40 breeder rio Orinoco biotope aquarium

As you know by now, I have drifted from many ideas but finally I have found something to stick to. I really am intrigued by the lower Rio Orinoco River biotope. There is many species of fish which I like I am using my 40 breeder for this and will be keeping 4 Mesonatua Festivum 4 keyhole chiclid, 8 Marbled hatchetfish, 8 sterbai cory and 12 tetras from the Orinoco. I will keep the temperature at 78 degrees and will start with half the tank being rodi water with peat in the filter. When I do water changes, I will occasionally use rodi water to keep the ph down and I will keep many plant types to lower the total nitrogen in the aquarium, most likely it will also be dirted. I hope you all will come and join me on my journey to creating the PERFECT Orinoco biotope

 

It may get a bit overstocked with both types of cichlid. I would go with one or the other.

 

From what I have seen, festivum are like discus and keyhole are like ram

 

ag

It may get a bit overstocked with both types of cichlid. I would go with one or the other.

Agree think the Mesonauta aren't really suitable. A shame cause they are soooo awesome.

 

What alternatives could I do? I really think the festivum and keyhole could work, both are VERY peaceful mabye I could do only a pair of festivum?

anyone have a list of any chiclids that are native to rio Orinoco

 

both are VERY peaceful

Are they though? Do you know this, or did you read this on the internet somewhere? Do you know what "peaceful cichlid" means? I've got 4 Keyholes in a 40B for instance, and I disagree with your stocking. By the time they're all grown, that sounds like it would be a warzone tbh.

 

Oh. Mabye. Should try smaller fish. Are keyholes a solid pick though? Mabye I could do this stocking:

2 blue ram chiclid

2 keyhole chiclid

6 otocinclus

6 corydoryas hasborus

1 L106 orange Seam pleco

2 petrophylum scalare

12 rummynose tetras

 

I think you should stick to ONE species of cichlid. Either keyholes, rams, apistos, angels, or some other small one. Peaceful cichlids are peaceful to most things... except other cichlids. I think a pair of keyholes and a bunch of small schooling fish would work well.

 

I think a pair of keyholes

You're right about most cichlids, Keyholes are a little different though. I'd do the 4 in a densely planted 40. They're more of a social cichlid than most, I'd almost say they do better in shoals than just a pair. That said, I would not (edited to add the not) do more males than females, which can be hard to tell when they're juveniles still. Also, they can be timid so having a couple of coconut shells for them to hide in helps.

 

Could I bump em up to 6 I’m thinking a 25-50 percent wc a week

I really like toeknee ’s 55g. I might bump rams up to 4 and not do Otos or pleco and then get 8 cories and 16 of a tetra species?

 

It isn't a matter of wc's (I do more than 50% in all my tanks every week). Having fully grown Keyholes, and seeing the way they use they're space, 4 is the max I'd do in a 40. They shoal, but they need space to get away from each other once in awhile too (butthurt happens on occasion). More than 4 would make that alot harder. I'd be worried about aggression with more than that.

I really like @toeknee ’s 55g.

Toeknee can get away with the 7 he's got because he's got a really densely planted (and gorgeous) tank, that's 4ft long. The 40B is only 3 which puts everyone on top of each other if you overstock.

 

Ok how about 4 then 2 ram and then 8 Cory 8 oto and 16 tetras And 2 angel I would provide TONS of hides for the keyhole and rams and have like a dense river bank in the back with the front being swimming room for the angels and tetras? and the cories and otos and rams can have a very cluttered bottom with TONS of biofilm for the otos

 

Ok how about 4 then 2 ram and then 8 Cory 8 oto and 16 tetras And 2 angel I would provide TONS of hides for the keyhole and rams and have like a dense river bank in the back with the front being swimming room for the angels and tetras? and the cories and otos and rams can have a very cluttered bottom with TONS of biofilm for the otos

This sounds really overstocked. I would Remove the rams and angels.

 

Why no rams I’d take the angels and otos?

Mabye I should do like 2 festivum and 2 p. Scalare, seriouslyfish says they are good tankmates, and the rest of the stocking no keyholes or otos?

 

Too little vertical space in a 40B for fully grown Angels. In that size tank, the Keyholes really need to be the tank boss, otherwise the Rams will bully (and possibly kill due to stress) the Keyholes. Also, I'd take the Cory's out. Too much going on, on the bottom level. Pleco, tetras, and dwarf cichlid is how I'd go. I've got Kuhli's instead of plecos / cory's in mine, and I can get away with that because the Kuhli's are almost never out during the day.

 

Why no rams I’d take the angels and otos?

Because three types of cichlids in a 40 breeder will be very crowded. Just choose one of the three. Angels would work, but don’t keep them with the other cichlids. It just seems cramped to me, along with all the other fish you want.

 

I think 4 keyholes a pair of rams 8 cories 16 tetras 6 otos or a orange Seam pleco seems fine? All live in Orinoco and I could have neons cause keyholes won’t attack them I think and neons are a common Orinoco fish

 

I think 4 keyholes a pair of rams 8 cories 16 tetras 6 otos or a orange Seam pleco seems fine? All live in Orinoco and I could have neons cause keyholes won’t attack them I think and neons are a common Orinoco fish

It’s overstocked and they’ll be cramped. Just remove the rams. Even if they’re from the same area that does not mean they’ll always get along.

