Tank Stocking - 55Gal Upgrade

[Wills]

Hi there I have a similar thread in the new worlds section but not got much attention so sorry about double post but I would like some input from people.

I have decided to upgrade my tank from a roma 125 to a roma 240 - the 240 I am after has a fluval FX5 so filtration is very nice. The tank will have a sand substrate for the earth eaters I am thinking of. I have been mulling around a stocking list for a while now. But I just want some opinions on these if possible please

At the moment in my 125 I have
2 Honduran Red Point (Amitala Sequila?)
3 Anastomus Ternetzi
1 L135
1 L235

I am thinking of adding
1 Aequedens Diedema
3 Geophagus Pindare
2 more Anastomus Ternetzi

or

2 Aequedens Diedema
1 Threadfin Acara - though had reports of very violent males
2 more Anastomus Ternetzi

I would also like a school for some action as my 3 foot is constantly dead the HRPs breed round the back of the plants the anastomus blend in with the valis and the plecs are nocturnal So I was thinking 6 flame tetras or similar size like bleeding hearts.

Let me know what you think
Wills

 

[JMatthew]

Careful with the Red Points. I don't have much experience with them as I just picked up 3 at an auction but, one of my trio has already nipped the tails of the other two. Basically, I'm not sure if the Flame Tetra would work or not.

 

[Wills]

Ive had the HRP for about 5 or 6 months now they ignore the other fish so far. Only issue I get is when a batch of eggs fail and the pair become quite stressed for a day or so but I'm actually hoping the presence of other cichlids will either make them breed a little less or improve the care and diligence of looking after the eggs. I had them with ruby barbs for a month or so and that went well but I gave them to a friend to top up her school and to make room for the headstanders.

Also with HRP you have to be careful about the strain you get as true HRP are typically quite docile though people have started crossing HRP and regular convicts and the reports from this mix is that it creates hyper agressive convicts.

But thanks I think I agree about the flames now. hmm any ideas for dithers? Would colubians work? Or are they just too big?
Wills

 

[Wills]

Just put the deposit down on this tank now Its mine all mine!!!!

So yeah what you guys think to the above?

Wills

 

[Wills]

Bump again? Anyone got anything to add do you think this mix will work do you think I should leave some out do I have too many cichlids in the plan? Or am I going to have to plan this alone?

 

[JMatthew]

Some sort of Barb might be able to hold their own. They are a little more expensive but, I'm partial to the Green Tiger Barbs. Sevens a good number and they pretty much always stick together from my experience. It's even funny when you first turn the light on in the morning and finding eachother seems to be their first priority.

But yeah, they stick to the middle and upper swim lanes 95% of the time and only seem to go lower if they are snagging some food they missed the first time around.

BTW - what colors are your HRP showing? Can't tell by the picute. Mine are showing mostly green with reddish/pink on their belly back to their tail. Also - any idea how to sex or are they trail and error? I saw a "pair" of blues also at the show (the only other HRPs at the show) but, they where not bagged well and was concerned about them surviving the trip home.

 

[Wills]

Some sort of Barb might be able to hold their own. They are a little more expensive but, I'm partial to the Green Tiger Barbs. Sevens a good number and they pretty much always stick together from my experience. It's even funny when you first turn the light on in the morning and finding eachother seems to be their first priority.

But yeah, they stick to the middle and upper swim lanes 95% of the time and only seem to go lower if they are snagging some food they missed the first time around.

BTW - what colors are your HRP showing? Can't tell by the picute. Mine are showing mostly green with reddish/pink on their belly back to their tail. Also - any idea how to sex or are they trail and error? I saw a "pair" of blues also at the show (the only other HRPs at the show) but, they where not bagged well and was concerned about them surviving the trip home.

HRPs are quite easy to sex the females fins are usually navy and the males tail is more pink also if you look at the head shape the females is much more pointed where as the males is more rounded with a very slight nuchal hump. My female gets a yellowy tinge to her body when she is in breeding dress but my male stays blue body pink tail but his breeding dress seems to wash out his stripes? Though after seeing a few pictures this is not uncommon. Generaly the females are much smaller than the males as well. The red glow on the belly is also a sign of females.

With the barbs I usually like to stick to one continent for fish but im unsure about bending that at the moment I do quite like tiger barbs and in a big enough school they would keep the bickering between themselves I think.

What do you think abou the mix of the other cichlids?

Thanks Wills