redoing my tank

[valerie]

I got a breeding group of ruby red peacocks last month and now i'm changing my current stock since there seems to be some problems. I also have some other peacocks(also got at the auction but before i bought the breeding group) and now they are all breeding together. I"m getting rid of the other peacocks and some otehr fish in teh tank that are cross breeding.Can you guys help out and tell me what you think of this stock list. Here is what i have in the tank now(90gal).

Current inhabitants:
4 ruby red peacocks(1m/3f)
2 Lab. pearlmutt(1m/1f)
2 otter point peacocks(1f/1?)
1 eureka red peacock
1 Hap. electra
1 red empress(m)
1 taiwan reef(f)
1 rusty cichlid
1rubbernose pleco

I"m going ot be changing it to this:
4 ruby red peacocks
5 Lab. pearlmutts
4 rusty
1 red empress
1 hap.electra
1 rubbernose pleco
(might add a pair of BN plecos later)

How does the second stock list sound? Is there too many/too little fish? Do the group sizes look ok?

ps:Is there a way to tell the sex of rusties when they are small?

 

[VoodooChild]

Your list looks fine. It should have alot of red! Good choice to on the electra. I have one and I think they're really underated. And I believe it'd be really hard to tell the sex of rusties when they're still juveniles, but I don't have my handy dandy books with me at the moment.

 

[valerie]

yeah i really love the electra too. Mine goes really blac around feeding time, so beautiful. I might add more red empresses or electra down the road after i see waht the tank looks like and if there is room.

I have been reading about sexing lab.perlmutts and rusty and there doesn't seen to be a reliable way, except of venting but i don't think i can do that with any accuracy.

I will jsut end up buying rusties with no egg spots and hope they are female and some lab.perlmutts with dark barring and hope they aren't jsut sub-males