Tank Footprint

[Joe Gatchell]

Going to purchase a 40 Gallon Long from a friend soon. Footprint is 48 inches by 12 inches, and I believe 16 inches tall.

Would it be feasible to keep 2 pairs of my P. Taeniatus in that size of a tank?

I would plant heavily and lots of bogwood.

After consolidating tanks, the stock would include:

4 P. Taeniatus (2 pairs)
3 African Butterfly Fish (females)
6 Congo Tetras
2 Otos (Algae Control)

Thanks.

 

[tjudy]

Four adult P. taeniatus will be able to live in a tank that size. Only on pair, most likely, will spawn regularly. You can increase the chances of multiple pairs spawning by creating very distinct spawning territories on opposite ends of the tanks. That means that the driftwood and plants should be arranged so that there is no line of sight between the two territories. If you position the spawning caves in opposite back corners of the tank, blocking the view between those caves should not be too difficult.

 

[ARJDA]

Ted's right on the mark with the set up but I would also add about a dozen white clouds to the tank. They will act as dither/target fish and not eat any fry that are produced by the Pv. With enough plant life, some eggs will survive hatch out and replenish your supply of WC's. also, the eggs of the prolific WC's are a good source of protein for the breeders.

Some feel that this would make the Pv. egg eaters but I have not found that to be true at all.

 

[Joe Gatchell]

Ted's right on the mark with the set up but I would also add about a dozen white clouds to the tank. They will act as dither/target fish and not eat any fry that are produced by the Pv. With enough plant life, some eggs will survive hatch out and replenish your supply of WC's. also, the eggs of the prolific WC's are a good source of protein for the breeders.

Some feel that this would make the Pv. egg eaters but I have not found that to be true at all.

You don't think the congos would be ok dithers? This is really going to end up being more of a show tank, though I wouldn't mind getting fry out of it.

 

[tjudy]

Large tetras are pretty good fry predators. They are very fast and stronger than the cichlids.

 

[Joe Gatchell]

Large tetras are pretty good fry predators. They are very fast and stronger than the cichlids.

Well, maybe I'll stick with those in my show tank and keep a spawning pair in my 29 gallon alone then. I've got three pairs to work with currently.