Final Fish

[Manning99]

Struggling for a final fish in my 72"x24"x30".

The tank is sumped and is now being planted (one of my stocking issues). pH fairly neutral just above 7.0, lots of pothos/lucky bamboo emerging, wisteria in the water and a temp of 71.

After many attempts at plants in the substrate, on driftwood and floating, I gave up on keeping my two Oscars in the tank.

I have since rehomed the two Oscars and am now left with as follows: 18" South American lungfish, 6" Green Bay Snook, 6" Raphael Catfish.

The lungfish and Snook seem much more outgoing since removing the two adult Oscars. But I now feel like I could do with one more reasonably active fish in the tank besides the Snook.

I am struggling to find a fish that fits into this criteria.

1. Will largely leave my plants alone.
2. Is unlikely to pick on the lungfish/Snook.
3. Can comfortably live in the tank In regards to swimming space.
4. Big enough not to be threatened by the snook.

I'm looking for a single mid-top water fish similar-smaller size than the snook.

Options that I've came up with so far but I'm not happy with mainly due to size are:
1. Kelberi Bass
2. Zebrina Pike
3. Red Tail Barracuda

I'm aware the lungfish and Snook will grow significantly larger but the Raphael and lungfish are very undemanding in terms of swimming space and I'm already in the process of setting up an autodrip. At the minute my nitrates already stay around 5ppm before the planting and autodrip.

I know these are fairly specific requirements but I'm just looking for options until something jumps out at me.

Cheers

 

[Joshuakahan]

Struggling for a final fish in my 72"x24"x30".

The tank is sumped and is now being planted (one of my stocking issues). pH fairly neutral just above 7.0, lots of pothos/lucky bamboo emerging, wisteria in the water and a temp of 71.

After many attempts at plants in the substrate, on driftwood and floating, I gave up on keeping my two Oscars in the tank.

I have since rehomed the two Oscars and am now left with as follows: 18" South American lungfish, 6" Green Bay Snook, 6" Raphael Catfish.

The lungfish and Snook seem much more outgoing since removing the two adult Oscars. But I now feel like I could do with one more reasonably active fish in the tank besides the Snook.

I am struggling to find a fish that fits into this criteria.

1. Will largely leave my plants alone.
2. Is unlikely to pick on the lungfish/Snook.
3. Can comfortably live in the tank In regards to swimming space.
4. Big enough not to be threatened by the snook.

I'm looking for a single mid-top water fish similar-smaller size than the snook.

Options that I've came up with so far but I'm not happy with mainly due to size are:
1. Kelberi Bass
2. Zebrina Pike
3. Red Tail Barracuda

I'm aware the lungfish and Snook will grow significantly larger but the Raphael and lungfish are very undemanding in terms of swimming space and I'm already in the process of setting up an autodrip. At the minute my nitrates already stay around 5ppm before the planting and autodrip.

I know these are fairly specific requirements but I'm just looking for options until something jumps out at me.

Cheers

I did something similar in a 180, snook, kelberi and some bichirs. From my experience with that tank, if everything is good now, I’d probably leave things alone or maybe go with something not likely to cause problems like a larger armored cat or maybe a few silver dollars

 

[Manning99]

I did something similar in a 180, snook, kelberi and some bichirs. From my experience with that tank, if everything is good now, I’d probably leave things alone or maybe go with something not likely to cause problems like a larger armored cat or maybe a few silver dollars

Would like the kelberi but bit concerned it would get too big. Already got a Raphael and the plants rule silver dollars out unfortunately.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Would like the kelberi but bit concerned it would get too big. Already got a Raphael and the plants rule silver dollars out unfortunately.

You could replace the Raph with a Irwini Soldier Catfish (might be pushing it, others can clarify). Takes a while to grow, but its worth it. I have two raphs in my current tank and I love them to pieces, but I think with your current stock, it wouldn't last long.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Would like the kelberi but bit concerned it would get too big. Already got a Raphael and the plants rule silver dollars out unfortunately.

I think the snook will get bigger than a kelberi, the problem I had was the kelberi beating on the snook and with the snooks mouth structure locking jaws could be bad.

 

[Manning99]

I think the snook will get bigger than a kelberi, the problem I had was the kelberi beating on the snook and with the snooks mouth structure locking jaws could be bad.

The kelberi is still the front runner, there just doesn't seem to be a conclusive average size in aquaria lots of sites/posts ranging from 10-18".

From what I've seen adult Bass are fairly active compared to the snook and of course the danger of the damage to the snooks mouth is worth noting.

 

[Manning99]

You could replace the Raph with a Irwini Soldier Catfish (might be pushing it, others can clarify). Takes a while to grow, but its worth it. I have two raphs in my current tank and I love them to pieces, but I think with your current stock, it wouldn't last long.

Not overly concerned about the Raphael been with the lungfish for about a year, previously with adult Oscars and at one point terrapins. Nothing has every even attempted to bother with him.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Not overly concerned about the Raphael been with the lungfish for about a year, previously with adult Oscars and at one point terrapins. Nothing has every even attempted to bother with him.

I wouldn’t worry about the Rafael, armored cats are usually safe although if the snook or pbass were to try to eat it, they might be hurt
If you want to try the pbass, I say go for it, just have a back up plan