So, this tank has come a long way from my original intent of an Amazon biotope. It's basically a SA/CA violent fish refuge now, LOL. Got sick of the way it looked after three years and rescaped it last week.

Current stock is three oscars, one redhead cichlid, one blackbelt cichlid, one salvini, one red devil, six Amphilophus abominations courtesy of saint_felony , two four-line pictus, a sailfin pleco, a Pterygoplichthys pardalis pleco, and the boss of the tank, a banded leporinus. Didn't know they were so damn tough! Oh yeah, and some cons that escaped gettin' nommed when I threw 'em in for feeders. They've set up in the rockwork and several have paired up, so there's a constant supply of snacks in the tank now.

Photo courtesy of my cell, once again. Ended up puttin' a taller fence in for our escape artist dogs, who jumped/climbed it anyways, tires for 'Ol Blue and the wife's van, a new washer, and the oldest daughter goin' away to college kinda waylayed the new camera this year.

WYite

Looking good! There's some hefty fish in there! Thanks for the pic.

Yeah, the redhead and the RD are sittin' at 12", but the redhead is still growin'. The oscars are between 10" and 12", the hybrids Amphilophus range from 6" to 11", and are still growin'. The blackbelt is around 10", the salvini around 6", the firemouths around 5" and the convicts anywhere from 1.5" to 4.5". I know there are at least four breeding pairs, and maybe a half dozen other adults. The four-line pictus are each 9" or 10", the sailfin pleco's at 11", the other pleco at 14" and the leporinus is at 14".

The RD and redhead are constantly sparring for the head honcho spot. The oscars ignore everybody else unless bugged first, then turn on the assailant with a vengeance. The firemouths and the blackbelt have a thing goin', the two firemouths always pair up against the blackbelt. Neither bugs anybody else. The hybrids are always facin' off with each other, but turn tail if the RD or the redhead come anywhere near. The salvini just generally snaps at everybody. The funny one is the leporinus. He intentionally gets between the RD and the redhead and gives one or the other tail slaps when they're faced off. It leaves everybody else alone, but if one of those two swim by it, it turns on 'em. It's almost like it's sayin', "This is my tank ya stupid cichlids, and don't ya forget it!"

WYite

Nice Ivan, It has been too long sense I have seen the last pics of the tank. Love it!

That leporinus sounds funny...lol

dirtydawg10 wrote:

That leporinus sounds funny...lol

You dirty dawg!!! LOL! Play any mafia lately Derek?

I've played a little bit here and there.