Suggestions for an interesting cull eater?

[aussie pride]

My vote is for a trio (1 male, 2 female) of Betta Pugnax. They are a large betta species that are highly personable. I currently have one male that will take whole mealworms, mealworm beatles, bloodworms, live blackworms my the dozen, pellets, flakes and anything else that he likes the look of. They are definitely an interesting fish

Oh and don't do an electric blue cray. They will demolish everything except rock, sand/gravel, artificial plants or plastic. They won't catch a guppy fry and the definitely won't be able to be kept with more than one to a 29g tank. My male EB cray is kept solo because everything I tried (except guppies and feeder gobies) got eaten. If you don't mind only having one in there with artificial plants, they are definitely cool critters with huge personalities

 

[AA79606]

A gourami or betta would work depending on how many fry we're talking about here.

Actually, I am looking for something to eat the grown guppies... I want to be sure that the fish doesn't have a pattern before I cull it. A few of my butter blonde gups develop an irridescent pattern very late in their growth/development. If I culled too early I would miss it.

I think the cichlids already mentioned would work because of their larger size, but they're somewhat common. IMO, a crayfish wouldn't be fast enough to catch newly born guppy fry. They're somewhat clumsy and would have an easier time catching prey that is larger and can clamp their claws on quickly. I hear raphael catfish are good at keeping fry numbers down.

I'd be okay with a "common" cichlid as long as it was pretty to look at and it didn't outgrow the 29 gallon tank. I just don't have any experience with the larger cichlids.

 

[AA79606]

My vote is for a trio (1 male, 2 female) of Betta Pugnax. They are a large betta species that are highly personable. I currently have one male that will take whole mealworms, mealworm beatles, bloodworms, live blackworms my the dozen, pellets, flakes and anything else that he likes the look of. They are definitely an interesting fish

Oh and don't do an electric blue cray. They will demolish everything except rock, sand/gravel, artificial plants or plastic. They won't catch a guppy fry and the definitely won't be able to be kept with more than one to a 29g tank. My male EB cray is kept solo because everything I tried (except guppies and feeder gobies) got eaten. If you don't mind only having one in there with artificial plants, they are definitely cool critters with huge personalities

Thank you for the suggestion! I've never even heard of Betta Pugnax... I will definitely look into that! And I wouldn't mind keeping just one crayfish, BUT if he won't eat the grown guppies, then it defeats the purpose. Is there a significant difference between an electric blue cray and the other types of (non-dwarf) crayfish?

 

[verbal]

I'm into oddball fish so I'd go with a Ctenopoma or an African Butterfly Fish.

I think the Ctenopoma is the best suggestion so far. I have not owned one, but a number of people in my fish club used them for this purpose. I think a large mouth predatory catfish could work well also. The fish wouldn't have to

You might be able to keep one of the pike cichlids in the tank, however be very careful you get one of the smaller species.

It would only be temporary, but you could grow a predatory Hap to about 6" in a 29. One of the Nimbochromis might be relatively easy to find and sell when it gets big.

I don't think crayfish would work very well, especially in a tall tank. They might grab a guppy here and there, but they won't put much of a dent in the population.

 

[OrionGirl]

Ctenopoma, or an African Butterfly. I'd go with the butterfly, and add some floating plants to make it more comfortable. They're awesome predators, stay small enough. You could add some bottom dwellers like kuhli loaches or cories as well.

 

[Fractalis]

puffer!

if they cant get one in a bite they get them in two!

 

[CanFor Holm]

so i guess Vampire tetras are out of the question. I agree on green spotted puffer. even tho they are brackish. or a pirhana

 

[AA79606]

Ctenopoma, or an African Butterfly. I'd go with the butterfly, and add some floating plants to make it more comfortable. They're awesome predators, stay small enough. You could add some bottom dwellers like kuhli loaches or cories as well.

I'm not even sure where to find the African Butterfly. . any ideas?

Can the Ctenopoma have bottom dwellers with it too?

 

[AA79606]

Oh I didn't even think about the puffers needing brackish water... I was about to ask which kind of puffer would be the best...

 

[chefjamesscott]

To bad you are in the states because dwarf snakeheads would more than fit your need and be very beautiful fish in their own right.