View Full Version : What to add to my 83 gallon.
Hi guys,
Well I have finally set up my 83 gallon Tanganyika Cichlid tank.
The only fish in the tank are the 2 Synodontis schoutedeni 5x J. Marlieri.
Now the tank kind of looks quite empty. What can I add which will give more color and is from Tanganyika.
Cheers,
mac
toddnbecka
03-21-2009, 10:30 PM
That depends on the tank dimensions and "furnishings", but you should be able to fit a couple more substrate-spawners in without too much conflict.
Leleupi are colorful, though rather nasty-tempered fish. Malawi cichlids are more colorful in general, Tang's are regarded as more interesting. Selection also depends on whether you want breeding pairs/colonies or single specimens.
My favorite Tang fish is the plagiostoma spiney eel in my avatar, one or a pair of those would go well. More common and generally about half the price is the elipsifer spiney eel, though they will grow a bit larger than the plagiostoma.
The tank is 48 long 20x20 inches.
I don't mind having colonies at all in my tank. Just wanting to leave the Malaws out if I can.
Thanks for the heads up on some of these fish. I will look into them. Still open for more ideas.
mac
Crispy
03-21-2009, 10:43 PM
calvus are tanganyikan and come in a few color varieties... cool shape to them also...
Yea they are nice fish. I wonder if the LFS's can get them.
If I can find them, are they more of a pair only or a group type on?
mac
Crispy
03-21-2009, 10:56 PM
Yea they are nice fish. I wonder if the LFS's can get them.
If I can find them, are they more of a pair only or a group type on?
mac
they don't like their own kind too much... 2 or 3 is plenty..
they don't like their own kind too much... 2 or 3 is plenty..
So they really are just a pair only type fish.
Well that is okay. I will see if I can get a pair.
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:10 PM
You will pay a good price to get them at a size that you can tell sex. If a lfs orders them for you chances are they will get some pretty small ones in, and they are very slow growing.
Brian
Well the LFS said that he can get them. They are about 1 inch in size. And they cost $189.00 NZ each.
So that is way out of my price range. So now for Tang Cichlids I am left with only Trosphus Duboisi and Moorie types, along with the Frontosa.
So with a 4ft long tank and a 20x20 inch high wide one would the Frontons be to big when fully grown?
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:16 PM
I would say yes
What about some shellies
I would say yes
Already have Julies.
So the Frontons would be okay then??
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:21 PM
I would say no on the fronts, mine were in a 6' tank before I got rid of them and were looked a bit cramped.
Brian
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:22 PM
You could do a tropheus tank
Sorry miss understood you. Because I thought a fish over 1 ft in a 4 ft tank bing a real no no.
Yea I think I have to go to the Tropheus tank. Not a trouble. Just expensive though. They are $40.00 each. But I will have to see what they have.
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:26 PM
If you just want one front, should work, I thought you wanted a group. Myself I wouldn't want just one though.
What about picking a Neolamprologus sp.?
Very rare to find them. and they are over $200 when he can find them.
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:29 PM
Very rare to find them. and they are over $200 when he can find them.
mac
what is?? the fronts or.....
Okay now I know this is a change but would Jewel Cichlids get one with the Julies or not? Because I can get them cheap. Other wise I am left in a lurch, and money is not that common right now, for me.
mac
what is?? the fronts or.....
No the Neolamprologus sp are. The fronts are about $40.00 each.
mac
toddnbecka
03-21-2009, 11:33 PM
Tropheus are usually kept is a species tank because they're similar to mbuna in their dietary requirements. They'll develop bloat if fed too much protein.
Front's need at least a 6' tank, though 8' or larger is much better when they grow to full size.
L. multifasciatus is probably the most common shelldweller, and they will form a nice colony. The other species of shellies aren't social or nearly as good for protecting their fry after they're free-swimming.
Avoid any of the brichardi complex fish, as well as L. moorii unless you get a single specimen (or want a species tank.)
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:35 PM
Okay now I know this is a change but would Jewel Cichlids get one with the Julies or not? Because I can get them cheap. Other wise I am left in a lurch, and money is not that common right now, for me.
mac
I love/hate jewels. I have spawned a few different pairs and they killed off all tank mates even in a large tank.
Right just finished talking to the LFS. All of the Tangs he can get are over $100.00 each. And they have to be ordered in.
He has plenty of Malawi's. About 20 types. All under $100.00 down to about $15.00 each.
So I really am left with the Malawi's.
Which will mean I am rooted in a way with the Julies I have with having the Malawi's. So I am lost, with what to do.
Maybe I should just????? I don't know. I am kind thinking I may have made a mistake. I wonder if I should move on to the American Cichlids instead. Because I can set up a 30 gallon long for the Julies, which only leaves me the 2 cats to get rid of.
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:46 PM
Well I think you can never go wrong with SA's........
Well I think you can never go wrong with SA's........
Well so far I have had no trouble with South American cichlids. So I think I will shift fish around and set up the 83 gallon for American Cichlids.
Cheers both of you for your wonderful help.
mac
btate617
03-21-2009, 11:58 PM
Well so far I have had no trouble with South American cichlids. So I think I will shift fish around and set up the 83 gallon for American Cichlids.
Cheers both of you for your wonderful help.
mac
Right on mac good luck.
Brian
toddnbecka
03-22-2009, 12:04 AM
SA fish are almost always less expensive simply because they breed by the hundreds (or more) each spawn.
Which species of Julie do you have? Once you have an established pair it would most likely be best to move the others out. They're excellent parents, but if they're a larger species a 30 long will become too crowded for 5 adults.
I they are Julie Marliie. Will they be okay?
mac
toddnbecka
03-22-2009, 12:17 AM
Should be, though I'd keep an eye on them. J. marlieri are a smaller fish, J. ornatus, dickfeldi, and regani are the larger ones. There is one "dwarf" Julie from the Gombe collection point that's a holy terror (avoid any Julie's with Gombe in their name), but marlieri aren't much worse than J. transcriptus IME.
Should be, though I'd keep an eye on them. J. marlieri are a smaller fish, J. ornatus, dickfeldi, and regani are the larger ones. There is one "dwarf" Julie from the Gombe collection point that's a holy terror (avoid any Julie's with Gombe in their name), but marlieri aren't much worse than J. transcriptus IME.
Arr that is good. So far two are about 2.5 cm long. The rest are 2 cm long. And they are not to aggressive with each-other at all. Very quite thus far. Hope it stays that way.
mac
Amazon
03-22-2009, 01:01 AM
Hmmmm I like the calvus family, they are great fish, but i dont know what a J. Marlieri is so im not sure.
Culva unfortunately are $189.00 each. So that is way out of my price range to get. Other wise I would get them.
As for the J. Marlieri here is a link with some info.
http://www.fishaholics.org/show_fish.php?FishIndex=49
mac
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