I have a 54inch long by 24inch high x 15inch deep tank. This is 70uk gallons/315litres. I now want to refill the tank. I used to keep discus in it but i dont want to restock with discus due to the cost of the fish and also the work required

In my 2 other tanks i have oscars, jag, sev, front, plec, silver dollar, silver sharks, clown loaches, double spot acara, synspilum, pearl cichlid, salvini

I have loads of filtration, heater and a sand substrate

I have looked at malawi cichlids but the cost of them and the rock needed is too much. Anyone got any ideas of what to stock the tank with and at what levels, i have a tight budget at the moment

Hi Delboy, I wouldn't mind a JD myself, i keep seeing necromancers and am starting to like the look of them. something a little smaller would mean you could have more fish,

these are much smaller 3.5" and are pretty in electric blue
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macropodus_opercularis_-_front_ (aka).jpg

I know they may not be your cup of tea but just thought i'd give you some options. )) also someone posted a video a few wks ago with some very differant fish mixed. a friend or someone Noddy knows from youtube. have a look at that.

heres the link just found it, some nice fish here.
www.oscarfishlover.com/oscar-fish-advice...ideos/90740-thoughts

delboybully wrote:


Good lord Dell, I would give you twice as many Malawi's as you have room for, these damn things breed like rabbits...

Maybe dwarf cichlids of some kind? I love Blue German Rams.

single specimen.......black nasty

comunity setup...... rams, bolivian and german...with plants

my 2 cents

Good question.....You can find malawi cichlids aroung 6-10 dollars at some fish stores when they are very small. Large fish stores sell them around 20 dollars. Go to Pet Smart or something if you want them cheap. I would personally go with salt water but it seems like you have a tight budget. Also the rocks like holey rock can be very expesive. like 70 dollars for 10-15 pounds. wow!!! good luck figuring out what to do...Oscars arent very expensive

Thanks for all the input. I am on a tight budget, i have lots of expenses coming in soon. I was thinking of something that can be purchased for a few pounds but will grow to the 6inch mark

Marcus i have had a JD and am not that keen on getting another and the electric blue ones are really expensive

Nicki-sue, Malawis come in at £5+ and i have been told i would need about 25 which is £125 plus would need to spend about £80 on putting rocks in the tank

Necro, i have looked at the black nasty and its not really my cup of tea, also not keen on putting a fish that can reach 15inch in a 15 inch deep tank. Also was thinking of fish a little bigger than rams. Something in the region of 6inches or so


srt4lifehps, I would love a salt water tank but that way way to expensive

I was thinking of some scat,mono and archer fish combo but the girlfriend is not to enamoured with them and it would be best if i kept her on side so i have to give her some input

Oscar are great, they cost £5-6 and with 2 and some time you can fill a 100g tank

like the idea of electric blues...

i.m.o single species - peacock bass...thats what im doin anyways!

local tank. Not sure where you are from but i have a local fresh tank and local salt tank and they are my fav tanks. The fresh has got couple of sunfish and a bass and i trained them all to eat pellets and krill. They dont cost much to get either lol

whats wrong with nipping out to the country and picking up some rock? take the girl friend along and call it a day out )))) buy 4 malawi's and breed them.this time next yr you could be selling them.)))

marcus wrote:


Everytime i go to the country/coast i always keep an eye out for rocks and my girlfriend goes mad when i pick one up, i dread to think what she would do if i picked up a tank full

I am under the impression that malawis need to be heavily stocked, wont 4 beat each other up?

i keep my malawis tank very heavily stocked to help disperse the aggression. and actually most people i know who keep africans do so as well.

on a side note perhaps pair of salvinis might fit both your budget and you tanksize......