BGK's

[pica_nuttalli]

in my personal experience, bristlenose plecs are fairly aggressive--my male used to fight with the kribs all the time. when i tried keeping him (for 4 days) with my L200s, there was just no peace in the tank. he'd chase the other plecs across the entire tank if he wanted their hiding spot. i'd not go with as many as 4 bristlenoses, but you could definitely do 2 or 3 small plecs.

i'd ask about the angels over in SA Cichlids; if i was to guess based on the things i've read, i'd say probably 2 or 3 angels. of course, angels start small so if you wanted to try breeding them... you should get 4 to 6 and wait to see who pairs off. then sell the rest back to the LFS (but ask the LFS if they'd buy back before trying this).

 

[BOD]

yea i herd about that before and got confused i thought i had to buy about 6 to start off with..so i reckon i mite get 3.....i dont want to breed them i really dont have the time anymore. and i will ask in the cichlid forum..cheers..

 

[BOD]

can i add coolie loachs to this equation?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

not with a BGK. remember, that species has a big mouth and lives at the bottom of the aquarium. little fish like cory cats and khulli loaches are pretty well out of the question.

 

[BOD]

ahhh yea..they are a bit small damn....meh look at my spelling hehe

 

[troutfly]

Here is a link to the photos you asked about, I hope it works.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=92888&st=0&

Sorry it took so long.

 

[BOD]

oh wow how cool what a good idea well done

 

[troutfly]

Thanks BOD - every now and then I come up with a good idea....

 

[Dragonscales]

Why not turn the tank into an oddball tank?

A bgk, a few peacock eels, some african butterflies and perhaps an elephant nose would look awesome in a heavily planted tank with a few rocks and bogwood. Khulli loaches eventually get to a fair size so given enough hiding places in a tank like this would enable them to stay out of the bgk's way till they were too big to eat.

There are plenty of possibilities though, perhaps take a look in the oddballs section for a few ideas.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i disagree on the khulli loaches ever growing to a size where they would be safe from the BGK. it is strongly recommended to keep no fish under 3" with a BGK only because most three inch long fish are also a couple inches tall. however, a 3-inch khulli is only about a quarter of an inch in diameter; a 5-inch (maximum size) khulli would be unlikely to grow thicker than even a half-inch.

khulli loach = spagetti fish

although the african butterflies are an excellent and beautiful suggestion, the eels and elephant noses would be far too many large bottom dwellers for all but the largest tanks. the elephant nose would also require special feeding and close attention as eels are equally fond of the worms the elephant nose would require. CFC has mentioned in several other threads that elephant noses often starve to death in community settings because they are out-competed for food by more aggressive tank mates. all these species of bottom dwellers are also relatively shy fish, so don't expect to see much activity in a tank holding the four of them (especially since african butterflies are sedentary ambush predators!)

 

[BOD]

eek!!!

well my plans have been change as you might have read..but then again you might have not

I aquired 2 synodontis angelicus and a discus...i know the discus are good tankmates, but what about the synos?

 

[Dragonscales]

I have seen several khulli loaches upwards of 6 inches long and a good inch or so thick before, it is possible for them to get larger than the average. Seeing as how the bgk will grow slower than the khullis I doubt there would be many problems for a long while regardless, by which time BOD would most likely have brought several tanks (as we all do lol). In any case, given the height and width difference between the two, it isn't hard to make hiding places for the khullis that the bgk can't fit into once it is at a size that could be hazardous to the khullis. The main time a khulli would be at major risk from the bgk is while asleep and all the ones I've kept wouldn't sleep out in the open, prefering to hide under driftwood, etc.

I agree whole heartedly with your point on elephant noses though and mentioned them on the assumtion BOD is researching about his/her fish extensively before purchasing any, that they would be aware of feeding similarities between species and give the apropriate attention needed to such a tank. Breeding blackworms in large numbers is a good way to make sure there are plenty of worms to go around though as is target feeding. Personally I don't bother with blackworm dispensers, prefering to spread a good chunk of worms all over the tank and letting them burrow as the eels seem to enjoy foraging for them in the sand better. Using this method in conjunction with dispensers would ensure everybody gets some.

Heavily planted tanks with bogwood and rocks would also make the fish less shy as there is plenty of cover and dimmer light. In regards to numbers, looking back through the topic now I see I misread the tank size (tends to happen alot when posting replies at 4 am lol) so agree that I was perhaps a little overzealous with the stocking levels I suggested. It could still work though I think, just perhaps turned down a notch in regards to stock numbers. Perhaps taking the elephant nose off the list and sticking to 2 or 3 peacocks, 1 or 2 african butterflies and the bgk would make the tank a little less attention needing for the average fishkeeper as well.

 

[BOD]

hello,Dragonscales yes am i doing a lot of reaseacrh on what people suggest to me...i just want as many ideas as possible as my original list looks a tad boring, but like i said i already have a discus which has to go in the stocking of that tank and of course he need some friends, as i also mention i have 2 synodontis angelicus in there and need to know if they are compatible also with my plans, i like the elephant nose,not sure about peacock eels though... , african butterflies i have mentiond before, will keep doing reaseacrh thought but would be nice to hear from this forum what it compatible with what i already have int the tank.

SYNODONTIS ANGELICUS??? anyone???

edit oh and the khulli loaches mayb ill give them a miss now...

 

[andywg]

An inch thick Khuli? Now that is something I would have to see before I believed it, having seen some today that are 4 inches long and still only 1/4 inch thick...

 

[BOD]

woah ok stop arguing about frickin khulli loaches, id like this thread to concentrate on my questions TY.