Advice On Future Endeavour

[acreteos]

Hello everyone! hope you're all having a nice day and thanks for clicking on my thread...
(Ive bolded the important parts if you are impatient and want to skim)

Now to the point.

On the 13th of july I'm going to Calgary for two weeks to visit my step dad who lives there, I'm currently in the emigration process and should be a Canadian resident in a few months, so I am planning a nice big tank! Calgary has tons of fish stores including one with sharks (actual marine ones) so I'm spoiled for choice. I will be looking at the prices of tanks and also at the variety of fish (there is so many!)

and now to my Idea, well I absolutely love cichlids and have kept tons of different species in the last 10 years

Firstly I will get hold of a 75G or larger to grow out my fish, and then get a larger one when I have the money. I'm thinking 100g-200g and mostly peaceful

These are the fish I would like to own

[Cichlids
Severum (either one or two, red spot would be nice)
Vieja species ( a single spectacular one, what would you guys recommend?)
some Geophagus perhaps (again any recommendations?)
possibly a Uaru or two

Catfish
is completely up to you guys, any ideas? I kept a Lima shovelnose before who was simply amazing, might do that again.

Non-cichlids
Originally I wanted a Leporinus but after research have found them to be the Ezzio of the fish world
Possibly bala sharks, tinfoil barbs or silver dollars ( I want an interesting Dither group, any ideas?)
Kissing gourami (these guys are peaceful, pink and impressive when they are larger)


So that is my idea so far, As you can see I've done lots of research but I still would like to hear from you guys to help give me ideas.

What would be your take on my idea? have any pictures of suggested fish? fish I'd like to keep or tank set up?

post them!

Thank you so much! Muito obrigado

 

[This Old Spouse]

Welcome to North America! I'm no cichlid expert but I think a pictus cat would be great for a bottom feeder. I wouldn't think a gourami would be happy with cichlids, but perhaps you've had luck in the past with that combination.

Please post pics when you get started!

 

[ChilliPepper]

In my, slightly biast, opinion, you won't find a nicer Vieja than the Synspila. Absolutely stunning fish.

Highly recommend the Red Spot Sev as well. Totally worth not being able to have plants (so I had to get an extra tank ) and very entertaining.

Both fish do get very big and bulky, and my Vieja has grown staggeringly fast since I've had him. I am talking faster than Oscar speed growing. And the girth on him already is massive. So think in a 75g it would be pushing it to have both of these fish for long. I found my Red has grown very quickly up until about, I dunno how big he is exactly, 6-7" and then slowed down. He could get to 12", and my Vieja the same. So really you want a 150g+ for these fish in the not so distant future.

Geos are annoying, but that's down to personal preference. They are beautiful, certainly.

I'd recommend polypterus to anyone with a large tank to go with big cichlids. I have an Ornate, Senegalus and Endlicheri with mine, and they all get on very well.

Take a look at my stocking in my profile for some ideas if you want

 

[acreteos]

thanks for the responces guys I really appreciate it!

@This old spouse - thank you, certainly is a better selection of fish in north America and I've never though of it but yes I could have a pictus, how many should be fair? i was thinking either that or clown loaches.

@Chillipepper, I do love Vieja synspila, truly magnificent fish but I am aware how large and fast they grow which is why I was thinking of getting another species, I don't think it would take me too long to get a big tank as the city of Calgary is drastically underpopulated in terms of jobs (= need more workers... like me ), that and the tanks there seem to be very good deals in terms of price.
I've kept a Vieja before, I think he was some kind of hybrid, he was mostly blue sparkles with a black line down her flank, she did grow relatively slowly, which is why I thought i could go for another Vieja.

And Polypterus are great, I didn't think of that, I've kept Ornate, Delhezi, and senegal in the past and I would recommend them to anyone!

I just looked at your stock and I believe i saw some pictures in the media section of your tank, if its the one I'm thinking of it is beautiful!

 

[hanny93]

just a word of warning, id advise you to get the bigger tank now.

what happens if something big happens over there, like, you lose you job and cant find another one, although it seems unlikely from what youve said, or if something happens meaning you have to move to another part of the country, where tanks arent as cheap and jobs arent as available?

