What kind of fish...

[paradigmcubed]

I just purchased a 40 gallon tank and I wanted to know whether any of you experienced fish hobbyists had recommedations on what I should purchase. I was thinking about a Convic and possibly a Jack Dempsey. I don't know if those would work in combination. Do any of you guys know if there is any sort of eel I could put in the tank with these guys or if there is any eel that will fit this tank? Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks..

[Ray-Ray]

Those two fish should be find together as long as you got a couple of hinding places. As for an eel, A Snow Flake Eel will do great in freshwater but you need at least a 55 gal. or bigger.

[paradigmcubed]

I just wanted to check, a Freshwater Moray Eel would require more than 40 gallons? To clarify, I am basically looking for colorful fish that would go along with the previous two stated.

Thanks

[paradigmcubed]

Just a quick question. A LFS I called thought I could put a Moray Eel in a 40 gallong tank if I kept the number of fish down and if I had an adequate cave for it to hide in. I have the chance to special order one if I want and I just needed to check and see what you guys thought about this. There are no fish in the tank right now and I was thinking of having a Convict, Dempsey and this Eel.

Thanks

[Andy16]

Two types of eels you could probably put in there would be a tire track eel or a peacock eel. The peacock eel is nocturnal. It scavenges for food at night mostly so during the day it will usually be hiding in your gravel. I have no experience with the tiretrack eel but it would probably be OK.

[paradigmcubed]

I read on a website that the Tire Track Eel is otherwise known as the Spiney Eel. True? I guess I have a thing for the Moray Eel, I'd like this one if possible, however.......... The Peacock Eel also looks interesting.

Let's hypothetically say I bought a Dempsey, Peacock and Convict. Would my 40 gallon tank be full?

I also read that Peacock's aren't aggressive. Would they be bothered by the two cichlids.

[Andy16]

It would be pretty much full. You might be able to get more then one eel. The peacock eel is not very aggresive if it is kept with generally larger species of fish, but i do beleive some might try to go after smaller fish. It will probably fine with the jack and the convict and more then like wont be bothered if you give your fish enough hinding places. And as i said before they can burie themselves into the gravel..I dont know much about the tire track but yes, it is also known as the spiny eel. You also might be able to get another convict. Im no expert on those types of cichlids but that is just my 2 cents. Im not trying to turn you away from the moray eel, this is your choice remember.

[paradigmcubed]

Do you think a Moray Eel would work like the LFS said or were they just trying to make a sale?

[Andy16]

If the store is larger you should try to talk to other employees and see what they have to say. Otherwise people here at AC will help you out.

[paradigmcubed]

Okay thanks.. I also found the Tire Track Eel needs 135 gallons minimus according to Aquaria Central's Database, I guess that's out of the question.

[Andy16]

I keep my peacock eel in a 20 ga and it is doing fine. It is 6 inches right now. I really wouldnt go by AC's database, it is in some extreme need of updating. I might be wrong about keeping my peacock in my 20 but it is extremely healthy and i have had him for almost 2 years.

[Harry Tolen]

Paradigm cubed: the convict and jack dempsey you are thinking of for your tank will do fine, but I would not recommend any eels as potential tankmates. The "freshwater moray" is really a brackish water fish, and is definitely too large for the tank you have. Similarly, the eels from the genus Mastecembelus (tire track, fire, peacock, etc.) get fairly large. In addition, these eels like to hide at the bottom, and the cichlids you will have will most likely not let anything get to the bottom (i.e. they'll eat it first).

Something a little more active would probably be a better idea. One of the more colorful mid-sized plecos would work well, as would a Synodontis catfish or two. S. ocellatus, S. angelicus, S. schoutedeni are all interesting mid-sized fish that would work in your tank.

Andy16: if you think you have found any errors in the species database, please feel free to email the management. If you are correct, I am sure it will be updated. However, your blanket criticism of this handy (on-line, searchable) resource is not terribly helpful, and might lead people to ignore it when it could actually provide them with some useful information. When I spot-check it, it seems to be fairly accurate to me. Also, I will tell you that I kept a peacock eel in the past (if he hadn't crawled out of the tank one night I'd probably still have him), and he got to be almost 18" long in relatively short order. Although yours is still alive, you may have stunted him by keeping him in a tank that is far too small for way too long. I'd look into getting him into a 40 gallon or larger ASAP to see if he can still achieve full size.

