PlanetCatfish.com

Can anyone help me on this?

The fish in the tank are going to be:

4 plecs (Bristlenose, Tiger, L128 and 1 other)
5 synodontsis petricola
2 flagtailed catfish
possibly 3 pictus cats.


What cichlids would you reccomend? Firemouths? Acaras? Festives?

Here is a picture of the tank as it looks at the moment, it is 57 US Gallons:



Cheers guys

Ben

What are the water parameters like?

At the moment the tank has not finished its cycle.

However, my 50Gallon tank has a pH of 7.9 - 8.0, Ammonia and Nitrite are 0 and Nitrate is virtually zero.

This is my 8th fish tank, and I dont have problems in any of my other tanks...

Ben

still; you're mixing riverines with African Riftlake species, wich in general is not a good plan.

Your waterparameters look good for Tanganyikans. Why not go for a Tanganyikan catfish community? plenty cichlids to choose from as well.....

Flagtailes (Dianema) are BADLY suited for any cichlid-tank; these are easily picked upon, and I've seen more Hoplo's and Dianema's ripped up by Malawian/Tanganyikan scum than any other catfish in the hobby.
they don't like pH 8 too much, and neither do the Tiger Pleco or the Pim pictus.

Hmm interesting...

I Have read such conflicting info on keeping cichlids with catfish I just dont know what to do....

Ben

I find that dwarf petricolas are perfectly happy in non-lake water params. I'm told that they happily reproduce in neutral water. That was by Hans-Georg Evers who gave me some of his youngsters. Given that, I think the mid range central or SA cichlids you suggest would be fine. This is also assuming the pH will drop quickly as I'm sure it will.

I'm not a great fan of keeping pictus with smaller plecos mind you, same reason as clown loaches, too much competition for food.


Jools

So you reckon firemouths would be ok? I was thinking of getting 3 probably.

Ben

how about keyholes or kribs?
both very under-rated fish.

I already own 2 kribensis in my 50G tank.

Are keyholes particularly agresive? Would they get on with my catfishes?

Ben

Hi Ben!

Keyhole (Cleithracara maronii must be the most peacefull cichlid I have seen!
I use to have some... my 12cm/4.5in dominant male was being dominate by a barely 5cm/2in Apistogramma macmasteri

The only territorial behavior they had shown, was when the female was guarding a batch of eggs on a flat stone and trying to keep away the Cories that were searching for food...never harmed any...

still even if now widly bred and found in shop they can do great in neutral water but a ph of 8 might be a bit too high

Cheers
Yann

I will look into them thanks.

Ben