Firemouth with other fish?

I dont have experience with acaras and the SAE together but I've read that the SAE will become more aggressive at is matures and can latch on to the sides of some flat sided fish. Never seen it, just read it. I had a SAE and it was a great cleaner but would chase my oscar around until the oscar ate it. Guess the oscar got tired of being picked on.

A bushy nose pleco would be good in your tank, and it stays small.
 
I have read what you're talking about with the algae eaters latching onto other fish - but only for the Chinese algae eaters, not the Siamese algae eaters.

Didn't I read that plecos have to be solitary? Does the bushy nose pleco share the tank well with others of the same species? How does this pleco differ from the bushy nose catfish, or are they one in the same? What do they do a good job cleaning, and what do they not clean?

rmcder, with three firemouths (2 females and 1 male) won't someone get picked on really badly. I think I recall reading that they aren't "harem fish" and choose one mate each and bully the other one. Or am I thinking of another fish? I've done so much reading and research I'm bleary eyed!
 
saganco said:
I have read what you're talking about with the algae eaters latching onto other fish - but only for the Chinese algae eaters, not the Siamese algae eaters.

Didn't I read that plecos have to be solitary? Does the bushy nose pleco share the tank well with others of the same species? How does this pleco differ from the bushy nose catfish, or are they one in the same? What do they do a good job cleaning, and what do they not clean?

rmcder, with three firemouths (2 females and 1 male) won't someone get picked on really badly. I think I recall reading that they aren't "harem fish" and choose one mate each and bully the other one. Or am I thinking of another fish? I've done so much reading and research I'm bleary eyed!
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Is your tank currently empty? If so, you could get maybe 6 small FM's and let them pair of naturally. Then take 4 back to the lfs and re-arrange the tank decor and introduce your BN plec and any other fish. American Flag Fish make an interesting alternative to SAE's/CAE's and eat the same stuff, but are more active and swim in the upper levels (in my tank at least).
 
Blue acaras would fit most of your criteria. Swordtails do seem to hold their own, especially if you can get large ones. If you're not concerned about breeding them you can mix different strains. Platies might work as well, they can get pretty darn big if you give them a chance. Some of the larger killies in the Rivulus genus or some of the big Aphyosemion varieties could work as well.

Chinese algae eaters, in addition to their other faults, eventually decide they don't want the work of eating algae. Bristlenose would work pretty well and they're big enough to get by. Big hoplo or dianema cats would also work, I think.

Breeding african jewel fish like H lifililli would also be a possibility- they have to be about the most colorful fish out there. I'm not sure how other fish would survive around them, though- mine are only about 2" long and they are still behaving themselves.
 
saganco said:
rmcder, with three firemouths (2 females and 1 male) won't someone get picked on really badly. I think I recall reading that they aren't "harem fish" and choose one mate each and bully the other one. Or am I thinking of another fish? I've done so much reading and research I'm bleary eyed!
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Yes... I'm not sure what I said that led to you thinking that I was recommending 3 firemouth, but that wouldn't be my recommendation. A pair (could be male and male) seems to be the best combination for firemouth.
 
saganco said:
Didn't I read that plecos have to be solitary? Does the bushy nose pleco share the tank well with others of the same species? How does this pleco differ from the bushy nose catfish, or are they one in the same? What do they do a good job cleaning, and what do they not clean?
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Im pretty sure bushy/bristle nose pleco/catfish are the same thing. I googled it and it came back with the same results.
Bristlenose1thumb.jpg


They are known to be pretty good cleaners, perhaps the best glass cleaner of the popular dwarf breeds. Besides algae they also need to have a nice peice of driftwood in the tank to munch on. They love other veggies like cucumber, lettuce, etc. Im pretty sure you can put multiple plecos in the same tank, just not males of the same species.

Here is a good profile:
Bristlenose Pleco profile
 
Thanks folks for such great answers! I went to our LFS (2.5 hours away, closest one is 2 hours away), and looked at the sizes of some of these various fish and have recalculated which direction I'm going.

Now, due to the desire for more rather than less fish, and the overall size (imagining them and seeing the size in person are two very different things for me)... I'm going with some smaller varieties. Fish that are no larger than 4" and colorful and play together well, and might breed. Any new suggestions for this "revamped tank" for me?

I've searched books, online, forums, etc... till I'm just wiped out, but really hate the thought of totally screwing up my tank and having unhappy or dead occupants. You guys are all so wonderfully helpful and I truly thank you - and apologize for "jumping ship" on the thread topic! :thud:
 
Hmm, the joys of starting up a new tank :)

Well, you could use Dwarf Cichlids, probably 2 pairs with caves at either end of the tank. Something along the lines of Bolovian Rams, Apistogramma (Cockatoo's are nice). Don't put Corydoras species with these, as the dwarves will peck their eyes out.

You could then add a max 2 schools of tetra's - I like Lemon and Serpae (although the latter get nippy if bored) - perhaps Neon's and Rummy Nosed.

I like Hatchetfish for the top too. This would be a South American setup and all fish are 2-3".



You could do an African one with Kribs, and Congo tetra's - perhaps a Butterfly fish too. These are all 3-4" fish. Just throwing some ideas your way, and assuming you still want cichlids in the mix.
 
Hmmm pugwash, I like those ideas (except the hatchetfish - you either love or hate those guys - cool looking, but a little too weird looking for my taste, no offence please).

I'll check a little more about some of these species - I was just looking into the cockatoos earlier this evening...

thanks!
 
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If you're thinking of selling fish you breed, you can't go wrong with dwarf cichlids, especially S.A. ones.

From going to various fish auctions for years, I've seen almost all cichlids going for a buck or two for a bag of 6 to 8 young fish. If you are feeding them commercial fish food, you're probably losing money that way. It is fun to breed fish, but if you're doing it to support your hobby they can't sell for less than it takes to raise them.

OTOH, dwarf cichlids (other than kribs) never go cheap. Catfish (except possibly for albino corys) also always sell for a good price. Killifish too. Not to hijack the thread away from cichlids, but killies ship very well and that could be a big advantage for someone out in the country.

You should find out if there's an auction that you could drive to. You can pick up such great breeding stock at one that it's worth a drive.
http://fins.actwin.com/dir/clubs.php?c=1&r=22
http://www.coloradoaquarium.org/about.htm
 
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