What im trying to say is, you cant plan for unplanned disturbances, and it isnt fair on the potentially huge fish you are suggesting if you might not be able to afford that big new tank in the near future, when they will really need it.

I'm not saying dont do it, it sounds like a wonderful tank, especially with the sev, although id pass on the gourami! What im suggesting is get the bigger tank now, so that you know for sure you wont be left stranded

Ps pics when youre done!!

 

[acreteos]

just a word of warning, id advise you to get the bigger tank now.

what happens if something big happens over there, like, you lose you job and cant find another one, although it seems unlikely from what youve said, or if something happens meaning you have to move to another part of the country, where tanks arent as cheap and jobs arent as available?

What im trying to say is, you cant plan for unplanned disturbances, and it isnt fair on the potentially huge fish you are suggesting if you might not be able to afford that big new tank in the near future, when they will really need it.

I'm not saying dont do it, it sounds like a wonderful tank, especially with the sev, although id pass on the gourami! What im suggesting is get the bigger tank now, so that you know for sure you wont be left stranded

Ps pics when youre done!!

Thanks for the word of warning, but I'll be living with my parents for a bit when I move, and my step dad has said he will pretty much buy the tank for me, but I want to pay as much towards it as I can, also I shouldve said earlier that I want to buy the fish as babies, so starting it off in a 75g will mean the fish wont be so small and lost in a huge tank

 

[hanny93]

Ah right, thats okay then

And yes but they wont be small for long!

As I said, I wasnt criticising or anything, just warning, cant wait to see what this looks like set up!

 

[acreteos]

Ah right, thats okay then

And yes but they wont be small for long!

As I said, I wasnt criticising or anything, just warning, cant wait to see what this looks like set up!

Its fine Hanny no offence taken! Calgary seems to be unaffected by the credit crunch, unlike Europe haha.
I cant wait to see how it looks either but unfortunately it could take longer for me to emigrate but hey, the tank WILL happen. that I am certain


on another note, lets here some more suggestions and have some nice pics from some keepers!

 

[Wills]

Like said above if the big tank is going to happen maybe wait. I always planned to get a 6 foot as soon as I got my 4 foot but it took nearly 2 years to get it one thing or an other just happened and it led to me rehoming some stuff along the way. So just a bit of a word of warning.

That said though if you stick to slower growing or just the smaller side of your stocking for now then got the bigger/biggest stuff when you get the big tank? So start off with your Geophagus and maybe a few mid sized cichlids maybe things like Nicaraguan female or Firemouths and their relatives , Blue Acaras and their relatives, Cutteri/Sajica and their relatives (but not convicts) those that stay around 5/6 inches.

Ditherwise if your going big with the tank what about some Silver Dollars? I have a group of Annostomus Terntetzi which are a nice headstander and a lot calmer than the other striped ones. Marbled Headstanders could be an option. I would avoid the Tinfoil Barbs and Bala Sharks though as they just get so big why not use the space for cichlids? Also if your going all out why not make it a bit of a biotope tank as in keeping it to like Central or South America - you could do a really fascinating tank if you stuck to a specific river even. If you have a look on Seriously Fish in their search bar you can search by an area eg: Rio Tapajos and it will list all the species found in there and then you make your stock lists that way

And as for Catfish I find even in the best shops specific species are often sporadic as to whats imported so it might be best to draw up a short list and see what you can find

Wills

 

[ChilliPepper]

Normally I agree with you Wills, but not on the female Nic! Biggest cowbag of a fish there is!!!

 

[minnnt]

Normally I agree with you Wills, but not on the female Nic! Biggest cowbag of a fish there is!!!

Lol! I thought of you when I read that name on the list.

 

[Wills]

Cowbag maybe but best fish ever yes

 

[acreteos]

whats a cowbag? lol

I do see your point Wills, maybe i should grow on the slower growing fish first. I like that idea, Also I had a female nic before and she was no problem. I was on seriously fish yesterday and was roaming around the site clicking like mad haha.

So as long as i choose peaceful large cichlids then I could keep the smaller ones in the tank when i upgrade? this would give lots of interesting activity and movement.