New 75 Gal, suggestions?

[redthit]

I am getting a new 75 gallon tank and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for fish to get. I want my tank to be kind of different and interesting. I'm not into the high maintenence fish (ie: Discus), I want hardy, uhm "manly" if you will, fish. Also, I really really like bottom feeders so any suggestions on plecos or catfish would also be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Swimfins]

upside down catfish, khulii loach are interesting fish....african brown knife in 75 gallons is ok, I think. Clown loaches too.

 

[ChicoRaton]

Manly fish! <grunt> I'd get an oscar. They're awesome. I like ot give a cricket to the oscars we have at work and watch them fight over it. they have a lot of perosnality... and they get HUGE! and manly!

Failing that, look into making it brackish with some larger puffer species. Watching a puffer crack open a snail shell it pretty manly too!

you might also look at some of the "bad-***" fish like GTs, JDs, etd etc. I think it's be cool to have a fish that would try to attack people through the glass

but that's just me

 

[Nuriel]

Personally, i like the polypterus palmas (marbled bichir). However, a full grown adult may need at least a 125gal. The different new world cichlids mentioned above are great: green terrors, oscars, jack dempseys, convicts. If you wanted to "bioscape" you could always keep african cichlids- but that may be much more high maintenance than you are lookng for. However, with time it is not that difficult and africans are very intelligent and hard core.

 

[StreetCypher]

i like the polypterus palmas (marbled bichir). However, a full grown adult may need at least a 125gal.

Naw, P. palmas palmas (i assume thats what you have) maxes out around a foot, one of the smallest species of bichir. He'd be very content with a 75g tank. Unlike other fish a foot long, these guys are more flexible and need less turning space. Also, P. Palmas polli grows to be the same size and is close to being one of the most active bichirs. Bichirs are manly fish. They are suited to a species only tank, or a tank with carefully chosen tankmates.