What kind?

[aj2494]

I have had a pair of kribensis that were breeding, but died due to a heater malfunction. I replaced them, and just a few minutes ago, found the male dead and the female looking like she's not far behind. I have a ten gallon now, but am picking a tank up this weekend (the size is complicated, but I know it is somewhere around 30 gallons or larger). Since I have had such problems with kribs, I want to find a new type of cichlid. THey would be in the tank with my sailfin pleco, and I plan on upgrading my serpae tetra size to 4 or 5. I want them to be relatively easy to breed, too, since that is the real reason I am getting a bigger tank. Rams are a high possibility. Please respond ASAP.

[Sploke]

Rams or apistogrammas would be a good option as far as smaller cichlids.

You do realize the sailfin will eventually be a problem in a tank that size?

[aj2494]

Yes I do realize how big my sailfin will get. It makes me very sad because they are so pretty.

[aj2494]

I got my LFS to order some firemouths for me, so it's all taken care of.

[Pittbull]

Kribs are a hardy fish what are your water perimeters via PH, GH, Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia.. what is your water change schedule and how much..

I also will spare you the lecture of a 10gal being too small for a breeding pair of Kribs along with a Sailfin pleco and Serpae's you will need at least a 55gal to house that combo.. i wouldnt add any firemouths..

If at any thing i would just do the Kribs in that 30gal when you get it..

[aj2494]

the sailfin is very young, only about 2 inches. I know how small the tank is. Do you know what I can do with the pleco when he gets too big?

[aj2494]

I also found out that the tank is a 35 gallon. Odd number, but I'm getting hood, light, filter, heater, air pump, more than enough gravel, and the stand for $20. No, that is not a typo.

[Pittbull]

cool deal on the tank.. as for the sail fin your local pet store should take him back if he hasn't reached his 2 feet dimensions..

[aj2494]

I want to keep him for a little while...until he starts causing my fish to shy away from him. They are such good looking fish it's hard to let them go.

[Pittbull]

I completely understand i have had fish in the past and didn't want to get rid of them but i can say i did have a sailfin pleco before in a 120gal african cichlid setup and i had to remove him because he was so aggressive than the others and would not back down at all..

I received mine as a juvie maybe an inch long and turned into a huge monster in short time frame so they do grow quickly..

Good luck on him..

[aj2494]

Thanks. He is the most expensive fish that I've ever bought, which holds me back. Also, he survived temperatures un-readable on my thermometer (goes up to 110 F) when my heater malfunctioned. He's a fighter. Could be a she, too.

[Pittbull]

Well buddy have fun

[aj2494]

Going to pick up the new tank today. I don't really know what shape it is, but it's dirt cheap, so any way it is, I won't complain.

[inkyjenn]

there are plenty of "good looking" plecos readily available, not too expensive that stay small. clowns and bristlenoses are good examples. see if you can trade the sailfin for one of those

[aj2494]

would I be getting ripped off by trading this one for one of those?

[aj2494]

Also, I don't particularly like the bristle part of bristlenoses. Otherwise, they are very good looking. What about zebras? And gold nuggets?

[aj2494]

Here is a picture of mine. He looks a little different than all of the other sailfins I have seen.80934


Unlike most sailfins I have seen, he is darker brown with tan spots, not marbled. Also, he hasn't grown much since I bought him in September. He has been in a 10, but plecos keep growing no matter what size tank they are in (otherwise, I wouldn't be having this conflict). Does this mean he is some other type of pleco? I will try to get a better picture, but he has some good hiding spots.

[Pittbull]

Yeah from experience my sailfin grew pretty quickly in all and it may be a different species there is tons of them out there and mislabeled fish is a common occurrence with these guys..

Yeah you let me know if you have a local fish store trade you a zebra for a sailfin i would be there quickly aye.. zebras are pretty spendy my friend..

[aj2494]

Yeah I just looked zebras up on Google Shopping. Whoops! Are there any other good-looking common ones that can be kept in a 29?

[Pittbull]

Yep rubber nose plecos aka bulldog and pitbull plecos are pretty cool the ancistrus plecos are cool as well all stay around the 4 to 5 inch range..

One of my faves is the rubber nose pleco they have the gray body with black spots on them with a huge mouth pretty freaky looking short bodied..

[gratleop]

if your interested in dwarfs try some shell dwellers