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I currently have an aquarium measuring 140x50x35cm (LxWxH) which is approx 200L with a 180L sump. At the moment it is stocked with 2x L066 (Not sure on sex possibly both male), a pair of Apistogramma viejita, a large 10inch (Female?) Leporacanthicus galaxias, 20 cardinal tetra and 4 young Steatocranus tinanti (2x Male 2x Female.)

The aquarium is aquascaped heavilly with shale cobbles, wood and contains a number of 1 1/2" PVC and slate caves along with a large 4" PVC cave for the Leporacanthicus galaxias. Due to the cobbles there are a LOT of hiding places and as yet I have not seen even the slightest sign of aggression although the Steatocranus tinanti have only just been introduced and have yet to breed.

I intend to introduce a few more L066 of unknown sex probably 5-6 fish although I may seperate those into two groups between the main aquarium and the sump. Should 7-8 fish be ok considering the almost unlimited supply of nooks, crannys ad caves in this aquascape or does this depend mostly on sex? If I were to seperate them into groups what would be a good stocking number and male to female ratio?

Can't answer your question- but nice tank! Is there a cover for it? Aren't you worried that your fish may jump out?

I'd say that sounds like a plan. I have 5 x in a tank of similar size, along with 3 x L128, and whilst I've lost one of the original 6 L411, it seems like they are getting along fine.

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Mats

Linus_Cello wrote:Can't answer your question- but nice tank! Is there a cover for it? Aren't you worried that your fish may jump out?

No there isnt a cover at the moment, there is a good 5cm gap between the water level and the top and I dont feel worried that any fish will jump out, after all most of the fish in there are benthic with the exception of the aphistos and cardinals. I would be suprised if the cardinals could jump that high and the aphistos are fairly slow and hang around the bottom/mid mostly.
I had it made with a rim so I could have sliding glass covers but since setting it up I have changed my mind as the aquarium looks very pleasing viewed from above.

I think you could keep 10 to 12 L66 in your tank if they were the only plecos.

That’s good to hear, I think the galaxius probably reduces the number but she seems to be fairly peaceful and never leaves her cave during the day. The blockheads probably reduce the number a bit too as they are only young and not breeding yet. Today at feeding time I observed the largest male Steatocranus tinanti and the smallest male L066 pushing each other about, not really full aggression just the L066 pushing the blockhead out the way to get to the food and the blockhead jumping around the L066. They didn’t seem to bother each other too much and as far as blockheads go they are reasonably peaceful for cichlids even once a territory is established.
7-8 L066 is going to be my maximum for this tank and will probably be lower if I end up with enough females to separate into two groups. I want at least 2 preferably 3 females in the tank and providing there are any left then another group in the sump. So far I have observed absolutely NO aggression between the two male L066, they hide in the same place and feed alongside, the larger of the two is more timid and the smaller one often takes point, eats a little then moves off to where the larger one is hiding and brings him out to eat.

I would guess you are about 2 years away from breeding your L66 but when that time approaches you shouldn't have any fish which can eat newly released fry. I have fed young Bushy Noses to my Discus if that is any kind of a useful reference for you.
I would not expect any problems from Apistogramma spp but I wouldn't trust any west African Dwarf Cich lids.

Dont worry, in two years time or so (Why so long might I ask?) I dont intend to have the Steatocranus in there, if anything they will have their own dedicated breeding aquarium and if anything were to happen sooner they would be straight out the tank.

Based on my experience, it has taken 2 to 2-1/2 years before any of my subadult Brazilian Hypancistrus species to begin spawning.
Your specimens did not appear to me to be very old. Hypancistrus zebra, as an example, usually don't begin spawning until they are 3 to 3-1/2 years old. The Hypancistrus take quite a while to reach maturity but they are also very long lived. They may be able to produces spawns for about 10 years which makes up for the relatively long wait for them to reach sexual maturity.
Maybe others have had their fish begin spawning much sooner and will share their experiences here.