ready to stock more fish.

[mudbone]

Well I have my 75 gal cycled and now I want to add more residents. I currently got a steal on my Red Spotted Severum for $4.99, and I have a Blue Ram and a Gold Ram but now I want a lot more. I also have a Pleco thats about 7" or so but I can't remember the species name. Looking for stocking ideas, who's got them. Want some good color in there.

 

[Samzter]

Please may you post a pic of the Pleco?

 

[mudbone]

This is the best I have for now. Its of his head and some of the body and closer up.

 

[Aquamandan]

Do you want to stick with cichlids or other species?

 

[mudbone]

I like the look of cichlids but I want to have a variety of species so the kids will have more fun with it.

 

[bettaowner]

I'd consider adding some angelfish and remove the pleco

 

[mudbone]

Just curious on the removal of the Pleco? He is going to be part of tje cleaning crew.

 

[bettaowner]

It looks like a common pleco. That species can't be kept in a tank that small. If you want a pleco, I'd add a bristle nose pleco

 

[Legit Fish]

itz a 75 gallon tank the pleco can stay wat in the world are the others thinking!!

 

[aquandrew]

itz a 75 gallon tank the pleco can stay wat in the world are the others thinking!!

common plecos will be cramped when they grow they need at least 150 gallons

 

[Aquamandan]

$4.99 for a Red Spotted Severum? Wow that IS a steal!

 

[Luananeko]

Plecos should never be used as a cleanup crew. They're poop machines that dirty up the tank more than they clean. They should only be purchased if you like them because they're cool fish Also, agree with previous poster that a common pleco gets much too large for a 75 gallon. They get up to 18 inches full grown!

Better clean-up options: Nerite snails, Otos, Bristlenose Pleco (still not the best cleaners compared to their bio-load), or Amano shrimp.

 

[Luananeko]

Also for non-clean up crew stocking ideas... Since you seem to be going for South American fish with the Severum and Rams, try looking at Cherry Barbs and/or Threadfin Rainbows. They enjoy the same water chemistry and will act as great dither fish for the Rams. Threadfins don't look like much when young, but are quite pretty when full grown and have very cool fin flicking displays when you have a good sized group of slightly more females than males.

 

[Khazmachi]

I like the look of cichlids but I want to have a variety of species so the kids will have more fun with it.

There are a few of species of cichlids that could work well for you. Angles, as already suggested, or you can look into keyholes and festivus. In my 75 I have a severum, 3 angels, and 3 keyholes.

 

[KPhilly]

Will angels eat the shrimp? I need some cleanup crew ideas too.

 

[Samzter]

itz a 75 gallon tank the pleco can stay wat in the world are the others thinking!!

Maybe you should research common plecos? Take a look at their size since they need at least double this sized tank

 

[Luananeko]

Will angels eat the shrimp? I need some cleanup crew ideas too.

If you go with Angels, yes, they may eat the shrimp. It depends on the Angel's personality, if they've been raised with the shrimp, and how big the shrimp are compared to the Angel's mouth. You can give the shrimp tubes that are too small for the Angel to get into so they can hide while molting, which will further protect them.

Otos and nerite snails should both be fine though. Other snail varieties may work as well, but nerites won't breed in freshwater, so you won't have snail population explosion. Bristlenose plecos are also safe, but as mentioned before they tend to be rather inefficient cleaners as they get older and have decently large bio loads.