The Puffer Forum

Well I've given up on my original stocking plan for my 110 (60"L x 24"W x 18"H).

5-6 - Vaillantella Maassi
20-30 - Dario Dario (Scarlet Badis)
3-4 - Dwarf Puffers
1- Royal Pleco

The Maassi have been completely impossible to find in North America. I found a couple people that had them in Europe but nothing over here.

I was able to get some Dario Dario but they wouldn't eat frozen food. I tried letting the food sink and nothing. I tried various currents at different levels in the tank to make the bloodworms and mosquito larvae "swim" and nothing. I tried stirring, I tried letting it float on the surface, i tried flakes, I tried putting the food in the filter...nothing. Of the 35 I had originally bought, a few died on the trip home. A few died after the introduction to the new tank. A few more died within days. A couple were snagged by shrimp, a couple were filtered, a few disappeared and the remaining starved on me.

Dwarf puffers have been pretty hard to find. Though Big Al's in London said they should be able to get them in this month.

Royal Plecos have been available but for triple what they are worth. They may be in season again soon.

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But on to the new idea.

Currently the tank is inhabited by a dozen or more or less Kuhli loaches, 8 Amano Shrimp and two ghost shrimp.

I'm thinking a group of maybe 6-7 Pictus cats would be happy.

Given the fact I'm also looking for a pink fish for a 10 gallon to keep in my daughter's room... I could throw a couple pinkish guppies into the 10 gallon, let them multiply and feed the fry to Pictus. Of course that would be in conjunction with other foods.

I can honestly say this was an idea that came up within the last couple of hours and not at all researched like my previous idea.

Opinions?

why are Cichlids so popular?

Cichlids are almost as varied as fish in general. So many temperments, colours, living conditions, sizes. The options are almost endless with them. Most are active, some thrive as individuals in a cichlid community, others thrive as a breeding pair while yet others thrive just by themselves in a big ole tank on the prowl.

In short, they appeal to almost everyone.

Don't forget a lot of people like seeing them destroy other living things (read: Oscars devouring comet goldfish).

I've always loved Jewels and Electric Yellows. I coworker had a breeding pair of each in the same tank and they were amazing to watch. They looked beautiful and were wonderful watch while in their mating mode and fry raising. Just their general character was like nothing I've ever seen. They were perfect neighbours along with the Demasonis. Too bad he had to move and the fish died when he gave them to a friend of his.

for a 110 ... single black or green aro

My vote is for a Fahaka Puffer, that foot print is perfect

Edit that tank isnt 110g its 150G

J-P wrote:for a 110 ... single black or green aro

HA! They remind me of the "Yip Yip Alien" muppets and/or Beaker.

xrayjeeper83 wrote:My vote is for a Fahaka Puffer, that foot print is perfect

Edit that tank isnt 110g its 150G

Fixed the dimensions. Thanks Xray. Correct dimensions: 60Lx24Wx18H

Still a great size for a fahaka. height doesnt mater so much

I hate cichlids. I just don't get it, they're everywhere and most of the time they're ugly.

I do really really want an Oscar right now. When I can afford a 150G ill move Bloat to it and then use his current tank for a oscar or 2

xrayjeeper83 wrote:Still a great size for a fahaka. height doesnt mater so much

Nah too small. A Fahaka should be in a 200 or larger. A 110 like I have can't offer much in the way of envrionment for a mature fish. It'd be like having a bedroom with your computer desk, a bed, a dresser, a lazy boy and a bookshelf, with no door.

Flutter wrote:I hate cichlids. I just don't get it, they're everywhere and most of the time they're ugly.

Well Tess, I will agreed they are everywhere but usually kept in an obviously overstocked tank not even setup to encourage their natural behaviours. When they are kept in a proper environment they are much different than what you see in fish stores and the average overstocked tank.

my friend and I kept oscars for a while .. PITA fish they are..

pike on the other hand are beautiful!

I have an attraction to sleek bodied fish as opposed to wide bodied fish.

u know there is a lake in africa which has 1000 species of fish,most of which are chicklets-well thats what i call them to each their own i guess

malawi?

or the beaches of South Africa?