Need help planning a new tank

1688 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Darkside, Jun 18, 2008

CichlidWhisperer

Discussion Starter · Jun 3, 2008

I am planning a new tank and at first was going to do some malawi mbuna, but have changed my mind and am thinking of doing some of my favorite tangs (I say some of my favorites because I am a huge fan of Fronts, but can't do such a large tank.)

I am thinking about a 30 gallon long with

pair of Brichardi (With the longest lyre tails I can find.. maybe Cape Nangu with their little green faces or Magara?)
pair of Calvus Inkfins
3-4 (one male, 2-3 females) Oscillatus
2-4 Syn. Petricola

Hopefully all will breed.

What do you think of this combination and putting them in this tank size???? And what ratio of oscillatus are best?

Also, I am considering going with wild-caught, but unsure. What are the pros and cons of wild versus F1 versus others?

Finally, I am wondering about the substrate. I was going to do sand simply because the oscillatus is so cute blowing sand. Will the others like the sand? And I was planning on black sand to make the Brichardi and Oscillatus stand out, but I am not sure it will do justice to the Calvus? How about if I have a lot of white stone to show off the calvus?

In any case, simply in the planning stage (need to convince my husband of another tank still, but getting closer.) I would appreciate all thoughts prior to my setting it up though.....

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help....

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triscuit

· #3 · Jun 3, 2008

CichlidWhisperer said:
I am thinking about a 30 gallon long with

pair of Brichardi (With the longest lyre tails I can find.. maybe Cape Nangu with their little green faces or Magara?)
pair of Calvus Inkfins
3-4 (one male, 2-3 females) Oscillatus
2-4 Syn. Petricola

What do you think of this combination and putting them in this tank size????

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's definately a bad idea to house a pair of brichardi-types with any other fish, particularly in a small tank. If you want to breed the brichardi, give them their own tank and they will happily comply. Additionally, I don't like to keep synos with shellies: too much conflict. The synos are efficient egg/fry predators and would disrupt the breeding of all the other fish.

Something else to consider: breeding calvus and occies will likely require an additional fry tank as the babies are often eaten by the parents. Julidochromis and brichardi are good parents, and will tolerate their young until nearly breeding age.

Also, I am considering going with wild-caught, but unsure. What are the pros and cons of wild versus F1 versus others?

Please see recent postsregarding this debate: it ends up being a decision based on personal preference, what's available, and what you can afford.

Finally, I am wondering about the substrate. I was going to do sand simply because the oscillatus is so cute blowing sand. Will the others like the sand? And I was planning on black sand to make the Brichardi and Oscillatus stand out, but I am not sure it will do justice to the Calvus? How about if I have a lot of white stone to show off the calvus?

All these fish look good on black sand, and generally, they prefer sand to gravel. Lighter substrates can make the fish look more washed out.

So, options for breeding these fish in a 30 gal that would work out...

* Brichardi species tank
* Calvus, occies, and a small Julidochromis (not regani or marlieri)
* Gobies and S. petricola

good luck!

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triscuit

· #8 · Jun 4, 2008

I meant that if you really wanted the catfish, then gobies would be a decent tankmate for them in a 30 gallon with both species potentially breeding. I'm not suggesting keeping cats with shellies. I have a group of WC S. multipunctatus, and they know what shells are and what kind of snacks they should be looking for.

Paracyps would be good for a 36" or longer tank. If you are looking at a 4ft tank, why not get a 40-long ? Or a 55? Once you are up to the 55, you can keep non-jumbo cyps nicely. I would hesiate keeping a beauty like callochromis in a tank with occies: competition for bottom territory could end badly.

Paracyps, calvus and occies would be nice mix, and could be done in the 36" or longer tanks.

My take on WC vs TR: I'll get TR when I can, WC if I need to. In an overly broad stereotype, WC fish are going to have more exotic diseases, be stressed from long travel, be of unknown health/longevity, going to be more assertive/aggressive/predatory, and have no idea what to think of the tiny glass box we're shoving them into.

If you are stocking heavily, then get TR. The difference in sellability between "F1" fry and "TR" fry is small. So, for general breeding purposes it is not necessary to get WC.

Just buy your stock from a reputable seller and realize that TR might be easier.

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