My New 6x2x2!

[FeroX]

Well well well, I've finally gotten my 6x2x2 tank for oddballs/predators (not sure which forum to put in, oddballs or preds so I put in preds because I'm more interested in them) Now I need help stocking . I have SO many ideas in mind I can't even put 2 thoughts together anymore lol.

So far filtration is 2x Rena XP3 canisters. Is that enough? I AM looking for oddballs/preds so knowing they're dirty fish, should I be doing 2x XP4s? Or do you think I could get a powerful HOB filter along w/ my XP3s? W/e, reccomend me filtration if needed. I'm obviously quite partial to Rena, and not really looking to spend copious amounts on eheim....so if I could get away with XP3/4s let me know .

Help me with my stocking list, and reccomend ANYTHING! I work in a good LFS so I can potentially order whatever. I was thinking of some (but not only) these fish though:



2 or 3 Hepsetus odoe - African Odoe Pike
Some sort of REALLY COOL catfish, was looking at Gulper cats, but feared they'd eat everything in the tank =\ This is where I need advice
1 Mastacembelus armatus / Tire track eel?
1 Protopterus annectens / African Lung fish?
1 "needle-nose" gar, even though it's not actually a Gar - Would he be ok in there?
Toadfish. Now, I REALLY love these guys but was wondering if they are indeed truly a freshwater species their ENTIRE lives or would I have to move him eventually to brackish/marine?

Bah, I dunno, I can't think properly anymore, too many fish swimming though my mind right now, every time I think of a new one, I see another species (listed or not) being able to eat it. I even see conflicts on my above list. Someone please help me stock my mainly predatory yet some oddballs could be thrown in there tank.

CFC?


EDIT - Oh btw substrate would be sand and decor would be few large-ish pieces of bogwood. Lighting would be fairly subdued, and I'll also be buying some lights for nocturnal viewing, so any nocturnal specimens don't get left out in the lovin'.

 

[FeroX]

Anyone? CFC?!!?!?!/1

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I think the african lungfish will get too big, but I am not sure. Needlenose gars are schooling fish and are some of the most skittish fish I have come across, and are even more skittish when kept alone. Your tank is definitely big enough for them though, so if you wanted them, I would recommend keeping at least three. I don't really know very much as far as large predatory cats go, but take a look in the catfish species index, you are bound to find something you like. Or if CFC doesn't respond to this thread, pm him. When you said Toadfish, I am assuming you meant frogfish? If so, it will eventually need a brackish or marine tank depending on the species. They are incredibly cool fish though, one of my favorite. I have absolutely no idea about the african pikes.

For your tank, I would suggest a large bichir as an alternative to the lungfish.

Ryan

 

[FeroX]

No I meant the "freshwater" toadfish that's related to opsanus tau, but later researched they need brackish. I didn't know needle-nosed were schooling and were skittish (granted I have done little research on them), so they're out. If the AFL gets too large then a bichir was definitely next on my list.

I'll give CFC a PM and see what he thinks.

 

[CFC]

Where to start?

Right, Hepsetus odoe are very aggressive to other fish that swim in the upper and middle reaches of the tank so mixing them with needle nose or any other gar, pike or baracuda like fish is a bad idea, they have big teeth and they really do know how to use them.

Gulper cats dont get that name for nothing, they can and almost certainly will consume any fish up to nearly twice their own size so they dont mix well in predator communities, anything that is too big to be eaten will probably eat the gulper cat. Big predatory catfish are always a risk in pred communities (as i recently rediscovered to the loss of a 5" stingray) so choose species with caution or go with non predatory cats like large Doradids.

African lungfish are species tank only, they are just purely nasty and will kill fish just for being there, NOTHING is safe with them. However if you really like lung fish then the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, is community safe with large fish providing they are active and dont just sit around on the bottom where the lungfish can sneak up and bite them.

Large spiny eels like tyre tracks do well in large fish communities, no problems there.

There is a freshwater toad fish (Thalassophryne amazonica) but they are fairly small fish that are difficult to feed due to their sedentry lifestyle and need for live foods, in community type tanks they usually just starve as they will just sit and wait for the feeders to sit on their head.

 

[8inary]

instead of going for a large tire track eel, I would suggest going for a fire eel. I have both and whilst they are lovely, the fire eel gets bigger and look wise (colour) is more impressive, or, have both, they will live with each other and will sleep side by side.

 

[CFC]

Theres not much difference in size between tyre tracks and fire eels, the fire eel gets a few inches longer but the tyre track is a bulkier heavier fish. Tyre tracks are usually less fussy and easier to feed than fire eels so normally make better community eels.

As adults large spiny eels can be quite aggressive to others of the same species/genus so IMO a 6x2x2 would only be suitable for one.

 

[Paul_MTS]

With fire eels being picky eaters it usually takes a very long time to get them to a good size.

