I have 55 gallon tank (filtered with 2 penguin 330s) with plenty of rock and some hardy live plants that my current stock leaves mostly alone. I want you suggestions on what to finalize the tank with.

Current list:

5 saulosi (1m/4f)
3 zebra oblique (2m,1f)
1 colbalt blue zebra (m)

I would love to get rid of the zebra, but he is the world's smartest fish and uncatchable, so he'll probally stay. One thought I had was doing a saulosi/zebra oblique tank with 10 saulosi and 5-6 zebra obliques, but I have not made up my mind. If this were your and the saulosi and obliques were staying what would you add?

If color was what I was after, I would probably add a few Acei or
maybe a few Rusties.

I would also consider a bottom cleaning crew as well.

A Bristlenose pleco or a nice syno. cat would be nice IMO.

On the other hand, it would also depend on whether or not I was
planning on keeping any of the offspring from the original group.

I wouldn't put more than 20 fish total in a 55 gal and that would eventually
be pushing the limit unless you add more filtration.

I'm interested in seeing what everyone else would do!

oh, forgot to mention I do have a syno. cat already, about 5" long (real active) and I'm growing out some bn plecs in another tank (they are only about 1.5" right now). Rusties seem to be the popular answer so far. I have the same question on CF and the 2 response say rusties. Not interesting in aceis. Like preacherboy I am curious as to what the rest of you will say. Regardless of the suggestion I'll probably get something from bluegrasscichlids.com, so may want to look at his list before making a suggestion.

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...

I think I'd add some more Cobalts to balance the blues and yellows. They are really great fish, and if you get decent quality ones, they can be just spectacular.

Rusties are great, but I've seen some bad ones come from Bluegrass, so beware. Some of them tend to have very light colouration, and alot of yellow, which makes me question their purity.

Kim

So, Kim if I take your cobalt advice, what would be your recommendation for final number of the three species.

How is the filtration on the tank?

If it's good, or overfiltered (which is essential in overstocking), then I would go with ultimately 10 of the saulosi, 5 of each of the others. You may have to remove and replace male Cobalts, but it should look fantastic!

Kim

filtered with 2 penguin 330s

This is what I ended up with:

15 saulosi 2m/4f/9?
3 zebra obliques
1 ob red zebra
1 ice blue zebra
1 haplochromis kenya gold
1 feather fin catfish
1 pleco (growing out some bns in a grow out tank).

how about you snap a few pics for us to the that finished product !!! Bouncy

I will, but one of you all will have to guide me throught posted a pic on the thread.

1. Create an account at www.photobucket.com

2. Upload the pictures from your computer into your photobucket album.

3. Click on the "IMG Code" from the list under the picture you want to post. This will automatically copy it.

4. Paste it into your post.

5. Preview it to make sure you did it right. Good Job

This is a test with pics from a previous tank to see if I can follow simple instructions. Also, to show Kim that despite the fact that I can't post 1,000 times I can keep plants alive. whoot whoot This was my 46 bowfront planted laetacara tank that I sold to buy the 55 my saulosis live in now. This should also set expectations for the crappy level of pics to expect.

How are those zebra obliques behaving? I heard they were mad-aggressive Vics and that one should be wary of them. But it sounds like they're doing fine in your tank.

they are doing great. don't mess with other fish much. they occasionally will chase a saulosi a few inches or the males will chase each other, but nothing major. I was a litte worried because I have 2m/1f.

Nice looking bowfront tank, Yodahorn!

Okay, the test is over!

It's time to bring on the pics from the 55!

How are your new saulosi doing from Birdman?

Mine are doing great and they are a rich dark orange!

Definately high quality fish from a high quality gentlemen!

some pics of the tank

More pics of the tank

Great looking Salousi !!!! Good Job

Nice shots! Are the plants bamboo, val's or water onions? Couldn;t quite tell...

the one on the left and the one in the middle are water onions and the one on the right is a narrow leaf java fern. Thanks for the comments on the tank Pseudospecialops. Thanks for the fish Birdman.

Nice fish and pics!

Question: Where did you get the water onion?

ebay

Tank looks nice and so do the saulosi. Good Job

Heh heh heh.... Water onion, the one plant I am a master of keeping! roll eyes

My dominant male saulosi is very dominant. He had 2 subdominant males hiding in the rocks, including one bigger than him, then they just disappeared. (had 15 saulosi, now I have 10). In addition to the 2 subdominant males that vanished, one of the smallest saulosi and a female that had held twice and was looking week and some other random saulosi had met their maker. I have only found 1 corpse. Of the 9 yellow saulosi left, a couple are starting to show some male color. my dominant male saulosi also, put the smaller of the 2 zebra obliqueden males in his place. He locked lips and pushed him to the other side of the tank.

Sorry to hear about your losses!

Those dominant males can be a terror at times, especially
when they are trying to spawn or fighting over a particular area.

you maka me laugh

geelite - actually caught him and gave him to a friend for his 180.

yodahorn, nice one, hope you didnt use a water gun 4larry

nope, I hired a seal team. 4larry 4larry 4larry 4larry they would not tell me how the caught him, but he looked a little roughed up.
bring it on! :Sad: may the fish be with you