"Cool" Frontosa Tankmates?

[Kelli]

I currently have a 125 gallon set up with 19 1 1/2" Mikula Frontosa fry, 4 adult Black Bee Cyps, and a few snails. I would like to add a few more fish to my tank but I am being very picky as to what I want. I would like to have some fish that are a little more "upscale." I was looking at Foai Moliros but was informed that they should be the dominant fish in the tank for them to really thrive. Any ideas of fish that would be neat to add? I would prefer to have a little color in the tank but will take "cool" over color. I really would like to eventually add a Tanganyikan eel to the tank but that will be a bit later when all my fish are larger.

[crazy42bmx]

Hmmm. Whats the scape like? Rocky , open water ? Id do some rock type fish. Calvus, or Julies, some brichadi.

[barrettsline]

"Cool" Frontosa Tankmates?

IMO, if your looking to eventually breed these, tank mates will need to be at a minimum to reduce stress. To add flash and color, simply clown loaches. An eel would work later down the road as long as it doesn't get to hungry, but keep in mind also it will hide 90% of the time. Comps will be your best tank mates if you are going for an actual tang tank mate.

Personally your cyphos should be them main focus of your tank. To much activity will keep them stressed and hinder progression of the fish. Your call. My Burundi have there own tank. They do have a giraffe cat as a tank mate and will have a few clown loaches in the following months, but there will be nothing else.

[mnemenoi]

Synodontis Granulosa, terrific large Tang catfish that is a showpiece by itself...

[Kelli]

Synodontis Granulosa, terrific large Tang catfish that is a showpiece by itself...

Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for! Thanks for the idea! Do you know anyone that carries them? or where I might can find one?

[crazy42bmx]

I knoe ultimate fish has one.

[mnemenoi]

Its a bit on the pricey side, but they are not seen very often at all and can be tough to find. There are a few other oddball tang catfish Daves Rare fish has, but none are nearly as jawdropping....

Another idea might be a Distichodus sexfasciatus (actually found in Lake Tanganyika) or even the smaller Lusso that should be fine in similar water conditions. They fare far better as a large solitary tetra with some personality and is actually found in the lake itself...

The Tanganyikan killifish is awesome, but locating any might be a very tough and I have heard they are finicky at best and downright hard at worst.

[danielp]

Clown loaches.

[jltx114]

why clown loaches? don't they thrive in lower ph? clown loach is native to indonesia

[crazy42bmx]

Lol, u trying to keep this a tang only tank ? If so - yea no go on the loaches! Whats ur scape like? Some rock fish or bottom range fish would go good.

[NDsuperduty]

"Cool" Frontosa Tankmates?

Wild caught loaches would probably have issues but the clown loaches found for sale are typically so far removed from WC they can adapt just fine in tang tanks.

If you want something upscale or unique I would look for Gnathochromis permaxillaris. They are really cool looking but don't think I've seen them for less than $40-50 a fish and as high as 100 each for WC.