[paradigmcubed]

Thank you for your informative reply! I just wanted to check on this factor to confirm whether a Peacock Eel is completely out of the question. My friend purchased a Tilapia, Dempsey and Eel when they were juvenilles and they get along. Do you think it would be a possibility if I purchased these while they were all young? Or do you have any ideas about unusual sorts of fish or VERY colorful I could place in the tank rather than an Eel.

Thanks...

**Most of the catfish that I looked at like the Angelicus were peaceful fish, will those go well with those two more agressive fish?

[Harry Tolen]

The issue with the cichlids and the eel is not one of aggression. Rather, the cichlids are greedy eaters while the eel would tend to be less so, especially when dealing with the live or frozen foods that the eel would probably require (eels are somewhat picky eaters, in my experience).

The synodontis catfish I mentioned are all both active and attractively patterned, and while they are not themselves aggressive, they respond quickly and firmly to aggression. The cichlids would quickly learn to leave them alone (I keep synodontis in almost all of my cichlid tanks, and they get along fine).

[paradigmcubed]

Thanks for the information. I came up with three scenarios... Maybe you could tell me which is possible are possible.

Scenario #1
2 Convicts
1 Jack Dempsey
1 Synodontis

Scenario #2
1 Convict
1 Jack Dempsey
1 Synodontis
1 Hujeta Pike (just checking, not sure if this is even a possibility)

Thanks..

Are there any sort of sucker fish that can live well with a JD, Convict and Synodontis?

Out of curiosity what fish do you have housed with your Cichlids?

[Andy16]

Andy16: if you think you have found any errors in the species database, please feel free to email the management. If you are correct, I am sure it will be updated. However, your blanket criticism of this handy (on-line, searchable) resource is not terribly helpful, and might lead people to ignore it when it could actually provide them with some useful information. When I spot-check it, it seems to be fairly accurate to me. Also, I will tell you that I kept a peacock eel in the past (if he hadn't crawled out of the tank one night I'd probably still have him), and he got to be almost 18" long in relatively short order. Although yours is still alive, you may have stunted him by keeping him in a tank that is far too small for way too long. I'd look into getting him into a 40 gallon or larger ASAP to see if he can still achieve full size.
No critisism here. All i used to hear about the database was everyone complaining about how it should be updated. Im getting rid of my eel as soon as i can. Didnt know the eel could get taht big. Sorry for misleading anyone here, just trying to help.

[Harry Tolen]

Andy16: no chance of your upgrading to a 40 gallon anytime soon? That and some extra attention at feeding time might get your eel back on his growth track. What are his tankmates? Mine did his first two years in a 29 gallon tank with some angelfish, then upgraded to a 55, then went for a stroll across the carpeting at midnight and wound up buried in the garden. An old girlfriend had named him "Neil"; he had a lot of personality. You might get by with extra water changes in the short term, but really need to give them more room to achieve their full size.

P.S. I know that the species database is probably not perfect, but it will only get better if people help to correct and update it. And it is extremely useful to have available on line. Think of it as a contribution that AC can make to the hobby overall.

[Andy16]

no there is no way upgrading is gonna happen. Im only 13 and my parents hate my interests.(except fishing). I might be able to if they make a 40 gallon tank that is only 24 inches long. I asked my dada today if i could start another tank in my room and he said no. so right now im gonna have to settle for less with my 20 gallon.:(

[paradigmcubed]

I can happily say I have decided to purchse:
2 Convicts
1 Jack Dempsey
1 Synodontis

From what I have read none of these fish live near the top of the tank. Are there any omnivours that would fit such a description thereby filling my tank completely?

[fishndude]

I keep convict cichlids with my jack. It just depends on the fish the same thing works with the eels it up to the fish to decide.