which fish?

[Mikey]

Hoping for a new aquarium very soon and was wondering what to do with this situation......

I have a m/f pair of kribs and a lone male agassizi(sp. tefe), with hopefully getting more from apisto-nut in the future.....and i'm also very interested in rams and caca's too(LFS has them both at the moment). What 2 species should i put together in a new 30g tank, and what one single species should i leave/put in my community 38g? I know...i know...just get more tanks right? What do the people think?

 

[Apistomaster]

I wouldn't keep kribs with Apistogramma sp and I would not try more than one pair/trio of two species of any SA dwarf Cichlids in a 30 gal.

 

[Mikey]

Yes, i only want to keep 2 species in the new tank, but i was asking which 2 species would be most compatible? I know that the kribs/apisto combo isn't ideal, because they rule the middle 2/3rds of the tank and keep the agassizi at bay. I'll likely keep the kribs in the community tank. What 2 out of the three remaining species mentioned would be best in a planted tank and with what certain plants. Hoping to use sand over top of another "base" substrate like maybe flourite at the back and middle...leaving swimming room at front.

 

[Mike Wise]

Just my opinion, if this is a 30 Long (36 x 12" bottom) - and not a tall 30 (29 High) - I would keep the Rams with trios of either the aggies or the cockatoos. I would also leave one side of the tank relatively more open for the Rams. The only problem with such a set up is that the fish require different temperatures. Since this is a community tank, not a breeding tank, optimum temperature isn't important. Just keep the tank at around 82ºF/28ºC. It will do for both. Otherwise, I would keep a couple of pairs of apistos. Just realize that your Tefé Agassizii have different water requirements than do A. cacatuoides. Decisions, decisions ....

 

[Apistomaster]

Following along Mike's thinking, the A. agassizi are better suited to warmer water than Cockatoo's.

 

[Mikey]

the footprint is correct...it's 36x12x15(high), and sold as a 27 gallon long. I was leaning towards keeping one side more open anyways, and some mopani wood and plants on the other side. Decisions is right! I bought the tank, now i have to find the damn fish because the LFS doeesn't have any left of either species. Anyone wanna sell some fish????????

 

[Mikey]

One other Q....would caca's be any better in the community tank with the Kribs?