Large Empty Tank And Thinking Of Oscars.....

[star4]

If you fancy Brazilliensis I have a nice group of 4 one male 3 female

 

[Flagtail]

From that list I dont think that geophagus jurupari, sant leocusta, sant daemon, gymnogeophagus cf. rhabdotus or Whiptail plecos would work as the geos wouldnt cope with an oscar but not sure actually? But the gymnogeophagus are a nono as they have very specialist needs. And the whiptail wont be able to compete with the big plec or the big cichlids for food.

Wills

I have kept geos with oscars, green terrors, etc with no problem.

 

[mattlee]

ok my stocking is now coming into place with actual fish so far i have got -

2 x small sun cats
1 x BGK
1 x frontosa (if star can hang onto him for me)
1 x red spotted severum (if star can hang on to him for me)

i really need to get cracking with this tank and get it set up and cycled now......

 

[Flagtail]

ok my stocking is now coming into place with actual fish so far i have got -

2 x small sun cats
1 x BGK
1 x frontosa (if star can hang onto him for me)
1 x red spotted severum (if star can hang on to him for me)

i really need to get cracking with this tank and get it set up and cycled now......

Would you want any dithers?

 

[mattlee]

ok my stocking is now coming into place with actual fish so far i have got -

2 x small sun cats
1 x BGK
1 x frontosa (if star can hang onto him for me)
1 x red spotted severum (if star can hang on to him for me)

i really need to get cracking with this tank and get it set up and cycled now......

Would you want any dithers?

im not sure im going to put the bigger fish in first and see how it looks. i dont want to over do it as its not a display tank more a wetpet tank.

 

[Wills]

Dither and target fish are actually quite an important part of a cichlid tank, its the same theory and reason for keeping tiger barbs in high numbers so that all the aggression gets spread about if you see what I mean? It helps to try and keep specific aggression on one fish for too long, though sometimes it still does not work out. In my tank at present the two main territory holders are my Sev and my Nic but my juvi geos actually work as dithers that get chased and because it gets spread about there is very little damage in my tank.

Wills

 

[mattlee]

Dither and target fish are actually quite an important part of a cichlid tank, its the same theory and reason for keeping tiger barbs in high numbers so that all the aggression gets spread about if you see what I mean? It helps to try and keep specific aggression on one fish for too long, though sometimes it still does not work out. In my tank at present the two main territory holders are my Sev and my Nic but my juvi geos actually work as dithers that get chased and because it gets spread about there is very little damage in my tank.

Wills

i have been offered 2 denisonii barbs that are about fully grown by an lfs really cheap as they were given to them by a customer. i was thinking of adding thes to the tank but with only 2 i cant see them being too happy and trying to find more of the same size might be difficult as most for sale are tiny....
i also thought that with only 3 cichlids they would have plenty of room to get peace if it kicked off..

 

[Wills]

Yeah if you only have 2 of the denisons its not really ideal for them, even with 3 it could still get nasty. I mean by all means try it without and you could be fine without but it could help give the frontosa more confidence?

Wills

 

[mattlee]

Yeah if you only have 2 of the denisons its not really ideal for them, even with 3 it could still get nasty. I mean by all means try it without and you could be fine without but it could help give the frontosa more confidence?

Wills

i think that was going to be my plan. try them out together and keep an eye on them. as im hopefully buying mature fish they will already have a state of mind about them so shouldnt take long to know if they will be alright on their own.
if it does get quite nasty then ill have to think about adding dithers i guess. i just didnt want to get them unless needed as i didnt want to fill all the space up in the tank and keep it open.
do you have any suggestions apart from geos, silverdollars and denisonii barbs just incase?
it is a shame about the barbs as the lfs has had them in the sump for ages as a pair but they look so much better as a group... i have a group of 7 in another tank and they ae brilliant active fish that shoal together all the time.

