Looking for stocking advice for my 40 breeder tank.

[rgillmatthew]

I have a 40 gallon breeder tank. Thinking about surface area as well as volume and the fact that a 40 breeder is actually about 47 gallons of water. I currently have a Marbled Sailfin Pleco in the tank. I am wondering if I can add Geophagus Sveni Cichlid and a Chocolate (Emerald) Cichlid. So there would only be those three fish. The tank is light -moderately planted.

[Jacky12]

I think those 3 fish would be fine in a 40 G. Even so, keep an eye on the cichlids. They can live in harmony or become aggressive even with males of their own kind. Can you start with juveniles?

[rgillmatthew]

Thank you for responding. Yes, I would be getting juveniles. I've actually never seen my LFS with any adults for sale.

[Jacky12]

The only few times I saw adults at LFS was on trade ins. I got 4 leopard catfish that way. Also, some online places sell adults, but rather pricey, so I go with juveniles, sometimes ones old enough to be sexed.

[rgillmatthew]

I know Geos like to dig a bit. I am wondering if Fluval stratum will be an issue.

[Colin_T]

You don't water plant substrates in tanks with Geophagus or most other cichlids due to their earth moving habits.