Fish for Amazonian tank

[waterwatereverywhere]

I won't be ready to start stocking my tank for a little while yet, but of course it's already set up in my head! I can't decide what numbers of different kinds of fish to have though. My tank is 36" x 18" x 18", and currently I'm thinking of choosing from:

Rummy noses
Cardinals
Rams or Apistos
Plecs
Corys
Whiptails

What do you think would be a good combination of these, or are there any others that you reckon are MUST haves?! Thanks!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

What kind of plecs?

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

Well I suppose that's one of the questions! I know some of them will grow too big for that tank, so more those that stay relatively small, like the clown plec.

 

[CFC]

Corys are a absolute must have for any non aggressive amazon biotope tank, to get the best from them go for at least 6 of one species, C.sterbai are one of my favourites.

The other fish you can add are dependent on the parameters of yur tapwater, Appistogramma and Microgeophagus species cichlids can be sensative to pH and hardness and do not tolerate nitrates well, the same can be said for many species of tetra including rummynoses and cardinals.

Clown plecs are a nice addition to the peaceful community tank but should be kept in a group of at least 3, a pair of bristlenoses (Ancistrus species) would make a better choice IMO as they are more efficient algea eaters and spawn easily in the community aquarium.

Whiptails are a nice addition too but may eat plants so they should only be added to non planted tanks or those with just hardy plants.

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

Thanks for those suggestions. How big do bristlenoses get?

I'll be using RO water so hopefully hardness/nitrates shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Sanj]

bristlenoses stay small around 4"

 

[Perky]

How about a Queen Arabesque. They grow to 4 inches max. Also very beautiful catfish. Or you could get 2 Zebra Plecs and breed.

 

[ryan]

As others have said the Rummys, Apistos and Cardinals are quite sensetive to Ph. I would introduce the Cory's at first as they are more hardier fish and they can help get the tanks Nitrogen cycle going as the other fish in the list prefer to be introduced to mature set ups with soft slightly acidic water. As for small Plecs there are many options ranging vastly in price. Fish like Zebra Plecs can fetch up to 80 english pounds, however, there are chaeper fish like Leopard Frog Plecs, Bristlenoses, Clowns and a few others.

Good Luck

 

[Cheese Specialist]

As others have said the Rummys, Apistos and Cardinals are quite sensetive to Ph. I would introduce the Cory's at first as they are more hardier fish and they can help get the tanks Nitrogen cycle going as the other fish in the list prefer to be introduced to mature set ups with soft slightly acidic water. As for small Plecs there are many options ranging vastly in price. Fish like Zebra Plecs can fetch up to 80 english pounds, however, there are chaeper fish like Leopard Frog Plecs, Bristlenoses, Clowns and a few others.

Good Luck

Leopard Frogs Plecs (L134s) are great!! I have 1, would like another...

 

[Sanj]

Mr Cheese,

were you not going to get a Zebra plec??

I like them they 50 squid though. just wondering how hardy and easy to keep they are?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Mr Cheese,

were you not going to get a Zebra plec??

I like them they 50 squid though. just wondering how hardy and easy to keep they are?

LOL it's Miss Cheese,

I considered getting a zebra but it's a bit out of my league at £60. Alien_Spawn got one though. I am glad I didn't get one as I am hearing that they are hard to feed.

I alread had my L134 when I was considering the zebra. Got a L052, butterfly plec instead.

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

Thanks folks, sounds like I've got lots of choice! - depends what I can find available as well, I suppose. Are all these small plecs happy living with each other or would I be best sticking to one species?

And are there any fish for the middle/upper water that I can add early on?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Thanks folks, sounds like I've got lots of choice! - depends what I can find available as well, I suppose. Are all these small plecs happy living with each other or would I be best sticking to one species?

And are there any fish for the middle/upper water that I can add early on?

My plecs seem very happy with each other, maybe because I have big floor space and the are both veggies. They were sharing a plec tablet for breakfast a moment ago.

I am not sure with other fish. Are angels amazonian? I have never had an area tank or species.

 

[CFC]

Angels are amazonian


Most of the small "plec" species preffer to be kept in pairs or small groups, for instance zebra plecs should really be kept in a group of at least 6, especially if you want any chance of breeding them. If you want a solitary plec then go for one of the medium sized species such as the Panaques.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Clown plecs are a nice addition to the peaceful community tank but should be kept in a group of at least 3

Didn't know that.

I have had one for about a year or two now, should I get 2 more?