South American biotope

[MsDad]

I am having a custom tank built soon and really want to do a South American thing. The tank will be 36w x 30h x 20d (about 94 gal). I have had good luck with angels in the past, so would like to include 4-6, as well as a couple of dwarf Plecos and a few Corys. Obviously, there will be tetras (I'm thinking a large school of Neons, some Black Phantoms and Von Rios, plus several hatchets), but I'm stuck on where to go from here. I'm not married to anything here, so if someone says lose one species or the other I'm OK with that - but I would really like to use the angels as the foundation. I'm also wondering how a few fish from other places would fit into this equation (obviously, it would not be a purely South American tank at that point, but I am very partial to Kribensis and Congo Tetras). There is also the matter of "decor." Plants (which ones) or no plants?, sand, gravel or a mixture?, rocks?, driftwood?, the list is endless. Any input will be greatly appreciated. You can post replies to the forum or e-mail me directly to [email protected].

Thanks!

Eddie

 

[wetwetwet]

HiYa and welcome MsDad

What are your local tap water conditions like ?

If your planning on setting up a biotope it's often easier to arrange it arround your existing water conditions so that your not having to adjust the water too much - keeps things simple

 

[CFC]

most of the fish you listed aren't too fussy about water conditions providing your water isn't excessively hard or alkali,however if you want to keep angels your have to lose the neons and other small tetras as the angels will see these as food,(we found this out the hard way a few years back).Good luck with the new tank and happy fish keeping

 

[Very Fishy]

If you are using Angels as the centre point of your tank, forget about neon tetras. As the Angels grow, they will eat the tetras(believe me, I speak from experience ) You can go with some of the larger tetras. Also, check your tap water PH. Most South American fish like slightly acidic water and if your tap water is alkaline, it is very difficult to reduce the PH levels. Most of the fish are hardy though and will put up less than ideal conditions.

 

[MsDad]

Well, so much for the Neon idea! I've never tried the combination and I've never had Angels that tried to eat any other fish, so I thought it may work. No problem, back to the drawing board. Now I'm considering Severum instead of the Angels. Any suggestions here???

 

[cichlidmaster]

MsDad,

Severums would work, but IMO you would only be able to keep a pair in a tank this size. Severum can attain an adult size of 8-10". They are also more aggressive than angels and therefore should not be housed with the fish you listed.

How about a few festivum?? These are a less aggressive fish and although they can get to 6"+ they should do fine with smaller tropicals. I would still stay away from neons though!!

Mesonauta festivus

Here is a pic of my turquoise severum...Heros appendiculatum

Hope this helped!!

CM

 

[CFC]

Also one other thing that CM didn't add was that both Severums and Festivums will utterly destroy any plants you may want to add,just something i thought i should add as most shops dont tell you this when you buy them.

 

[cichlidmaster]

While it's true that severum will uproot and eat plant's, festivum tend to leave them alone.

Festivum are also not prone to the customary digging that severums are. Festivum actually like plant's as they use them as cover to retreat to when they feel threatened.

CM

 

[CFC]

Sorry to ruffle your feathers CM,i was only speaking from personal experiance i once introduced both to a planted community tank and they vandalised it beyond recognition in amatter of days.

 

[MsDad]

Hmmm, maybe it's Plan A after all (minus the Neons, of course). Thanks for the words of wisdom regarding the Sevs. As I've never had them, I didn't know what to expect. What Tetras would give me a similar effect as the Neons (some color, but especially the movement of a large school)? I'm thinking of my original thought of Angels, Congo Tetras, Hatchets and a pair of Kribs (I've had a pair spawn in a 20-gal community tank with good success). Obviously, this combo wouldn't be a true South American tank, but I think all the fish would be compatible and would certainly look good together. Now as to the tank itself.....I'm thinking about a sand/gravel substrate with rocks, driftwood and plants. Any suggestions here???

 

[Gibbo]

Sounds good MsDad, Hatchet wise I'd reccommend Silver as opposed to Marbled Hatchets as they get larger and are less skittish. B)

 

[cichlidmaster]

Hey cat fish crazy..........

No ruffled feathers here my friend

Like you I am speaking from personal experiance and experiances of other breeders I know.

I have no doubt that you experianced the total opposite of me. Fish are unpredictable at best and we all know behavior that one fish exhibits another of the same species can show a totally different side to them.

I always try to suggest fish according to my experiances with them as well as people I know who have had similar experiances.

Keep posting my friend because without a wide array of peoples experiances no one can get the total picture of a fishes behavior

CM

 

[CFC]

MSdad,you could try cardinal tetras instead of the neons as these have the same colouring but grow slightly bigger (about 5cm)but you would have to either place them in the tank before the angels,so as to give them some time to grow (cardinals usualy arrive in the shops smaller than neons)or source out some larger ones (this can prove expensive, ive seen grown cardinals at £2.50 each ).

 

[MsDad]

Cardinals. huh? I'd really not given them much thought. They are very hard to find here in North Florida. In fact, the few times I have seen them they were sold as Neons as often as Cardinals! Fortunately, a new LFS just opened near my house and the owner said he could order anything I want, so maybe I'll give it a shot. This may turn out like I wanted after all!!!

 

[William]

Cardinals also are immune to the "neon tetra disease" which is uncurable and particularily nasty for neons!! I've got some cardinals myself and would recommend them