Would this combination work?

1xGT (Green Terror/Gold Saum.
2xSpotted Synodontis
a few loaches (i'm not sure what species to get but i hear that some loaches like to eat holes into other fish so i'm trying to avoid those),Also i'm not sure how many to have in the tank (400L)

Tank will have lots of caves so i don't think hiding spots will be a problem,i'm hoping to get a young GT so he won't get too aggressive when he gets older (he won't have to fight for territory with other cichlids)

GT is going to be my main fish so i wouldn't mind changing the Synodontis and loaches to other fish.

 

i dont know about these loaches eating holes into other fish are u sure its not "leeches" you thinking about lol.and a single green terror as a specimen fish is not something i can say i've ever seen,why not a pair rather?

 

I think they were called Yoyo loaches or something.

I'm actually looking for a GoldSaum,doubt i will find a true GT.Gold Saum gets to around 30cm,if i get a pair then i will need to get a spare tank in-case they decide to breed so they don't terrorise their tank mates and so there is space for the fry when they a bit bigger.(giving fish to pet shops seem to be hard these days,always the same excuse that they don't have space)

 

no it couldnt be a yo yo loach.the best way to get a pair is to get a group of say 6 juvies depending on size of tank and let them pair up amongst themselves,there was someone on here who had a successful spawning of these fish but i cant remember who.they could probably tell you more about this fishes behaviour.

 

Not trying to breed them,just want a few fish that live together with a GT peacefully.

Tank is around 400L,will start at the end of the month.

We only have Gold and Silver Saums in SA i think,don't know what a true GT looks like.Too much debate.



Problem with breeding them is that i will rarely find a home for them to go to and i simply won't have the tank space for when they get older.Also moving at the end of the year so i want as few fish as possible which are fairly large (15-30cm)

 

they called terrors for a reason i had just one experience with them and it wasnt a good.

 

I guess could try getting a pair then :/

Problem is what do i do with the remaining 4 once 2 have paired up and i really don't want to buy another tank until after the move at the end of the year.

Maybe i should just go for smaller fish,so many choices.

 

Thats the beauty of it,its just a matter of the right choice

 

I'm thinking of going with some Eartheaters.

I'm guessing there are different types so will need an ID on these:






Also what type of sand is in the last pic,i'm going to make my substrate nice and deep.Maybe also get some slate rocks to make a few caves and such.

 

Don't know anything about the fish but that substrate looks like fine silica sand or playsand

 

Earth Eaters have become very popular in JHB the last while, more and more of them available. Pics 2, 3 and 4 look like Geophagus Surinamensis *edit - thanks Oscar Freak* (but there are many species that get put in this classification) - very common at the moment.

The last pic looks like Satanoperca Jurupari - white spotted demon earth eater - absolutely stunning. Only seen these for sale once in SA - that's when I got mine.

They are fairly peaceful, as long as you stick to the "not smaller than mouth" rule when buying tankmates (see the cories in the background).

They need fine gravel as they sift though the substrate, pool filter sand does the trick... And yes, they love wood / rocks / caves to make their homes.

 

ja thats a nice fish,surinamensis is available now and then,you'll need a fine substrate.

 

i saw some in boksburg a few weeks back

 

Thanks Hawk ,

I hear playsand is a bit hard to clean but it looks so good (currently have PFS,will have to siphon it out)

Thanks Richardnuss,was looking for some peacefull cichlids and they do indeed look absolutely stunning.
Will do some more reading up on them.

Oscar Freak,Do you think PetMasters will have them in stock?.Want to go there near the end of the month (PetMasters are in Boksburg right?,don't get out much)

 

@DCWarHound let me know via PM if you are looking, have spotted them at several LFS on the east rand (none of them are sponsors though).