Info on Epalzeorhynchos bicolor (red tailed shark) Please

[Fishman1995]

Ok I need some info on tank size for a red tailed shark, they get from 4-6 inch's, My moms friend has one in a 55 gallon with 1 silver tipped shark full grown (did have 2) 2 cichlids not sure of what kind, A Synodotis catfish and another type of catfish not sure of its type either, ive read serveral websites, one sugested 10 gal or bigger which is ridiculous, one said 20 gallon or bigger which i stil find a lil outragious, then 1 said a 30 gallon and another said 50 gallon. Can anyone tell me if it can fit in a 30 gallon sand bottom? Aqadvisor says its fine just warns me to keep tight lids which i always do sense my mom lost fish to loose lids. His tank mates would be a Pseudotropheus Acei and 5 pictus catfish, which doesnt worry me sense every website i checked did say it was possible to keep him with similar sized tropical fish or cichlid's. Anyone who can help me with any info on these fish please do i promise im not gonna lash out at you

 

[misterking]

What happened to your mbuna tank?

I wouldn't keep him in there with that mix of fish, simply because red tails are AGGRESSIVE and fin nippers. Pictus catfish are also aggressive. Though it'd fit in that size tank it won't work with those fish.

Another thing, as I warned you on another thread, pictus catfish and acei cichlids require vastly different water parameters and neither would be happy long term living in the conditions the other requires. Rift lake (acei) = hard and alkaline. Pictus and redtails = soft and acidic.

Simply put, this tank isn't going to work. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

If you want catfish with your acei go with smaller synodontis species.

 

[OrangeCones]

Fishman, you obviously have access to the Internet.

Use GOOGLE as a search engine, and look up the water parameters needed for Mbuna cichlids.
What pH do they need?
Do they need to be in groups with their own kind?
What sized tank do they need?

Use GOOGLE as a search engine, and look up the water parameters needed for Pimelodus pictus.
What pH do they need?
Do they need to be in groups with their own kind?
What sized tank do they need?

Use GOOGLE as a search engine, and look up the water parameters needed for Epalzeorhynchus bicolor.
What pH do they need?
Do they need to be in groups with their own kind?
What sized tank do they need?

These questions can be answered by anyone with a few minutes of effort. Once you know the answers, you should be able to make an intelligent decision about what fish to put together.

 

[Fishman1995]

Ok, Can i add the upside down catfish with my cichlid's? Those are a species of Synodotis.

 

[OrangeCones]

Ok, Can i add the upside down catfish with my cichlid's? Those are a species of Synodotis.

Did you do the research on the previous fish choices yet? If not, add this to your research list:

Use GOOGLE as a search engine, and look up the water parameters needed for Synodontis nigriventris.
What pH do they need?
Do they need to be in groups with their own kind?
What sized tank do they need?

 

[Fishman1995]

Ph requiremnt is 6.5-7.2 and they need a 10 gallon at least and do well in groups

 

[Fishman1995]

oops i meant 30 gallons

 

[misterking]

Ph requiremnt is 6.5-7.2 and they need a 10 gallon at least and do well in groups

Which fish is this for?

 

[Fishman1995]

upside down catfish

 

[misterking]

Aceis require a pH of about 8, maybe a bit under. What pH are you currently keeping yours at?

A good small syno species from lake tanganyika (so similar requirements to mbunas) is synodontis petricola. However I think you should decide exactly what you want this tank to be like before you start deciding on fish because you've thrown around several bad ideas for a few weeks now. If you want a community tank then it simply won't work with the acei.

 

[Fishman1995]

Im going to do my previous idea, All Lake malawi Species:cichlids and Mbuna's with some Anubis ,sand bottom. Although i do have a question. Can i keeep an ahli hap in there?

 

[misterking]

Good idea, that'll look nice.

Do you mean blue ahli? As in this:
Blue Ahli

A bit big and aggressive for a 30, and they're not a mbuna, preferring open water. There are smaller blue mbunas that would work better.

