105 gallon wet pet suggestions

[mindstate]

Is there much difference in behavior between different Vieja species?

 

[troublesum]

Yeah either the robertsino or meeki, just want one bottom dwelling group that shows some natural behavior/interaction. Leaning Meeki. Ok, starting to realize I really need to give up on the plants.

Do you have a picture or video of that tank?

Checking the stock list of my LFS they have these types:
Cincelichthys bocourti Lago Izabal
Cincelichthys pearsei Lacanjah
Amphilophus flaveolus Lake Apoyo F2
Herichthys carpintis Escondido
Herichthys tamasopoensis
Herichthys deppi
Maskaheros argenteus
Maskaheros regani
Oscura heterospila
Vieja bifasciata Rio Chacamax
Vieja bifasciata Rio Teapa
Vieja breidohri
Vieja guttulata
Vieja maculicauda
Vieja melanura Belize F1
Vieja melanura Belize F2
Vieja synspilum/melanura
Vieja synspilum/melanura Lago Peten
Vieja synspilum/melanura Spotted
Vieja zonata Rio Perro

Skipped the amatitlania, parachromis and thorychthis species.

Ok, so let's say I stock with 8 (?) meeki, how would you complete a stocking list for the 320g?

Personally i would go Flaveolus but i do have a soft spot for amps

 

[bkfamus]

Yeah either the robertsino or meeki, just want one bottom dwelling group that shows some natural behavior/interaction. Leaning Meeki. Ok, starting to realize I really need to give up on the plants.

Do you have a picture or video of that tank?

I've got a million videos on my phone and the googlespehere.. but unlabeled and a pia to go thru.. I started moving some to YouTube last year.. Here's a couple clips of current tanks and you can see some older tanks on the channel..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL9MSeYyuAA

Previous tanks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8IhiCzAWJ8&t=40s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_fyTDsVfsg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiPZ_7QYta8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXgkFSengwc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kzrTf5ok8c

and my favorite fish of all time.. before he killed everything in the tank:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSwSTt5XL3Q

 

[bkfamus]

Is there much difference in behavior between different Vieja species?

I'll defer to the others w/ more experience.. I've had V. melanura Lago Peten and synspilum, V. bifaciata, V. breidohri, V. hartwegi, M. argenteus, O. heterospila.. All the same, but imo V. breidohri were prolly more aggro than V. melanura, but both will kill.. O heterospila and V. synspilum were prolly the least aggro ime..

I've heard V. zonata and maculicauda are over the top aggro.. Hope to try V. zonata and Trimac one day... if I ever get a tank bigger than my 6' 240G.

BTW, re: plants, I have put them in baskets on top of the tank with no issue.. pothos, peace lilly and bamboo...

 

[mindstate]

I've got a million videos on my phone and the googlespehere.. but unlabeled and a pia to go thru.. I started moving some to YouTube last year.. Here's a couple clips of current tanks and you can see some older tanks on the channel..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL9MSeYyuAA

Previous tanks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8IhiCzAWJ8&t=40s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_fyTDsVfsg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiPZ_7QYta8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXgkFSengwc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kzrTf5ok8c

and my favorite fish of all time.. before he killed everything in the tank:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSwSTt5XL3Q

I'm gonna watch them one by one, thanks for sharing. Some beautiful species there.

Regarding the amph, everybody keeps saying that's the type of fish that has been their favorite to keep. Which makes me want to experience that, but what do you combine that with in a 300g. CA are tough man, much tougher to figure out stocking than SA.

 

[RD.]

bkfamus Beautiful scapes, Kurt. You have a real talent for natural set ups. Well done sir.

 

[bkfamus]

I'm gonna watch them one by one, thanks for sharing. Some beautiful species there.

Regarding the amph, everybody keeps saying that's the type of fish that has been their favorite to keep. Which makes me want to experience that, but what do you combine that with in a 300g. CA are tough man, much tougher to figure out stocking than SA.

Thanks! I've had success w/ lyonsi and cribroheros, thorichthys and amatiitlania.. Not sure any other amphs would be as accomodating... I try to limit my tanks to one alpha type species per, but I do want to try V. zonata and trimac some day.. I think Astatheros macracanthus should be tough enough to maybe work with some Amphs, but no personal experience...

Honestly I love Vieja melanura Lago Peten and Briedohri just as much as any Amph.. Just as active and borderline psycho at times.. I just love the A. istlanum because of it's looks and because i haven't been able to successfully keep them despite multiple attempts.. Some OGs advise the only way to keep them is solo, w/ divider or overcrowded.. neither option desirable imo..

 

[bkfamus]

bkfamus Beautiful scapes, Kurt. You have a real talent for natural set ups. Well done sir.

Thanks RD. Means alot coming for a vet like you

 

[REDTAILPUPPIES]

When I mentioned the Jack Dempsey and Salvini I was referring to a breeding pair. As they are smaller and won't be as crowded in a 5ft tank as compared to 12in plus cichlids. The Amatitlania you could have several pairs with some catfish to help control being overrun with fry such as my 40breeder where I started with just one pair that soon became 100+.
View attachment 1551721View attachment 1551722

*sob* gorgeous....

 

[mindstate]

Thanks! I've had success w/ lyonsi and cribroheros, thorichthys and amatiitlania.. Not sure any other amphs would be as accomodating... I try to limit my tanks to one alpha type species per, but I do want to try V. zonata and trimac some day.. I think Astatheros macracanthus should be tough enough to maybe work with some Amphs, but no personal experience...

Honestly I love Vieja melanura Lago Peten and Briedohri just as much as any Amph.. Just as active and borderline psycho at times.. I just love the A. istlanum because of it's looks and because i haven't been able to successfully keep them despite multiple attempts.. Some OGs advise the only way to keep them is solo, w/ divider or overcrowded.. neither option desirable imo..

I agree with that regarding dividers etc.

Looked up some vieja vids and they starting to grow on me. However it seems a lot of these tanks are severely overstocked. Is thay necessary?

Like 7-8 T. Meeki and 5-6 vieja would fill this tank pretty much in my opinion..