250L - Suggestions for fish composition

We recently moved our Silver Arowana and Tiger Shovelnose Catfish to a 850L tank and a new owner, as they had outgrown our 250L and unfortunately we lack the space to get a larger tank as was originally planned. Thanks to @Gilbertr14 for his help in finding them a new owner and I hope they will give him as much pleasure as they did for @Kattz and I.


Our big boys on the day before we moved them, full of specially prepared snoek as a going-away treat.

So now we are left with a Striped Talking Catfish and a Pleco in the tank. We're still undecided as to new suitable additions for the tank, as few fish can give the same effect as Mephisto and Jack gave, simply due to their size and beauty. We're considering a small group of bala sharks, perhaps three. We also would like to try a black ghost knife. The other end of the spectrum is increasing the plant component of the tank and going for larger groups of small fish, perhaps red-line torpedo barbs and/or Congo tetras.

We'd appreciate if some members of TASA could offer some suggestions and help us to make the right choices with this tank.

 

How about a pair of severums? Also grow big but won't outgrow your tank.
Sad to see those 2 go.

 

Thanks Vis, yeah those guys were so great. I hear they're doing well in their new home. Which is good because Jack gave me a a good wrestle off the kitchen floor (he slithered there after escaping the net even though every precaution was taken to prevent that )when catching him. The shovelnose is nice and active still.

I've seen some good Severums around but I'm not sure if I want to go the cichlid route again, though I've had good success before; I'll keep them in mind. I've always liked the look of Festivums too but I hardly ever see them around and Kattz doesn't fancy them much, from when I suggested getting them a while back.

 

Thanks for the input Vis

Personally I agree with avoiding cichlid route. Something not so territorial would be nice. On that note, more bottom feeders is probably out considering the Pleco has an attitude problem.

 

Thanks for the input Vis

Personally I agree with avoiding cichlid route. Something not so territorial would be nice. On that note, more bottom feeders is probably out considering the Pleco has an attitude problem.

 

Ok then you might want to go with a few smaller fish like maybe barbs?
Or some of the smaller eels, but not sure how the pleco will cope with them.

I do however think you will miss the personality that some bigger fish have
if you go with a lot of smaller fish.

 

Yeah we're hoping we can find a balance between personality and good looks. Heh, isn't everyone...

 

Hi Nirv and Katz....

Here's my input... Bala's will eventualy outgrow your 4foot - remember,they get to 35cm+ and should be kept in shoals of 5 or 6 + for them to realy feel safe and lose their nervousness...

Redline Torpedo barbs a re awsome little fish,similair in shape to the balas,just a lot more colourfull!(and pricey...lol) - complement them with a nice big school(12 to 20) of Ruby or Odessa barbs(2 of my personal faves)... Dont judge them on the drab little youngsters you see in LFS's - they get to a good 5cm each and colour up great!...
A pair or 2 of Moonlight Gouramis or Pearls would bring some slow grace to finish off the look....

just my 2 Zim dolla's worth...

 

Hey Azurekoi,

Yes we did doubt the ability of the tank to house balas correctly. Red line torpedos are looking very tempting but going to be very careful in their purchase - looking at close to R600 for a semi-decent school of 6!! Think Congos or some other larger characins would do nicely? And I love Pearls too.

Thanks for your input! I'll be speaking more seriously about it with Kattz soon.

 

Been looking around online and we're liking the look of Metynnis lippincottianus - a silver dollar with more interesting colouration than the norm, as well as a max size of around 13cm meaning a small group will fit the tank nicely. I'm such a sucker for Characins and South American fish in general.

 

I got two spotted dollars will pm you shortly.

 

Thanks Donny, I appreciate it!

edit: can't send my reply since your inbox is full, heh.

 

Here you go the best i could get

 

Thanks Donny, those look great! I'll look into getting some asap, do you know if those are M. maculatus or lippincottianus by any chance?

 

No problem, i think they are lippincottianus, as they have the prominent dark spot. Checked some google pics.

 

I like them very much! I've always liked silver dollars but this variety seems even nicer. <3

 

Other half also wants more but dont have the space.
11 clowns 5 cories and 5 dollars in a 1,2 is pushing it.

 

Yeah we're looking at perhaps 5-6 dollars with just a pleco and a striped talking cat also in a 1.2, so there's some space to grow.

 

Ok, got me a long finned pleco from Trevor Pleco.

 

Hi, I have a pangasius hi-fin shark if you were interested in adding him to your tank ?