Okay... So I'm Doing Tangs...

I resisted the urge to add Cyps to my 55 until I upgraded to a 75. It is possible to keep them in a 55, I just chose not to based on research I had done. Jumbos or not, they really do best in schools of 8-10 at the minimum. In my humble opinion this is too many for a 55. A 75 is also a 4 ft, there is just more width. With Tangs, I choose to keep lots of rockwork spread out through the tank... you'll find you're going to need plenty of rock-work to keep these guys from constant bickering. The more structure, the less open swimming space.

As far as the Comps and Calvus go... I would watch for aggression issues. From personal experience, it is tough to maintain 2 adult males in a 75, let alone a 55. Perhaps yours will be different. Only one way to find out eh? The advice I give is based on my personal expererience and research. Others will come to different conclusions.
At some point though an upgrade will likely be needed. You have years depending on the size of the comps/ calvus when you purchase them.. but it will happen... happened to me, lol.
 
I was told the exact same thing on many different and respected cichlid forums, but I wholeheartedly agree with Afro. A group that large of 4-5" fish is going to feel cramped, especially fish that are known to be a little skittish. And with how expensive they are, it would not be fun to have them not survive because of stress issues. Again, just my personal opinion.
 
I definitely appreciate the advice... just a bit frustrated. I have paid a deposit on these fish already, and now I am starting to feel... anxious. that's all. but I definitely appreciate and indeed solicit the advice, even if it makes me face whatever harsh realities. as long as I have been in this hobby, I have come to learn that that is simply the way it is sometimes. but man... discus were not this tough to be sure about! LOL...
 
I dont know what type of Occei's Roger is talking about but as for mine i have had them for over a year and mine are still small i think they may be close to 2 inches but not quite there yet and i have a gold head comp that will devour them if given a chance if i placed him in the tank with the Occei's..

1. Gold head Comp (look at the mouth on these dude they can really extend their jaws)..
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2. Juvie Ocellatus golds
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3. Same Ocellatus golds a year later now you can honestly say that these fish could not fit in the mouth of a Gold head Comp..
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Altolamprologuscompressiceps.jpg 019 (2).JPG 079.JPG
 
Caudopunctatus there typically not a shellie but they do utilize a shell for breeding purposes they attain 3" and a little more robust in size..

Also Lelupi, Mustax and Julidochromis fits the bill with these guys if you attain same size fish that can grow up with each other and allow plenty of rocky retreats..

BTW rich-one my above statement and photos wasn't geared towards you..
 
Pittbull said:
Caudopunctatus there typically not a shellie but they do utilize a shell for breeding purposes they attain 3" and a little more robust in size..

Also Lelupi, Mustax and Julidochromis fits the bill with these guys if you attain same size fish that can grow up with each other and allow plenty of rocky retreats..

BTW rich-one my above statement and photos wasn't geared towards you..
Click to expand...
yeah... I started to look at julies once before... the transcriptus, I believe. while I like how the lelupi look, I am not endeared to what I have heard about their aggression levels. my understanding of the comps/calvus are that they look a lot more intimidating than they really are. I am not familiar with the Mustax or the Caudopunctatus, so I will research them a bit.

as far as your photos are concerned, they are certainly an effective learning tool, so I am surely glad to have them! :)

thanks for the suggestions... now, on to some research!

-Rich
 
okay... I really wanted the yellow calvus very badly. but what I may end up doing here then, is getting the trio of black comps, and going with some of the mustax mbete. that variety would handle the yellow that I wanted with the comps, albeit, I won't get the dramatic striping... guess one cannot have it all. then maybe a pair of julie transcriptus. since I have already put the depost on the occies and cyps, I will move the occies to another tank that I can use for them, and then I have to see if I can maybe find a trade partner for the cyps, and maybe acquire something of equal value that I need.

how many of the mustax would you recommend, should I go that route? thanks again, and I appreciate you answering all these questions.

-Rich
 
rich_one said:
... my understanding of the comps/calvus are that they look a lot more intimidating than they really are...
Click to expand...

Correct. I'm sure there are some that will try to eat occies. I have both calvus and comps. I kept multies with them in a 75 and never lost a single multi. I now keep 4 multies and a 5 year old comp in a 20 long. No aggression. The calvus were never aggressive with them either.

To be fair though, I never put my occies in with the calvus or comps. I have kilesa in with them and didn't want to lose a kilesa because of an occies attitude. I keep my occies with my tropheus, spathodus, and julis. I haven't had any aggression issues with that mix.

PB - those are some tiny occies. Are you sure they're a year? Maybe mine are monsters. I should take some pics with a ruler in frame. I'll see if I get time this weekend.
 
Did anyone mention brevis? They are a little bigger than occies length wise and larger all around.
 
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