 

[hamfist]

Matt,
You don't seem too keen on target/dithers and I think you are right to put the big fish in first and see how it goes. I, also, don't like target/dithers and it is certainly possible to have a very successful cichlid community without them, with carefully chosen fish. My philosophy is always to give the cihclids plenty of space and cover. I'm defo a fan of slight understocking with larger fish. From what I'm reading you seem to be thinking much on the same lines.

Another frequently mentioned dither are giant danios BTW. Although I think a full grown frontosa would pick them off. I suspect something bigger would be needed.

 

[mattlee]

Matt,
You don't seem too keen on target/dithers and I think you are right to put the big fish in first and see how it goes. I, also, don't like target/dithers and it is certainly possible to have a very successful cichlid community without them, with carefully chosen fish. My philosophy is always to give the cihclids plenty of space and cover. I'm defo a fan of slight understocking with larger fish. From what I'm reading you seem to be thinking much on the same lines.

Another frequently mentioned dither are giant danios BTW. Although I think a full grown frontosa would pick them off. I suspect something bigger would be needed.

spot on Hamfist. im hoping that the fish will be ok as they are but with cichlids you just never know. from what star has told be the frontosa and red spotted sev are quite tame and not overly aggressive so im crossing my fingers that they stay that way when introduced into my tank. my sun cats are still small and the Bgk is about 4 inches so there is no threat from them and im currently searching for the L114. the only other fish on the list in an oscar and im going to follow stars advice and add a 3 ish inch fish due to the growth rate. ill let all these fish settle in and get used to each other and grow a bit then assess the tank and take it from there really.

 

[Flagtail]

Dither and target fish are actually quite an important part of a cichlid tank, its the same theory and reason for keeping tiger barbs in high numbers so that all the aggression gets spread about if you see what I mean? It helps to try and keep specific aggression on one fish for too long, though sometimes it still does not work out. In my tank at present the two main territory holders are my Sev and my Nic but my juvi geos actually work as dithers that get chased and because it gets spread about there is very little damage in my tank.

Wills

i have been offered 2 denisonii barbs that are about fully grown by an lfs really cheap as they were given to them by a customer. i was thinking of adding thes to the tank but with only 2 i cant see them being too happy and trying to find more of the same size might be difficult as most for sale are tiny....
i also thought that with only 3 cichlids they would have plenty of room to get peace if it kicked off..

Yeah you could probably get them and buy some cheap tinfoil barbs.

 

[mattlee]

Dither and target fish are actually quite an important part of a cichlid tank, its the same theory and reason for keeping tiger barbs in high numbers so that all the aggression gets spread about if you see what I mean? It helps to try and keep specific aggression on one fish for too long, though sometimes it still does not work out. In my tank at present the two main territory holders are my Sev and my Nic but my juvi geos actually work as dithers that get chased and because it gets spread about there is very little damage in my tank.

Wills

i have been offered 2 denisonii barbs that are about fully grown by an lfs really cheap as they were given to them by a customer. i was thinking of adding thes to the tank but with only 2 i cant see them being too happy and trying to find more of the same size might be difficult as most for sale are tiny....
i also thought that with only 3 cichlids they would have plenty of room to get peace if it kicked off..

Yeah you could probably get them and buy some cheap tinfoil barbs.

but the thing is just having 2 denisons wont be a good thing for them as they are very much a shoaling fish. they have been in the lfs in the sump for ages now so i guess they are use to being a pair but its not ideal.... maybe i could get them and let them live out their last few years in my tank... ill wait and see though.
tinfoil barbs get way too big for what i would want. if i needed dithers i would go for the smallest i could get away with.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Would it be too much of a risk to put your young six(?) denisonii with the adults in this big tank right now?

 

[Verminator89]

A shoal of denisonii would be awesome. I know you already have a few in another tank so you might fancy something different but in a big tank these would be my first choice as a shoaling fish. They are big, stocky and can hold thier own.