 

I really want both

 

I really want both

Then remove the corys and four tetras. The cichlids won’t have enough space for territory, and even if you do what I suggest it’ll still be cramped if you keep both.

 

I think 4 keyholes a pair of rams 8 cories 16 tetras 6 otos or a orange Seam pleco seems fine? All live in Orinoco and I could have neons cause keyholes won’t attack them I think and neons are a common Orinoco fish

The rams and keyholes will fight for territory, possibly killing each other. Only one type of cichlid works in a 40, especially with other fish there too.

 

What if I do 2 festivum instead

 

Another fish from the Orinoco River is the cupid cichlid. Peaceful and personable.

2 festivums could work, although 40 gallons is a little on the small side for them.

 

Cause someone in a video has 6 keyholes and 4-6 rams in a 55g with cories and tetras so imo it could be ok, if I bumped numbers to 4 and 2 then Cory and tetra

 

Cause someone in a video has 6 keyholes and 4-6 rams in a 55g with cories and tetras so imo it could be ok, if I bumped numbers to 4 and 2 then Cory and tetra

That’s 15 extra gallons and also a 55g is a foot longer than the 40 breeder. If you got a 55g that might work. But a 40 would be pushing it to the very max.

 

I think you could do keyholes and rams, but not at those numbers. Maybe 4 keyholes and 2 rams, or the other way around.

Also while doing some more research on fish from tho Orinoco river I found this little guy.
tatia musaica

Probably not gonna find it in your LFS, but to say the least, I want one.

 

I think I will stick to 4 keyhole 2 ram 6 cory 12 tetra then eventually add 1 more fish wether it be 6 otos a orange seam pleco or 6 hatchetfish

 

I think I will stick to 4 keyhole 2 ram 6 cory 12 tetra then eventually add 1 more fish wether it be 6 otos a orange seam pleco or 6 hatchetfish

Well, still seems overstocked to me but sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Good luck, I hope it goes well for you.

 

Ok, my lfs would be able to rehome if needed, I doubt there would be a problem if there’s enough hides. The rams inhabit the bottom of the tank and from my observation the keyholes inhabit the top of the tank and are very slow and graceful. I’m def doing black rams because they look awesome and along with them out of the fish probably the pleco or hatchets as I don’t want to overcrowd the bottom

 

Ok, my lfs would be able to rehome if needed, I doubt there would be a problem if there’s enough hides. The rams inhabit the bottom of the tank and from my observation the keyholes inhabit the top of the tank and are very slow and graceful. I’m def doing black rams because they look awesome and along with them out of the fish probably the pleco or hatchets as I don’t want to overcrowd the bottom

The tetras are going to be the main issue. With 12 of them swimming around, along with corys the cichlids are going to feel cramped and they might attack the tetras to drive them off their territory.

 

According to the internet, the keyholes wouldn’t attack the tetras imo. They are very peaceful and if I pick a larger tetra like rummynose I shouldn’t have any problems

 

According to the internet, the keyholes wouldn’t attack the tetras imo. They are very peaceful and if I pick a larger tetra like rummynose I shouldn’t have any problems

If they or the rams feel cramped they will attack. Cichlids, even if normally peaceful, will attack if they feel the need to protect their territory.

 

According to the internet, the keyholes wouldn’t attack the tetras imo. They are very peaceful and if I pick a larger tetra like rummynose I shouldn’t have any problems

They won’t attack tetras in a properly stocked tank. In a crowded tank like this, they’ll become bullies.

 

Oh, I might try festivum instead honestly. It would make it less crowded. My one idea is doing Congo tetras idk if they come from Orinoco but if they do they could be a candidate, they don’t need a massive school therefore making the aquarium less crowded. Also I’m making lots of hides and open areas so the tetra and chiclid have split areas

Could I do 6 hatchet 8 cory 4 keyhole 2 ram and a plec?

 

Could I do 6 hatchet 8 cory 4 keyhole 2 ram and a plec?

That’d be much better. As long as you have a backup plan for the cichlids it should work.

 

Alright! Seems perfect, I found a cory I REALLY love, I think the orange aneus Cory The keyholes a German black knight male and German female (I don’t know if different colors can pair) the yellow-blue keyholes and then the hatchetfish idk what type at the top crusing around and then the awesome looking pleco I might try blue or green phantom instead I am not sure What kind of plants should I try? I am leaning towards orange seam as they would be less likely to uproot because they were smaller. I definitely want some floaters and some form of carpet but not dense I’m doing dirted so I need a lot of plants

 

Can you expand on why the Mesonauta aren't suitable.

ag
Agree think the Mesonauta aren't really suitable. A shame cause they are soooo awesome.

Are these bolivian rams ? blue ram are gbr - they are not really temp compatible with the rest of the stocking....

Could I do 6 hatchet 8 cory 4 keyhole 2 ram and a plec?

 

Hopefully I can get a background in soon!

 

Are these bolivian rams ? blue ram are gbr - they are not really temp compatible with the rest of the stocking....

Urgh, I keep forgetting about that! Sorry, if I said anything else wrong. Thanks for correcting me!

 

In that tank I doubt there will be any aggression between the rams and keyholes. There are really only 2 main types of hatchet fish in the aquarium trade. The silver hatchet fish and the marbled. The marbled stays smaller and in my opinion looks better. Other than that they are the same.