I've grown a 3" worm size tyre track to a 24" monster in just 3 years. Personally I prefer tyre tracks, they have a more more interesting pattern where as the majority of fire eels are black with red edging.

Here is my old Armatus tyre track..

and my old flavus (sp?).... (yep 2 species of tyre track eel!)

he's now 33"...

 

[Straydum]

not everybody shares similar preferences or tastes. i find both the fire and tyre track almost equally beautiful though i'd give my vote to the fire eel a good specimen really contrasts the black and red on top of their own patterns and it'd be really stunning

 

[FeroX]

Where to start?

Right, Hepsetus odoe are very aggressive to other fish that swim in the upper and middle reaches of the tank so mixing them with needle nose or any other gar, pike or baracuda like fish is a bad idea, they have big teeth and they really do know how to use them.

Gulper cats dont get that name for nothing, they can and almost certainly will consume any fish up to nearly twice their own size so they dont mix well in predator communities, anything that is too big to be eaten will probably eat the gulper cat. Big predatory catfish are always a risk in pred communities (as i recently rediscovered to the loss of a 5" stingray) so choose species with caution or go with non predatory cats like large Doradids.

African lungfish are species tank only, they are just purely nasty and will kill fish just for being there, NOTHING is safe with them. However if you really like lung fish then the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, is community safe with large fish providing they are active and dont just sit around on the bottom where the lungfish can sneak up and bite them.

Large spiny eels like tyre tracks do well in large fish communities, no problems there.

There is a freshwater toad fish (Thalassophryne amazonica) but they are fairly small fish that are difficult to feed due to their sedentry lifestyle and need for live foods, in community type tanks they usually just starve as they will just sit and wait for the feeders to sit on their head.

I REALLY like the Hepsetus odoe, so I think I'll keep them and ditch a needle-nose. They do like to be kept in groups right? Would 3 be ok? And yeah, I figurd with the Gulper's this would be the problem, if so, unfortunately, they're out. I guess so is the AFL. Tire-track is OK, that's good. The toadfish I would have no trouble directly feeding him live, but I'm sort of having second thoughts about him...

I'm very unframiliar with large catfish, CFC, could you point me in the right direction in terms of Doradids? I looked in the index but found nothing, but I'm probably just stupid. If I don't go for a large cat I would probably do 3-6 Pictus pims. I may also just throw in some large SA cichlid in there, maube a nicaraguense cichlid and Firemouth or something (since I have an affinity with SA cichlids =\) Any other cool preds you could think of?

Also, is my filtration mentioned in OP good enough?

instead of going for a large tire track eel, I would suggest going for a fire eel. I have both and whilst they are lovely, the fire eel gets bigger and look wise (colour) is more impressive, or, have both, they will live with each other and will sleep side by side.

Naw I like the wide girth of the tire track better.

Theres not much difference in size between tyre tracks and fire eels, the fire eel gets a few inches longer but the tyre track is a bulkier heavier fish. Tyre tracks are usually less fussy and easier to feed than fire eels so normally make better community eels.

As adults large spiny eels can be quite aggressive to others of the same species/genus so IMO a 6x2x2 would only be suitable for one.

Yup, just 1 tire track was my plan.

With fire eels being picky eaters it usually takes a very long time to get them to a good size.

I've grown a 3" worm size tyre track to a 24" monster in just 3 years. Personally I prefer tyre tracks, they have a more more interesting pattern where as the majority of fire eels are black with red edging.

Here is my old Armatus tyre track..

and my old flavus (sp?).... (yep 2 species of tyre track eel!)

he's now 33"...

Nice, beautiful.

Thx for all the replies guys.

 

[Paul_MTS]

I had a group of 3 african pikes, they did very well together, didn't have a problem with them attacking others, although my arowana would tend to keep them in line.

Sorry I'm not familiar with Rena filters, I would run 2 of the biggest ehiem pro 2's on that size tank (2028's).

Megalodoras Uroscopes (sp?) grow up to 2ft, my one got to 16" before I sold it and it has some beautiful patterns on it. Although be cautious when handling! There spikes really are sharp as I found out when it closed it's pectoral fin down on my finger, needless to say a strong flow of blood followed!

Pim pictus could become snakes to the larger fish your choosing. Sorubim limas are a good choice. Have a look at the Bolt catfish Aguaronichthys torosus there a atractive active largish cat, also the spotted shovelnose are nice but getting harder to find.

 

[rixy]

hows the tank coming along???have you bought the odoes yet???be nice to see some pics.i have an odoe approx 12" long.he is in a tank on his own.my odoe is the best fish i've ever owned and will be a keeper till he dies.

mark

 

[FeroX]

Takes a lot longer to save up than a couple weeks.

 

[simonas]

if you like the toadfish I have two in a 36 inch tank and they are fine cos they never move but i still love them due to their interesting faces and look

plus the noise they make when they eat is good

 

[Straydum]

arent toadfishes marine?

anyway what i'd do is get every species of bichir available.