HELP: new tank for Julidochromous sp.

[Zz Yzx]

Hello all;

Inspired by NetMax's recent post (re: DIY styrofoam sculpture [hat-tip
to NetMAx]), I've conceived a plan for a tank and "sculpture" that I
want to fabricate.

I've got a 55 gal show tank (36"L X 12" D X 24" H) that I'll use, and
plan to stock it w/ Julidichromous sp (regani, marlieri, or other
similar), plus the usual plecos, cory's, and dither fish. I plan to
start with several juvinile Julies.

Questions (assuming adequate filtration, similar to NetMax's setup):

1. How many individuals/pairs of Julies are optimum for the tank? How
many "caves" should I provide?

2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
stock? What are good matches for the Julies?

3. The "sculpture" I've conceived will amuse you all, I think. But
the materials I've chosen limit the size of the "cave" openings to
either 1" X 1", or 2" X 2". Given these constraints, which size
opening would be optimum over the long haul?

Thanks a heap.
-Zz

[Alpha]

"Zz Yzx" > wrote in message
...
> Hello all;
>
> Inspired by NetMax's recent post (re: DIY styrofoam sculpture [hat-tip
> to NetMAx]), I've conceived a plan for a tank and "sculpture" that I
> want to fabricate.
> 3. The "sculpture" I've conceived will amuse you all, I think. But

I have never quite understood why someone with your clear appreciation of
the hobby would want to do anything but re-create, in minature and to the
closest possible, the original ecosystem. I doubt the focus would be 'to
amuse.'?

[NetMax]

"Zz Yzx" > wrote in message
...
> Hello all;
>
> Inspired by NetMax's recent post (re: DIY styrofoam sculpture [hat-tip
> to NetMAx]), I've conceived a plan for a tank and "sculpture" that I
> want to fabricate.

Thanks you "he said with a mix of modesty and trepidation " ;~).

> I've got a 55 gal show tank (36"L X 12" D X 24" H) that I'll use, and
> plan to stock it w/ Julidichromous sp (regani, marlieri, or other
> similar), plus the usual plecos, cory's, and dither fish. I plan to
> start with several juvinile Julies.
>
> Questions (assuming adequate filtration, similar to NetMax's setup):
>
> 1. How many individuals/pairs of Julies are optimum for the tank? How
> many "caves" should I provide?

It's difficult (impossible?) to sex juvenile Julies. I started with 6 to
ensure I had a pair.

I would provide as many caves as possible, but it's completely at your
discretion.

> 2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
> stock? What are good matches for the Julies?

Plecos & Corys are sof****er fish, while Julies are hardwater fish. If
you water is neutral, then you're fine. If your water is to an extreme
(in either direction) then your fish choices should be influenced
accordingly.

Julies keep to themselves and will only beat the snot out of anyone who
fights them for territory. Don't mix different types of small
territorial fish. Don't mix different types of Julies. I would
recommend you minimize the number of species in the tank.

For hardwater ditherfish, I would look at Rainbowfish, some Killis and
there are several utaka which would be fine with the Julies. Perhaps a
couple of C.mooris?

> 3. The "sculpture" I've conceived will amuse you all, I think. But
> the materials I've chosen limit the size of the "cave" openings to
> either 1" X 1", or 2" X 2". Given these constraints, which size
> opening would be optimum over the long haul?

If the dither are remotely territorial (ie: mooris), then small caves,
though a mixture of sizes is what would probably work best.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Thanks a heap.
> -Zz

[Mean_Chlorine]

Thusly "NetMax" > Spake Unto All:

>It's difficult (impossible?) to sex juvenile Julies.

AFAIK it's impossible to sex adult julies either, except by dissecting
them or directly observing which one lays the eggs and which one
produces milt. Relative size, who is the dominant partner, and who is
defending territory, do not appear to be reliable characteristics.

[NetMax]

"Mean_Chlorine" > wrote in message
...
> Thusly "NetMax" > Spake Unto All:
>
>>It's difficult (impossible?) to sex juvenile Julies.
>
> AFAIK it's impossible to sex adult julies either, except by dissecting
> them or directly observing which one lays the eggs and which one
> produces milt. Relative size, who is the dominant partner, and who is
> defending territory, do not appear to be reliable characteristics.

I suspected as much, just wasn't trusting my memory of the details. As
with most Africans, there is a no-swim zone around the face of dominant
fish, which smaller fish keep out of. My perception is that the adults
which have a larger no-swim zone, or have that zone cleared faster as
they turn or swim, are the males. Although noticeable enough to be a
characteristic, for sexing, definitely unreliable.

I have seen slight size differences (as CanadianCray noted), but fish of
equal or similar size don't stay in close proximity to each other on a
normal basis ;~), and even then, I couldn't say which was male, as I keep
them in species tanks with too much cover for that level of observation.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Zz Yzx]

<snip>

>> 2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
>> stock? What are good matches for the Julies?
>
>Plecos & Corys are sof****er fish, while Julies are hardwater fish. If
>you water is neutral, then you're fine. If your water is to an extreme
>(in either direction) then your fish choices should be influenced
>accordingly.

What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
sof****er?

[CanadianCray]

Some species of pleco like bushy nose do great in hard water.


"Zz Yzx" > wrote in message
...
> <snip>
>
>>> 2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
>>> stock? What are good matches for the Julies?
>>
>>Plecos & Corys are sof****er fish, while Julies are hardwater fish. If
>>you water is neutral, then you're fine. If your water is to an extreme
>>(in either direction) then your fish choices should be influenced
>>accordingly.
>
> What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
> sof****er?
>

[Koi-Lo]

"Zz Yzx" > wrote in message
...
> <snip>
>
>>> 2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
>>> stock? What are good matches for the Julies?
>>
>>Plecos & Corys are sof****er fish, while Julies are hardwater fish. If
>>you water is neutral, then you're fine. If your water is to an extreme
>>(in either direction) then your fish choices should be influenced
>>accordingly.
>
> What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
> sof****er?
==========================
Our water is 220gh when it leaves the water plant and measures 300+ in my
tanks (Quick-Strip). Plecos thrive in this water. Corys don't last for more
than a few months.

Koi-Lo.....

[NetMax]

"Zz Yzx" > wrote in message
...
> <snip>
>
>>> 2. How many dither fish (aside from the Plecos and Cory's) should I
>>> stock? What are good matches for the Julies?
>>
>>Plecos & Corys are sof****er fish, while Julies are hardwater fish. If
>>you water is neutral, then you're fine. If your water is to an extreme
>>(in either direction) then your fish choices should be influenced
>>accordingly.
>
> What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
> sof****er?


Check out the fishes of Lakes Tanganyika and Malawi. There are
commercially available catfish from there, but I can't recall their
names. If you have trouble finding them, let me know and I'll dig it up.
The Australian lakes probably have some bottom-feeders as well, but those
I haven't seen. Julies do a pretty good job of bottom feeding
themselves.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Zz Yzx > wrote:
>
>What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
>sof****er?
>

Synodontis catfish.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[NetMax]

"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Zz Yzx > wrote:
>>
>>What hardwater fish fill the niche that plecos and corys fill in
>>sof****er?
>>
>
> Synodontis catfish.
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

That would be the ones :-).
--
www.NetMax.tk