Tenative stocking plan

[Gena575]

My odd shaped 80 is quite a ways from being set up, but I've been planning in my head The tank is 36x18x30 which doesn't give me as many options as a a longer but shorter tank would. Anyway, my thoughts are to have the following:
a group of firemouth cichlids (not sure of the number or m/f ratio)
1 pictus cat
1 redtail shark (the pictus and shark are for the fiance...may not work?)
2 male + 5 female sailfin mollies or swordtails or maybe 1m/3f of each?

I figure the other fish will make short work of any livebearer fry. I may drop to just a single firemouth as I don't really want fry from them, though I would love to watch spawning. I would also like to add some brig snails, but not sure how the firemouth would react to them??

I am also planning on a large stumpy/rooty looking piece of driftwood with java moss and java fern as my live plants. For some height I will probably add large silk plants. I don't think I can light the tank well enough to do much more than the java moss and fern.

Any thoughts, additions, subtractions or substitutions?

 

[monkey_toes]

a group of firemouth cichlids (not sure of the number or m/f ratio) I may drop to just a single firemouth as I don't really want fry from them

Do a sexed pair or 2-3 females. If you get a pictus, you will have no worries about firemouth fry.

1 pictus cat

These guys: 1) get big — at least 10 inches, 2) are highly predatory and will eat your livebearer adults once full grown, and 3) would prefer to be kept in a group. They're in all the stores, but they're not a great catfish choice.

1 redtail shark
2 male + 5 female sailfin mollies or swordtails or maybe 1m/3f of each?

I see no problem here.

I would also like to add some brig snails, but not sure how the firemouth would react to them?? ?

Don't know what a brig snail is, but I'm not seeing firemouths eating snails.

I don't think I can light the tank well enough to do much more than the java moss and fern.

Some cryptocorynes are OK with low light — maybe wendtii or nevillii?

Any thoughts, additions, subtractions or substitutions?

Yes — skip the pictus and go with a one of the smaller synodontis species (maybe eupterus or nigriventris [upside-down cat]). I would probably go with three, maybe four if you pick nigriventris.

 

[Gena575]

Yes — skip the pictus and go with a one of the smaller synodontis species (maybe eupterus or nigriventris [upside-down cat]). I would probably go with three, maybe four if you pick nigriventris

Thanks Monkey Toes. I had read conflicting things on the pictus. I bet if he sees the upside downs in person he'd go for them. He's not really keen on this tank so I want to get things he likes when possible, but its *MY* tank so I reserve veto rights LOL!

I'm also thinking about one of the smaller pleco species (rubberlip, bristlenose). I think if I added one of those, the firemouth would need to be kept at just 1? I'm leaning towards a single male firemouth or nicely colored female as I keep reading how aggressive a pair can get during spawning and that they spawn A LOT.

 

[Spykce]

You could get some cory cats also instead of the pictus, small and active little guys, they like groups as well.

Bristlenose and Rubberlip pleco's are both very nice and smaller plecs. I've never had a firemouth so I couldn't tell you on the spawning thing.

 

[monkey_toes]

I'm also thinking about one of the smaller pleco species (rubberlip, bristlenose). I think if I added one of those, the firemouth would need to be kept at just 1? I'm leaning towards a single male firemouth or nicely colored female as I keep reading how aggressive a pair can get during spawning and that they spawn A LOT.

Not a bad idea to go with a single firemouth. The pair I had spawned in a cichlid community tank with minimal headaches, but not all pairs will do that. I'd go for a male; even a "nicely colored" adult female will look a bit bleached next to an average adult male. If you go with a pleco, don't forget to add some wood —*makes them feel more at home and many species need to eat wood.