New Tank. Tankmates???

[Jellybeanie]

Hello. I'm getting a 180 litre tank for Christmas and I'm deciding on what tank mates I should have. I considered just getting 2 or 3 Discus but decided against it after some research as they are very high maintenance. Is it really as bad as people say it is? Anyway, I think I've decided on a good community. Any suggestions would be appreciated as to what I should change. I've decided on 2 German Blue Rams (love them a lot), 8 Rummynose Tetras, 1 Butterfly Pleco, 1 Common Pleco (from my other tank. He has gotten quite large and needs to go into a bigger tank so he must go into this one), 1 Red Tail Black Shark, a Kribensis (from my other tank) and 4 Swordtails. I really like bottom dwellers, especially Corys. I'd love to put some in this tank but I think the bottom would be too over-crowded with the two Plecos. Or are two Plecos too many. I could skip the Butterfly Pleco. I'd also like to put in some assassin snails as well as I like them a lot and think they're very beneficial to any tank. I plan on putting loads of live plants into this tank as well as drift wood a some caves for places to hide. Feel free to make changes to this set up and add or take away any fish. I like unusual fish as well such as ghost knife fish and glass catfish so if any of them can be added that'd be great. What would be better as a substrate? Sand or gravel or plain glass?

 

[Sillyfishies]

Hello. I'm getting a 180 litre tank for Christmas and I'm deciding on what tank mates I should have. I considered just getting 2 or 3 Discus but decided against it after some research as they are very high maintenance. Is it really as bad as people say it is? Anyway, I think I've decided on a good community. Any suggestions would be appreciated as to what I should change. I've decided on 2 German Blue Rams (love them a lot), 8 Rummynose Tetras, 1 Butterfly Pleco, 1 Common Pleco (from my other tank. He has gotten quite large and needs to go into a bigger tank so he must go into this one), 1 Red Tail Black Shark, a Kribensis (from my other tank) and 4 Swordtails. I really like bottom dwellers, especially Corys. I'd love to put some in this tank but I think the bottom would be too over-crowded with the two Plecos. Or are two Plecos too many. I could skip the Butterfly Pleco. I'd also like to put in some assassin snails as well as I like them a lot and think they're very beneficial to any tank. I plan on putting loads of live plants into this tank as well as drift wood a some caves for places to hide. Feel free to make changes to this set up and add or take away any fish. I like unusual fish as well such as ghost knife fish and glass catfish so if any of them can be added that'd be great. What would be better as a substrate? Sand or gravel or plain glass?

I'd worry about the Kribs and sharks with German blue rams. They're both really mean fish. The common pleco needs a WAYYY bigger tank and the butterfly needs a bigger tank also.

 

[Jellybeanie]

Thanks for your input. It's really appreciated. I can skip on the shark and the Butterfly Pleco. I was just considering them based on what people have said about their care requirements and plus I think they look nice. I can also leave the Kribensis in my other tank. He seems pretty happy there as he is always very pink around the stomach (I've read that that's a good thing). The only problem is the common pleco was in a 110 litre (roughly 30 gallons) that broke (it was a 16 year old tank which owes me absolutely nothing). The filter broke and the model has been discontinued) so he has been put into an even smaller tank so he needs to move ASAP! He's about 6 inches in total and is now residing in my neighbors 85 litre (22 gallon) tank. I asked to put him in there as it's bigger than my other tank. He'a probably not in the best conditions right now so I'm worried that he won't hold out until Christmas. Should I consider selling him? I've seen people with common plecos in much smaller tanks than a 180 litre and I've also read that plecos grow according to their tank size. He seemed happy in the 110 litre but that could have been because I only had 1 other fish in there with him (a beautiful yellow Malawi Cichlid who I had to sell as I couldn't find a temporary home for him). So what should I do with the pleco. I've had him for a very long time (nearly 3 years) and I'd hate to see him go but if it's better for him I'll sell him. Also, without the plecos, the shark and the krib, could I add in a small shoal (4) of Black Widow Tetras from another tank? Thanks again for your help.

 

[Sillyfishies]

Thanks for your input. It's really appreciated. I can skip on the shark and the Butterfly Pleco. I was just considering them based on what people have said about their care requirements and plus I think they look nice. I can also leave the Kribensis in my other tank. He seems pretty happy there as he is always very pink around the stomach (I've read that that's a good thing). The only problem is the common pleco was in a 110 litre (roughly 30 gallons) that broke (it was a 16 year old tank which owes me absolutely nothing). The filter broke and the model has been discontinued) so he has been put into an even smaller tank so he needs to move ASAP! He's about 6 inches in total and is now residing in my neighbors 85 litre (22 gallon) tank. I asked to put him in there as it's bigger than my other tank. He'a probably not in the best conditions right now so I'm worried that he won't hold out until Christmas. Should I consider selling him? I've seen people with common plecos in much smaller tanks than a 180 litre and I've also read that plecos grow according to their tank size. He seemed happy in the 110 litre but that could have been because I only had 1 other fish in there with him (a beautiful yellow Malawi Cichlid who I had to sell as I couldn't find a temporary home for him). So what should I do with the pleco. I've had him for a very long time (nearly 3 years) and I'd hate to see him go but if it's better for him I'll sell him. Also, without the plecos, the shark and the krib, could I add in a small shoal (4) of Black Widow Tetras from another tank? Thanks again for your help.

The thing is, is there arent very many people who ACTUALLY have a big enough tank for him. If you can find someone that does, sell it/give it to them. He'd be so much happier. I'm willing to bet he's stunted (body stopped growing, insides kept growing). A 3 year old common pleco should be bigger then 6" I'm pretty sure

 

[Jellybeanie]

Aww I didn't know that that's what happened. I probably should have done more research before I got him :/ Does that mean he's going to die eventually? The pet shop I got him from doesn't take fish back for risk of disease spreading so I can't give him back to them. I'll ask around and see if anyone can provide a big home for him

 

[Sillyfishies]

Aww I didn't know that that's what happened. I probably should have done more research before I got him :/ Does that mean he's going to die eventually? The pet shop I got him from doesn't take fish back for risk of disease spreading so I can't give him back to them. I'll ask around and see if anyone can provide a big home for him

I'm sure he will be happier with you, who will take care of him. Versus in a 10 gal tank that someone put him in because "plecos eat poop".

But if someone actually has a 8' tank, give it to them!

 

[Carlos_421]

You could actually check with your local zoo if they have an aquarium. They may except him as a donation if he's big enough to be compatible with whatever freshwater fish they have.
If not a zoo, maybe a restaurant or casino with a large fish tank may accept him.
Just a slightly out of the box thought.