Lima Shovelnose

bunjiweb · Post by **bunjiweb** » 10 Jun 2005, 01:16

I know this question has probably been asked before but i had a look through the search function and couldnt find what i wanted.

Basically i have a 6 x 2 x 2 and i just bought a Lima Shovelnose that is about 9"? I haven't measured it up yet.

He is in with 3 pim. Blochii that are all about 7". There are also 4 Pim. Pictus that are 4.5-5" or so in length, a 6" Bristlenose Plec and 2 4" Eartheaters.

Is this combination going to be ok, should i expect any casualties? The Shop owner said it would be fine but i never trust people that are taking money from me! ;)

There are quite a few bits of bogwood and i am adding 2 more pieces over the next couple of days.

Ben

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 10 Jun 2005, 01:25

I think that your choice of fish incombination seems quite alright. I have two limas in with a striped rapheal, a spotted raphael, a juvenille Clarius batrachus, 2 L-11's, a Hoplosternum littorale, an a pair of kribs, and everybody gets along well despite constant nudges from the C. batrachus.

The only thing that I would watch out for is over-agression between the pims.

Sounds like a great tank.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 10 Jun 2005, 17:19

natefrog wrote: (a juvenille Clarius batrachus) and everybody gets along well despite constant nudges from the C. batrachus.

Hi Natefrog,
Don't let it become adolescent, let alone adult, in your tank. This is going to cost you the majority or even all of your other fish.

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 10 Jun 2005, 18:58

The C. batrachus is seven inches now and likley what you would call adolescent, he will be moving into a 120g with a few hardy cichlids at the end of the month, the lima shovelnose will join them when they are a bit larger.

I appreciate the warning. I watch the fish carefully everyday to see their interactions, and at the first sign of problems I move fish around between my eight tanks. This philosophy has worked well so far.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 10 Jun 2005, 21:21

Sounds good. A small piece of advice on your future plans: mind that the limas will remain - despite their adult length - pretty timid and quite defenceless fish. It may be that they get bullied by not only C.batrachus but also by the C******ds. You could either avoid this by not putting them in the same tank, or - as you already do - watch closely what will happen. Pls regard this as an advice from experience and not as a warning from a know-it-all, because I don't -).
Good luck with your fish.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 10 Jun 2005, 23:33

aside from bullying; Lima's are slow, picky eaters, unless you feed them live fish.

clarias are gluttons, and Pimelodus slightly less so.
you need to keep a close watch, or your Lima will starve to death, despite good quality food and all.....

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 10 Jun 2005, 23:57

Even now I have to ensure the limas receive enough food, as you are correct Sid, the Clarius is a glutton. I have a system worked out for this though: I feed the Clarius first with a number of pellets, (of which the limas pick of a few), then after he is somewhat satiated, I feed the limas and hoplosternum frozen or live foods, of which everyone gets their fair share (all rotund and growing).

Seems to have worked so far.

I don't feed any of my fish live feeders anymore unless it is the occasional juvenille convict that needs to be culled...feeders are just to prone to packing disease, and have little nutrative(?) value (golfish that is).

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 10 Jun 2005, 23:58

Also it seems as though we have hijacked Bunjiweb's thread...maybe he doesn't mind...I don't know...?

bunjiweb · Post by **bunjiweb** » 11 Jun 2005, 00:49

Thats ok!

Although I would like to know a couple of other things..

Would I be able to put the following fish in with the Shovelnose without any problems..

Syno. Angelicus (8"+)
L128 Plec (6"+)
Black Ghost Knife (7")
2 x Festivum Cichlids (3")

The only ones I am really worried about are the festivums, but I think the others should be fine. I thought about maybe getting 2 or 3 more festivums so that they are a nice group.

Also any reccomendations for a shoaling fish for the tank? (that wouldnt get eaten!)

Ben

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 11 Jun 2005, 01:35

How much current are you intending for the tank Ben? Some current would be benificial for the limas and the L128 the rest will be okay with some current as long as there are a few slow water hideaways. Also, the festivums should be ok, but I would keep an eye on them when they start to spawn, as they will be a bit aggresive, but not much more so than a pair of spawning angels. Be sure to provide lots of clay pots and such to allow everyone their own hidey holes.

natefrog · Post by **natefrog** » 11 Jun 2005, 01:37

Oh and also Ben, what color is your L128?

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 11 Jun 2005, 07:11

If there are plenty hiding places I don't see any issues.

the angelicus might want a piece of wood for himself.

watch that Ghostknife!
nice, docile fish, but a perfect fit INSIDE a Lima

might want to use a big Ghostknife, or your feeders get a lot more expensive.

About shoalers: use highbuild characins!
Methynnis fit that bill; if these are too big Poptella's (adults) are another nice choice.
both are very peaceful and lively shoalers, but they need a big tank.

tankdimensions?

About the festivums; watch closely. usually this is a timid peaceful fish, but on occasion they go the other way and make life very hard for fish like Lima's or shoaling characins.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 11 Jun 2005, 16:35

sidguppy wrote: the angelicus might want a piece of wood for himself

.
And will defend it!

sidguppy wrote: watch that Ghostknife!
nice, docile fish, but a perfect fit INSIDE a Lima

Don't agree: they're far too clever to be caught by a lima
Besides , this one is already 7".

sidguppy wrote: About shoalers: use highbuild characins!
Metynnis fit that bill

Agree, but this will cost you your plants. Poptella is not only smaller, but more omnivorous as well
Hope this helps you out a bit.

bunjiweb · Post by **bunjiweb** » 11 Jun 2005, 19:45

Thanks for the info guys. I have one bit of giant vallis in the tank although tbh i dont care if it gets eaten, i half expect the Festivums to munch on it!

I would disagree that the Lima would eat the BGK, not really worried about it tbh.

The Angelicus is fairly placid these days, he used to be a bit boisterous when adding new fish when he was in my 60 gallon, but in the new tank he should do great

He has his old bit of bogwood in there that he will probably quickly find for himself.

There is afair ammount of current in the tank, I have a Eheim 2213 feeding the tank at one end and taking from the other, and an Eheim 2217 feeding the opposite end and taking from the other. I also have 2 x 700L/H powerheads at the waters surface to keep the water circulated, so this equates to around 3000L/H in total - Tank is 680 litres - 6 x 2 x 2ft.

Oh, and the L128 is like most others, blue/turqoise with white spots.
Yesterday I bought an L200 which is light Green with lighter green/white spots

Ben

SorubimLima · Post by **SorubimLima** » 06 Feb 2006, 23:10

Hi, Bungiweb. From what I have seen a lima should be fine in a tank of that dimensions, although it might have a little trouble turning around, which it rarely does. Limas can hold their own against things like pictus in my tank, as long as the lights have been off for a while and the lima has had enough time to adjust to sudden darkness.
SorubimLima