New Stock:ideas Please. South American Puffers?

[jua]

I have a 55L tank. 60cm x 30 x 38H
I have a plec and neons in there
Was looking to add a pair of discus and the LFS store assured me this would be absolutely fine
You guys on here have assured me it is far too small !
Thay had also said i could have South American Puffers too - a pair again.
Is that right ?
Would an Angel be OK instead of the discus ?
Am after something not too small - and with colour.
Any ideas ?
Thanks!

 

[jua]

bump!

 

[kelly528]

bump!

You'll want to look at a caresheet... puffers are not only nippy, but have extremely sharp beaks capable of taking chunks out of other fish. They also require brackish water and a solid diet of crustaceans and live food, not to mention they are extremely messy when they eat it!

LFS usually don't replace more expensive, finicky fish like discus if they die on you, which is why he recommended them to you lol!

To err on the side of caution, NEVER NEVER NEVER rely solely on stocking advice from a LFS employee. You are better off asking another customer, IMO!

 

[jua]

Thanks Kelly for your advice
The South American Puffers are the non-aggressive type.
From the little research I've done - they dont require brackish..
but i shall definitely take your comments on board!
Am still sad about not baing able to have the Discus so am now trying to decide on the SAPs or not.. i'd have loved Angels but once again - tank too small

 

[kelly528]

If we are talking 14 USG (55 Litres) puffers are pretty much out of the question. They're extremely messy fish in every respect! Why not go with a couple dwarf gouramis? 2 males (no females) would make a nice centrepiece.

 

[jua]

actually gouramis were amongst the first fish i initially fell in love with at the LFS
shall def reconsider now! thanks!
btw would 2 males be ok without a female in there?

 

[lilacamy931]

Hi the main problem with South American Puffers they are very prone to pacing and your tank would not be suitable to their needs, I would imagine some pretty stressed puffers in there.

Definately consider the dwarf gouramis a much better stocking option, hardier and suitable. Perhaps go for a male and female or two females as the problem with having two males in there is they will need to set up their own terrotories and unsure if that will be enough space.

 

[jua]

Aww thanks everyone for your input - i really appreciate it..whats the likelihood of lil ones if i stock males and females?

 

[lilacamy931]

Im not the best at this as only read up but have found that dwarf gouramis tend to be relatively easy to breed, if you input in google "dwarf gourami breeding" there are hundreds of pages with techinques that may be useful to you. Gouramis are labyrinth breathers so build bubblenests, the process is quite fascinating

 

[kelly528]

Definately consider the dwarf gouramis a much better stocking option, hardier and suitable. Perhaps go for a male and female or two females as the problem with having two males in there is they will need to set up their own terrotories and unsure if that will be enough space.

Males should only butt heads if there is a female for them to squabble over. So if you want to go for colour, get 2 males. If you want males and females, be advised: Although pet stores usually sell them in pairs, you will definitely want to outnumber your males with females. The males are real wifebeaters so you will want at least 2 females to distibute his affections!

Mine have never done so in their community setup, but they are quite easy to breed so if you induce them it should work. A few fry may survive, but it is hard to guarantee they won't all get eaten unless you separate them from the community.

I should also mention that males come in a few color morphs, most notably 'Powder Blue', 'Neon Red' and your garden variety Red and Blue striped. So if you go for 2 males you could get different colors.

As far as stocking goes, I would give you room for either a pair of males or a male and 2 girlfriends.

All in all, I find them to be lively, colorful fish that fill the shoes of 'centerpiece' quite well! It is espescially funny to watch the females hang out together and stroke each other with their feelers!

Can I ask what type of pleco you have? If it's a common then you're in trouble.

 

[jua]

Actually I wasnt looking to breed - just wondered if it was likely or they required specific conditions etc.

Having researched online - looks like its a sailfin plec..so now i really do think i am in trouble!

 

[kelly528]

Actually I wasnt looking to breed - just wondered if it was likely or they required specific conditions etc.

A large water change will induce them so you'll be fine.

Having researched online - looks like its a sailfin plec..so now i really do think i am in trouble!

Eep! You should take it back and scoop up some cories if you want a good bottom feeder.

 

[jua]

Oh my goodness Kelly
I just looked up what fish you had - from your signature and I am in shock..
..this tank is something i 'inherited' from a friend who lost interest. I was told that what I had was a plec; and neons..
Having looked at them online i now know i have a sailfin plec; 2 harlequin rasboras and 1 zebra danio!! I am so so shocked..
..at my plain ignorance!

 

[kelly528]

Prepare yourself lol... I started with a 10g I dragged out of the basement when I came home from my first year of university in May! Now they're all in my room and I have no idea how I'll squeeze them into a dorm next year, much less what all my friends will think of me becoming a fish-geek! It's like a hard drug... expensive, time-consuming and ADDICTIVE!

 

[jua]

pre-husband and kids i had a lovely 3 foot tropical set-up with angels in - in a housemove the tank cracked and the rest is history...

Tell me: do u think if i add 2/3 gouramis and a handful of these tiny little tetra's I've seen..will they all fit in alright do u think ? EMBER Tetras they are called..