300l tank stock

[njr_]

In an 300l tank, could I have
2 female blue acara
1 redhump eartheater
1 petricola catfish
And 5/6 large shoaling tetra

Any more suggestions please do leave below

 

[Wills]

Which species is the red hump? There are a few it could be and they usually do best in groups. 4-5 is a good start. However I’d probably suggest just one cichlid species especially if you are looking at these kind of species that are going to get a smidge over 6 inches.

Same with the catfish but go for 6 or more. These come from the rift lakes so really hard waters vs the rest of the fish which are Amazonian. Some good alternatives here too (assuming you have soft water) like flag tail catfish.

The other thing to think about is if you like the synos and either have hard water or can alter it to hard is go for mbuna. I had American cichlids for years and years and liked it but recently switched to African and love it. Lots more colour loads of variety and following a few rules a degree of simplicity. I am pretty convinced that anyone that wants a tank of mainly American cichlids would actually prefer Africans.

Wills

 

[njr_]

Which species is the red hump? There are a few it could be and they usually do best in groups. 4-5 is a good start. However I’d probably suggest just one cichlid species especially if you are looking at these kind of species that are going to get a smidge over 6 inches.

Same with the catfish but go for 6 or more. These come from the rift lakes so really hard waters vs the rest of the fish which are Amazonian. Some good alternatives here too (assuming you have soft water) like flag tail catfish.

The other thing to think about is if you like the synos and either have hard water or can alter it to hard is go for mbuna. I had American cichlids for years and years and liked it but recently switched to African and love it. Lots more colour loads of variety and following a few rules a degree of simplicity. I am pretty convinced that anyone that wants a tank of mainly American cichlids would actually prefer Africans.

Wills

Thanks so much for your detailed answer mate,
It was the steindachneri I was looking at for the redhump, the one i definitely want is the blue acara. Would you recommend having 2 same sex acaras or just having one

 

[Wills]

Thanks so much for your detailed answer mate,
It was the steindachneri I was looking at for the redhump, the one i definitely want is the blue acara. Would you recommend having 2 same sex acaras or just having one

Ah ok so Steindachneri can get quite big, some males upto 8 inches. If its definitely the Blue Acaras - I think I saw another thread with it being the Electric Blue which is a great choice.

If it were me doing this now, and I had a similar choice made with a Nicaraguan Cichlid vs my Mbuna tank, I'd go for a single specimen. Probably a male with the Electric Blue to get the best colours and then fill out the tank with other species, its one of the best things about a South American tank is the diversity and options you have, especially in a 300 litre. Maybe something like.

1 x Electric Blue Acara
9 x Annostomus Ternetzi
20 x Lemon Tetra
12 x Flagtail Catfish
5 x Red Lizard Catfish

Maybe some Pencil Fish for the upper third?

Just before I give up challenging you on the African tank as an alternative you could do an Mbuna tank with loads of rocks

5 x White Labs (1m 4f) - White with black stripes in unpaired fins
5 x Saulosi (1m 4f) - Black and blue striped male, yellow females)
5 x Acei (1m 4f) - Blue bodies with yellow fins
5 x Rusty Cichlids (1m 4f) - Rusty red/brown with purple flanks
5 x Synodontis Petricola

These are all pretty common Mbuna and I think these 4 are quite a safe mix but the more you look its incredible. Compared to the American counter parts that are (controversial statement alert) sort of colourful, but also sort of brown... Mbuna are in the main part are rich, dense, solid colours. I have a male Metriclima Msobo Magunga that is black and bright blue and sometimes I don't understand how an animal is that coloured, its a metallic blue and matt black. But I digress

Wills

 

[njr_]

Ah ok so Steindachneri can get quite big, some males upto 8 inches. If its definitely the Blue Acaras - I think I saw another thread with it being the Electric Blue which is a great choice.

If it were me doing this now, and I had a similar choice made with a Nicaraguan Cichlid vs my Mbuna tank, I'd go for a single specimen. Probably a male with the Electric Blue to get the best colours and then fill out the tank with other species, its one of the best things about a South American tank is the diversity and options you have, especially in a 300 litre. Maybe something like.

1 x Electric Blue Acara
9 x Annostomus Ternetzi
20 x Lemon Tetra
12 x Flagtail Catfish
5 x Red Lizard Catfish

Maybe some Pencil Fish for the upper third?

Just before I give up challenging you on the African tank as an alternative you could do an Mbuna tank with loads of rocks

5 x White Labs (1m 4f) - White with black stripes in unpaired fins
5 x Saulosi (1m 4f) - Black and blue striped male, yellow females)
5 x Acei (1m 4f) - Blue bodies with yellow fins
5 x Rusty Cichlids (1m 4f) - Rusty red/brown with purple flanks
5 x Synodontis Petricola

These are all pretty common Mbuna and I think these 4 are quite a safe mix but the more you look its incredible. Compared to the American counter parts that are (controversial statement alert) sort of colourful, but also sort of brown... Mbuna are in the main part are rich, dense, solid colours. I have a male Metriclima Msobo Magunga that is black and bright blue and sometimes I don't understand how an animal is that coloured, its a metallic blue and matt black. But I digress

Wills

Thank you so much for your time again mate, really appreciate your help

Based on the fish I really want to keep how does this sound

1 electric blue acara
6 serpae tetra
4 red eye tetra
3 pictus catfish
1 firemouth

 

[Wills]

Thank you so much for your time again mate, really appreciate your help

Based on the fish I really want to keep how does this sound

1 electric blue acara
6 serpae tetra
4 red eye tetra
3 pictus catfish
1 firemouth

No problem

Blue Acara no problem

Serpae Tetra is notoriously nippy so you either need to keep a huge school or if you want a red tetra how about Bentosi or Flame Tetras? The Red Eyes are ok but need more than 4 - in a 300 litre you really want your schooling fish like the Tetras in groups of 15+ they can look incredible and really be a difference maker in how you appreciate the tank.

The Pictus would limit your choices with the smaller fish like the Tetras as they are surprisingly predatory (speaking from experience!) - again get a bigger group as they are a shoaling species. If you went with the Pictus you'd want larger shoaling fish like Headstanders, Hemiodus, Colombian Tetras, Bleeding Hearts - though you'd need to start with small pictus and big headstanders/tetras. Something like Spotted, Blackberry or Striped Silver Dollars could be an option as long as you don't want plants.

The Firemouth is a Central American Cichlid so ideally harder water and lower temperatures than the other fish - 2 cichlids is most likely to cause you problems too. If you wanted some other cichlids in there you could consider some kind of dwarf cichlid, a group of Cupid Cichlids always looks good, or a some Apistogramma as male with multiple females - Panduro is a favourite of mine, with the bumblebee females. I think though, I'd recommend sticking with a lone cichlid with the EBA.

 

[Innesfan]

Maybe some Pencil Fish for the upper third?

I wouldn't put Nannostomus in the same tank as large cichlids.