Azaeil
Fish Fanatic
Hey there! I've got a few questions after a long while of having been inactive from this community.
Disclaimer before we get to the meaty parts - I've had all but six of the inhabitants for more than 2 months and have carefully observed their behaviors with each other to be peaceful and non-threatening.
The tank: 20 gal long equipped with an Aqueon 20 gal Quietflow filter and heater with a digital thermometer rigged to it, and a deluxe hood with a Spectrum florescent light in it. It is floored with natural color small gravel, custom-made silk plants (ferns, spider plants, leaf clusters), and decorations of 3 small rock caves, a 'broken jar' and several sandrock arches. The tank itself is set on the top of my bedshelf over my head so I can look up and see the fish from where I sleep.
Occupants:
I have two main 'centerpiece' fish in my tank, a male giant plakat cambodian red butterfly betta who is a living example of a gentle giant. He has not once bothered any of the fishmates in his territory the entire 10 months that I've had him and I have not been disappointed in my investment when I siezed him at a Petco. Back then he was almost pure white with a rosy color to his fins and golden fin rays. Since then he has gained a glorious pale rust color to his body, which darkens to a deep rust with a white banding along the outer edges and no sign of his golden rays.
My second pride and joy is a 6.5 inch peacock eel. He was 5 inches when I got him about a month after the betta. The two stared at each other for a while and then ignored each other. Since then he's usually hid in the gravel or cave (always uprooting the silk plants I painstakingly arrange in the tank.. the little nuisance ¬.¬ ) But lately since the upgrade into the 20 gal tank he's not been burrowing and actually has been seen lounging or swimming around outside his numerous caves, and when he's in the caves he's either half out or chilling just inside the entrance on top of the gravel. I'm glad for his sudden change of behavior. I have a video of him swimming around and yes I know he's a bit pale for a typical peacock - he's always been like that.
Click for video (not sure how frowned upon it is to post a media link, if it's allowed I'll swap this out for a media window)
(yes the betta is rather chubby, this was taken right after feeding them)
Also seen in that tank is one of the three glass catfish who are still adjusting to their tank. I had been hoping they'd settle enough to swim more but they like to stick low level and hide near the plants. Also there are three Ram Cichlids for color and activity, but again they also only show themselves during feeding time, and rarely out away from the plants any other time. The black khulis also only appear during feeding.
Query:
I was wondering with what I have right now, if stocking the tank with some mid and upper level fish would be a wise decision to go with and if so what kinds that are typically non-agressive and can tolerate a large betta investigating them for a bit? The dominant cichlid does get nudged around slightly by the betta from time to time when the betta finds the cichlid a little too self-sure about his dominance in the tank, but not once has he ripped any fins and vice versa.
I'm not looking to stock new fish right away as I might be moving soon, or I may stock them now while I still have nearby easy access to the petstores. I've yet to check out a couple of the privately owned petstores so they may have more variety in fish that I can aquire.
I was told not to have any bottom feeders with the eel, so the three khulis are what I'll be sticking with for now as they aren't exactly.. smart enough.. to pick out the shrimp from the plants like the eel can, at least the ones the betta doesn't pig out on ¬.¬ I feed them a thawed cube of brine shrimp/bloodworms in the evenings, and a small ammount of flake food in the morning. I can easily accommodate herbivorous fish in the tank.
Another side question about the cichlids, I know this should be on a separate topic/forum but it still applies to the community tank situation, I know some species are omnivorous, but I saw nothing about the Rams so I was wondering if they're complete carnivores or omnivores. If they're omnivores what safe vegetation can I supplement them with? I'm asking that question so I know what to feed any herbivorous fish that might be added to the tank.
Disclaimer before we get to the meaty parts - I've had all but six of the inhabitants for more than 2 months and have carefully observed their behaviors with each other to be peaceful and non-threatening.
The tank: 20 gal long equipped with an Aqueon 20 gal Quietflow filter and heater with a digital thermometer rigged to it, and a deluxe hood with a Spectrum florescent light in it. It is floored with natural color small gravel, custom-made silk plants (ferns, spider plants, leaf clusters), and decorations of 3 small rock caves, a 'broken jar' and several sandrock arches. The tank itself is set on the top of my bedshelf over my head so I can look up and see the fish from where I sleep.
Occupants:
I have two main 'centerpiece' fish in my tank, a male giant plakat cambodian red butterfly betta who is a living example of a gentle giant. He has not once bothered any of the fishmates in his territory the entire 10 months that I've had him and I have not been disappointed in my investment when I siezed him at a Petco. Back then he was almost pure white with a rosy color to his fins and golden fin rays. Since then he has gained a glorious pale rust color to his body, which darkens to a deep rust with a white banding along the outer edges and no sign of his golden rays.
My second pride and joy is a 6.5 inch peacock eel. He was 5 inches when I got him about a month after the betta. The two stared at each other for a while and then ignored each other. Since then he's usually hid in the gravel or cave (always uprooting the silk plants I painstakingly arrange in the tank.. the little nuisance ¬.¬ ) But lately since the upgrade into the 20 gal tank he's not been burrowing and actually has been seen lounging or swimming around outside his numerous caves, and when he's in the caves he's either half out or chilling just inside the entrance on top of the gravel. I'm glad for his sudden change of behavior. I have a video of him swimming around and yes I know he's a bit pale for a typical peacock - he's always been like that.
Click for video (not sure how frowned upon it is to post a media link, if it's allowed I'll swap this out for a media window)
(yes the betta is rather chubby, this was taken right after feeding them)
Also seen in that tank is one of the three glass catfish who are still adjusting to their tank. I had been hoping they'd settle enough to swim more but they like to stick low level and hide near the plants. Also there are three Ram Cichlids for color and activity, but again they also only show themselves during feeding time, and rarely out away from the plants any other time. The black khulis also only appear during feeding.
Query:
I was wondering with what I have right now, if stocking the tank with some mid and upper level fish would be a wise decision to go with and if so what kinds that are typically non-agressive and can tolerate a large betta investigating them for a bit? The dominant cichlid does get nudged around slightly by the betta from time to time when the betta finds the cichlid a little too self-sure about his dominance in the tank, but not once has he ripped any fins and vice versa.
I'm not looking to stock new fish right away as I might be moving soon, or I may stock them now while I still have nearby easy access to the petstores. I've yet to check out a couple of the privately owned petstores so they may have more variety in fish that I can aquire.
I was told not to have any bottom feeders with the eel, so the three khulis are what I'll be sticking with for now as they aren't exactly.. smart enough.. to pick out the shrimp from the plants like the eel can, at least the ones the betta doesn't pig out on ¬.¬ I feed them a thawed cube of brine shrimp/bloodworms in the evenings, and a small ammount of flake food in the morning. I can easily accommodate herbivorous fish in the tank.
Another side question about the cichlids, I know this should be on a separate topic/forum but it still applies to the community tank situation, I know some species are omnivorous, but I saw nothing about the Rams so I was wondering if they're complete carnivores or omnivores. If they're omnivores what safe vegetation can I supplement them with? I'm asking that question so I know what to feed any herbivorous fish that might be added to the tank.