 

[Fishman1995]

Well lets go threw what i got so far and move on from there Im gonna start wtih what i know im gonna ahve , I know im gonna ahev my Acei, A yellow Lab, A Bumble bee cichlid, A Kenyi and an Auratus. The others im thinking of are Red zebra, Electiric Blue Johanni, Cynotilapia Afra, and A rusty cichlid. Id also Love to have An Ahli ive wanted one for so long. LOL i was also wanting a Malawi eye biter, but then i seen how big it got. Also can i add the African river species into the tank or would the Malawi's kill them. I like the thought of maybe a Krib or 2. Ive never seen the cynotilapia red zebra or rusty cichlid in any of our close pet stores. Il be adding the biggest sized filter i can so overstocking want be an issue. Im planning on adding maybe a piece of driftwood and some anubis plants. its gonna be a sand bottom tank as well. I also wouldnt mind adding in a Rubber lipped pleco to if it can be added.

 

[misterking]

Overstocking is ALWAYS an issue. We're dealing with aggressive cichlids here and they need their space. You can't ram as many fish in a small space as possible and expect your filter to deal with it as you've just found out today.

Also hardly any of the fish you've listed are remotely compatible. Just because you want it doesn't mean it'll work, a 30 gallon is a small tank and most of those get far too big and far too aggressive.

Acei, A yellow Lab, A Bumble bee cichlid, A Kenyi and an Auratus

These will work. Stick with these and ADD NOTHING ELSE. Don't buy any of them until you have your 30.

Red zebra, Electiric Blue Johanni, Cynotilapia Afra, and A rusty cichlid

These would theoretically work in a much bigger tank but you don't have the space!

Id also Love to have An Ahli ive wanted one for so long

Just because you've "wanted it for so long" doesn't mean it'll work. You don't have the space.

Also can i add the African river species into the tank or would the Malawi's kill them

That and they require DIFFERENT WATER PARAMETERS.

I like the thought of maybe a Krib or 2.

No no no no no no! Kribs and mbunas require completely different water parameters and are not compatible at all.

Im planning on adding maybe a piece of driftwood and some anubis plants.

Driftwood will pull the pH down. Mbunas need a HIGH pH. I'd suggest rock work and if you want wood it needs soaking for a very very long time to get rid of the tannins (we're talking years).

I also wouldnt mind adding in a Rubber lipped pleco to if it can be added.

*Groans*, see all other comments on needing completely different water parameters.

Seriously Fishman, do you EVER do any research on what you're "planning" on adding?! I'm sorry if I offend but the proposed stocking is absolutely ridiculous and hasn't got a chance of working. It'll end up like your tank did this morning. Sorry to break it to you.

 

[Fishman1995]

ok so, how many of each fish should i add ( The yellow lab and Pseudotropheus acei) Yes i do research but normally its for the tropical fish that almost all have the same water requirements so i search temperments. Now i know that cichlids have different water parameters. Im a little slow when it comes to stuff so thats why im asking on here. The internet sometimes doesnt tell you the truth. Im double checking.

 

[Fishman1995]

I meant how many do i add of the fish you said to get, i glanced and didnt see the others you said. please give me numbers. one of each ,a pair of one or 2?

 

[misterking]

A good place to research that I always use is Age of Aquariums - Tropical Fish. On the gallery page each species has a list of requirements and then below that posts by individual people on their experience with the kind of fish.

You need to research more into parameters. For example, you wouldn't stick a discus in a mbuna tank would you? It just wouldn't work. The discus would die sooner of the wrong pH and hardness than aggression.

I wouldn't keep pairs of the above fish, simply because if a pair decide to breed you run into biggg problems with aggression. Heavy rockwork, making caves and such will help this to a degree but I'd still be tempted to just keep one of each. It's a bit of an odd mix, personally I'd go for a couple of species and a group of each in a bigger tank but I think for what you want this should be fine.

Google image search mbuna tank and have a look at the way people set theirs up. Just ignore any ridiculous stocking amounts.

 

[Fishman1995]

sounds good to me