Biotope

[brad]

I`d like to make a biotope around my Cacatuaoides. I was wondering if you guys see any problems with the tankmates I`ve chosen and if you could suggest any alternatives. I`m having an especially hard time with plants. here`s what I`d like:
29 gallon long
3 apisto Cacatuoides
3 Julii cories
2 angelfish
6 marble hatchets

As far as plants go, all I`ve really been able to find is cobomba (which slowly died in my other tank) broad leaf sword, and hydrocotyle.
So, whatcha think?

 

[cdawson]

a 29 gallon is a little on the small side for both a harem of cactuoides and two angelfish or angelfish at all. Two angelfish would need at least a 55 gallon. I would go with everything else but the angelfish.

 

[Mettle]

Could a harem of A. cacatuoides live with a pair of angels in a 55 gallon?

 

[cdawson]

In short, no they cannot.

Cacatuoides get way to nippy and aggressive when spawning, same with angels.

 

[Mettle]

Dang. THat would've made for a very cool set of fish.

 

[brad]

I would have thaught the cories would pose more of a problem than the angels, seeing that they occupy the same space. So what about plants? there doesn`t seem to be alot of selection outside the echinodorus family.

 

[cdawson]

I've got that setup in a 135 gallon, and even in that large of a tank I catch my apistos going for the ventrals and bottom dorsals of my angels every now and then.

As for plants, you can try for some stargrass, hairgrass, anacharis, fanwort, jungle vals, and there are several other plants as well. Of course for the most part if you want a true biotope for the area little to no plants would be ideal. Really in actuality the echinodorus family would mostly only be present with these species during the flooded months of the rain season.

 

[brad]

Thank you!