OK, last stocking question.......I promise :)

[Lynsey]

Again here is my setup:
75 gallon long (5 feet long x 1.5 feet wide X 16" tall):
1 Albino Oscar (10.5" including tail)
1 Sunshine Pleco L-14 (8-9")
4 Silver Dollars
2 Fluval 404 canisters, 1 Maxi-jet 1200, weekly water changes

I saw a rather large senegal bichir in the LFS and it looked pretty cool. Could I add it to my tank? Would it be overcrowded when everyone is full grown? Would it be too aggressive towards my pleco? Would a different species be better suited for my tank?

If it would not be a perfect choice I think I will just leave my tank as is. Again, thanks for putting up with my stocking questions. Sorry if I posted in the wrong forum. I don't really know anything about bichirs.

[optix]

I don't know much about those myself, but if you are really wanting to spice up or add more life to your tank and want it to be cichlids why not try a pair of firemouth's or blue acara's. they are both relativly peaceful and would be a nice addition. Just as long as there are a few rocks or pieces of wood for the FM's. As for the bichir's wait for more replys from someone that knows a bit about them.


And about this being your last stocking question, don't worry I think alot of us enjoy these questions. I know I do, if you have a question of a fish you like and want to know if it is right for your setup, why not ask. Thats what we're here for :):)

[Lynsey]

It is virtually impossible to get large cichlids, other than Oscars, Jacks, RDs, and Jags, in my area. I have never seen a large Firemouth in my area actually. I also have never seen a blue acara in my area ever. I did see a fish that I thought might work, but I can't find any info on it other than it gets to be 8-9". It was called a chanchito or chameleon cichlid. I found it in a book and it said it was intolerant of other fish, so I was too worried to try it.

I have sort of given up on getting other cichlids to go in my tank ever since my Oscar turned on my Blood Parrot. I had them together for about a year and a half. They were both about 1.5-2" when I got them. I figured that if he couldn't get along with the fish he grew up with then I probably would have less of a chance finding a cichlid for him to get along with now.

I also found a convict that was about 3.5-4" but I thought that the convict might be too aggressive for the Oscar in the long run.

[optix]

yeah a convict would most likely not tolerate the company of the oscar. Thats to bad you can't find any firemouths or blue acara's. They get up to be about 5-6 inchs which is big enough to no be eaten by the O. And they do show good coloration. The blue acara is almost like a green terror with more blue and nowhere near the aggression.

[katydidit]

DO NOT and i will repeat that as many times as necessary, put anything more in your tank!! The absolute minimum setup for a single oscar and a pleco is 55g, and even then they will get pretty cramped, a 75 is the recommended amount for the the same thing...always remember, the more room your fish has, the happier and healthier he will be. You didnt mention how big your silver dollars were, but even so, they get very large, and the bioload in your tank will get wayyy too big for one that size. Take some ammonia/nitrite/nitrate tests and you will see that this isnt even enough room for what you have. I am just saying this being an o keeper myself. I made the same mistake you did, and ended up hurting my o's gills due to an ammonia spike because of a huge bioload in the tank. If you can, try to slowly get rid of a couple of fish (either the oscar, or all of the silver dollars) and trust me, you will have made the smart choice!!

[optix]

I don't think you looked at her filtration combined with tank size. She will have no problems at all with that setup she has now. Trust me.

[katydidit]

maybe with that sort of filtration the bioload will be eased a bit, but oscars get HUGE, and the bigger they get, the more territorial they get. There is still going to be massive ammounts of ammonia and nitrates in the water, regardless of filtration, and if she wants to keep what she has, then in time when all of the fish grow larger (which they will) to keep the water clean enough she will have to perform at least 3 30% water changes a week. I did the exact thing she did, and had filtration 5x what i needed for the tank my o was in...but because of space constraints and high ammonia, he got very sick and i almost lost him. I just wanted to let her know that i felt what she had was a VERY tight fit, and not to get anything else IMHO. Just trying to help out, thats all.

another note, if the fish do get cramped, it is harder to get rid of 12" fish than smaller ones. fish stores dont like to take back fully grown fish in my experience. Dont take my advice as being rude, i just dont want you do have to go through what i did because it is WAY too stressful

[optix]

I understand in you being helpful. No problem at all with that. I know how big O's get along with the silver dollars. the ammonia and nitrites should be taken care of by the nitrifying bacteria. If you had an ammonia problem in your tank I'd say it wasn't cycled. Thats my only guess. That bioload isn't that heavy for the filtration she has and a single oscar. she should be able to get by with a single 30% water change. Like I said before the bioload the silver dollars produce is not very high. The oscar's being territorial isn't a big deal with the silver dollars because the bigger the O gets the slower and the silver dollars are too quick for even the youngest smallest O. I've never in my life heard of a person having water quality problems that kept up with the maintenance having a setup similar to her's. Me myself being one of those people.

[katydidit]

may be true. I was just sharing an experience, didnt want anyones fish to end up like mine almost did :( , and wanted to help her out on mostly urging her to not get anything more.

[optix]

yes I truely agree there. I wouldn't suggest putting anything more in there. And at least you are one to under stock rather than over stock. That is what I like to hear :). Definatly definatly definatly better to under stock rather than over stock. unless of course its certain types of mbuna and the such then the script is flipped. On the latter though, under stocking its much better.

[katydidit]

I just spoil my oscar very much and i think i expect everyone else to as well (he has a HUGE tank all to himself) and i feed him nothing but the best. I guess b/c they are my favorite cichlid i get upset when people dont act like i do...Lynsey, im sure your tank is gorgeous with the silver dollars in there though...i just am happy with my o (who is still pretty much a baby at 5"). Another cichlid i would really love to have if i had another large tank is a jaguar cichlid, those are way cool!

[optix]

Originally posted by katydidit
Another cichlid i would really love to have if i had another large tank is a jaguar cichlid, those are way cool!


My favorite :) if I aquire a 180 gallon or more I will have me a male again :cool:

[katydidit]

you have written on your sig. line that you have an empty 150g, why not put a jag in there? i assumed that they only got to be around 15" max, wouldnt that work?

[optix]

It could work but im about like you :) I like to spoil my babies. A male jag I've heard of getting up to 2 feet long but thats a bit rare. You are right a majority reach about 15 inchs or so.



EDIT: oh yeah about my 150 gallon I live on the second floor of my apartment building for now until about 6 months from now or so, and I was getting uneasy about having it setup due to weight so I bought a 55 gallon for the fish that were in there (a 4 inch Jack and a 4 inch common plec) and tore the 150 down until I get a place with my girlfriend (soon to be fiance). I was planning on getting a 220 gallon but I've decided to use that money to play around with my car. So the 150 is open for whatever I decide. Maybe I'll throw in a jag ;)

[jimbo]

Originally posted by Lynsey
I don't really know anything about bichirs.

Just google for Polypterus senegalus
Lots of info about this fish.

Jimmy

[katydidit]

you should definetely do it! anyone who has a tank room enough for a jag and loves mean fish is crazy not to get one. I just wish i had time to work more hours (is 60 hours a week too much?? :D ) so i could support my o tank, my soon to be nano reef, AND a jag, but alas, money doesnt flow that frequent in my parts