comes to the Internet. Can anyone remember what it was like trying to find rare species 10 or 20 years ago?

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JanS

· #26 · Jul 6, 2008

Congrats Bryce! Let us know how it goes.

Oh yeah, I definitely remember how hard it was to find anything but the norm in this area, and even if I did ask my store to order them, they'd get it wrong and argue that the scientific name of the fish I asked for is the same as something completely different.....

Tex Gal

· #27 · Jul 7, 2008

They are quite nice. How many will you get? Are they mostly bottom swimmers like the regular kribs? How big do they get?

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #28 · Jul 7, 2008

Yeah, they're very much like regular kribs in behavior, but perhaps a bit harder to breed (which might be a good thing!). Males get about 3" in length, females about 2-1/2". The one thing that's interesting is that the females are almost more colorful than the males - pretty rare among fishes. I ordered 6 of them, 3 males & 3 females. If/when they pair off I might move one pair to a smaller breeding setup.

ed seeley

· #29 · Jul 7, 2008

Great choice Bryce. You probably find they manage to breed and raise fry in your big tank, after a few run throughs anyway. The Pelvicachromis species I've bred (incliding taeniatus) have all raised fry in community tanks. NB. most species in the Chromidotilapine tribe have females with more colour than the males, including Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis, Benitochromis and Chromidotilapia. They're all great fish too.

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #30 · Jul 8, 2008

They'll be here tomorrow morning......... can't wait!

Tex Gal

· #31 · Jul 8, 2008

\\

/ We'll be expecting pxs.

AaronT

· #32 · Jul 8, 2008

I think you'll really like these guys Bryce. Be forewarned that they will rearrange your substrate a bit. It won't be unbearable though, just enough to make little caves for spawning.

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #33 · Jul 8, 2008

I'll probably make them some caves out of some rocks/driftwood that I have lying around. At this point I'm not really trying to carefully scape the 180g.

JanS

· #34 · Jul 8, 2008

Well, did you get them??

Out of all the breeding places mine like, here is one of their favorite types of cave.
Breeding Cave
They also really like something like a 2 or 3" untreated clay pot that's turned almost all the way upside down, with just a little slit for them to slip under.

Tex Gal

· #35 · Jul 8, 2008

JanS said:
Well, did you get them??

Out of all the breeding places mine like, here is one of their favorite types of cave.
Breeding Cave
They also really like something like a 2 or 3" untreated clay pot that's turned almost all the way upside down, with just a little slit for them to slip under.

Jan, do those caves have an exit as well as an entrance for water circulation? They seem like they would blend right in with the tank environment very well.

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #36 · Jul 9, 2008

2

They arrived in PERFECT condition and I must say, I'm astonished at how beautiful they are. Truly amazing colors. They're already displaying to each other and combing the substrate for food.

I have a couple of photos so far that don't do them justice:

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bigstick120

· #37 · Jul 9, 2008

Very nice color! Even after just being shipped! How many pair did you get Bryce?

BryceM

Discussion Starter · #38 · Jul 9, 2008

Three pair total. They really colored up nicely. I can't wait to see what they look like when they start pairing up.

AaronT

· #39 · Jul 9, 2008

Wow! Those are some great colors. I have a pair of 'Blue Fin' myself that I need to try to breed. They're super interesting to watch. I think you'll really enjoy them man.

Tex Gal

· #40 · Jul 9, 2008

They are beautiful!! ... and tempting....

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