Newbie q''s for keeping larger fish

Hey guys,<
>After keeping some africans for about 2 years I am ready to m ove onto some larger more exciting fish but thought I would ask here before I make any purchases.  First I''ll start with my setup:<
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>4x2x2 with Eheim 2217 classic canister and a moozoo 800lph internal.  Have had about 15 africans in there and water has always stayed crystal.  Also has some driftwood, rocks, fake plants and a latex background.<
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>Anyhow I''m thinking about getting a Saratoga Leichardti as I really like the shape, can anyone comment on what they are like to keep?  Also, what tankmates would be ok that would agree with him and also no exceed the filtration requirements?  I was thinking of some largish plecos and maybe something else.  I also dont mind the black ghost knives, anyone had these before? I want a fish who loves to devour feeders  <
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>All comments appreciated, thanks...<
>Clay

[ashhhh]

saratoga are generally surface feeders will eat frogs flys an floaty foods<
>wanna fish with big teeth that will smash feeders? (goldfish size)- get a mangrove jack. Barras are also up there with the jacks  

Geckos are good feeders also! *smirks*<
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>Cheers Dave "I believe that sex is a beautiful thing between two people. Between five, it''s fantastic."

[Anakist]

Barra are bloody good value for devouring things. Any things. If they can fit it in their mouth, they will. Whether it fits in their stomach or not!<
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>Toga are cranky! I have a 20cm one in with ~5 9cm barra and the barra are all beat up and cowed.<
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>James Rockhampton QLD<
>ja_mez(AT)hotmail(DOT)com<
>0408 189 343

[wrk21]

guys your forgetting he only has a 4 footer........<
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>of cause, i would say the jack but not in a 4''<
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>maybe an american with a little bite........<
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>  

[devz11]

Just from my experience i find that oscars completely nail feeders. I pour a bag of them in and all i can hear is constant banging as the oscars completely stuff themselves on feeders. Devils are also pretty good for it as well. Although if i put feeder goldfish in the devil only eats the head and leaves the rest as a pet. I guess it depends on the aggression you want and what food sources you are willing to supply. Compared to africans, the americans are f**ken awesome.

Thanks for the replies guys, sounds like Americans would be well suited to my tank size and my sadistic love of feeders getting pummelled  <
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>Been lookin at some pics of americans, I wish u could get some american-sized fish with african-style colours...<
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>Can anyone link me to some pics of their americans?  Also, what are some good tank mates for red devils?<
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>Cheers again<
>Clay

[devz11]

Its hard to get tank mates when they are older. If you grow them up together you have a better chance. But you can always use egg crate to divide your tank and put grown fish either side for over a week then you can try them together. Americans are moody so it depends if they want to take to each other or not. Trial and error.

[Anakist]

I have four barra and a toga in a4x15x15. Feed them feeders and they will grow slowly. <
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>James Rockhampton QLD<
>ja_mez(AT)hotmail(DOT)com<
>0408 189 343

Thanks for the advice guys.  I went with the following:<
>1 x Saratoga Leichardti (~25cm, not aggressive at all except when feeding)<
>1 x Tigar oscar (~10cm, has shown no aggresive behaviour, maybe he is scared of the toga)<
>1 x Black ghost knife (~12cm, stays in log except when feeding)<
>1 x Sailfin pleco (~25cm, very placid)<
>3 x Clown loach (~7cm, quite active, will probably get 3 more)<
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>Seems to work well, no fighting or aggresiveness at all.  The toga loves to eat crickets and bloodworms, been trying to feed him pellets but he doesnt like them (eats it then spits it out).  Does any1 have any suggestions as to what I can try feeding him, buying a box of crickets every 3 days is proving quite expensive!

[ashhhh]

soak your pellets in something fishy like sloppy catfood and then see if he likes them.......

I would just go down to the local creek and get a heap of those guppies and tose a few of then in at at time <
>East and cheep  but keep them ia a nother tank for a week just so u can pick out the sick ones and tose them out

[devz11]

you could try
eeding convicts.... oscars love em

Yep am currently
eeding convicts in another tank... this morning though tragedy struck as the black ghost knife has totally disappeared, and i think one of the clown loaches also.... i suspect it to be the work of the oscar as he is the only one who can fit in the log where the BGK was hiding.  No body either, totally gone... i can''t believe an oscar of that size could eat that much!

[devz11]

there is a myth that comes with the oscar. Oscars are pretty calm and gentle. They can be agressive though but not too bad. All my oscars are at least 17cm (smallest) and they dont bother about the smaller fish that much. They know what they can eat eg feeders. I put africans (small) in with my oscars and they didnt even bother about them. He probably didnt eat them. But thats just my opinion. He seems a little too small to do that. at 10cm i think mine had enough trouble trying to swallow a full cube of blood worm let alone a bgk and loach Edited by: devz11 at: 1/7/05 12:45<
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