Empty 30G Tank.....Help Me Stock

[FishGeek]

So I lost my kribs to an unknown reason. All other fish in the tank are happy, healthy, vibrantly colored and eating well. Im moving the Pristella Tetras into the 90G tank (koi are leaving the tank) so my 30G tank is open. I was thinking maybe crays but Im not really sure yet. What ever it is needs to be fairly hardy and not outgrow the tank. Throw in the ideas

[Lotus]

Crays might be fun. Or, you could look into some cichlids like shelldwellers or brichardis.

[FishGeek]

Can a pair of Blue Crays be housed together in my 30G?? I have a couple small tanks to move the male into when and if need be but Im curious how long they would last if at all. Also what tetras could I put in there?? Im thinking Serpae or Red Eyed......or should I just leave my Pristellas???

[Big Vine]

Might work with plenty of hiding spots.
Then again, you're also liable to wake up in the morning to find that one of the crays has ripped the other apart during the night---especially if you're dealing with blue alleni.

If you don't intend to breed the crays, then I'd recommend maybe going for more of a centerpiece crayfish with one of the Cherax species---C. quadricarinatus ('Australian RedClaw'), for example, is one you probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding. Not sure if I'd trust a pair in there...seeing as how they can grow to 10"+...but they are known to often co-habitate fairly amicably. Still, I'd just stick with one...probably a male, since they're the ones that get the red on the outside of their thicker claws.

Of course, there are plenty of other gorgeous Cherax species (e.g. zebras, Hoa creek, destructor, blue moon, red brick, etc.) to choose from, but they tend to be less commonly available.
BV

[AlyKat]

I'm partial to the Pristellas... And they're pretty hardy and tend to stay in the middle of the tank...as long as the cray doesn't climb up and wait with open claws...I think they'd be ok with a cray...

Man, I miss my cray...


What about some Firemouths? I've been thinking of those lately...I'm totally getting into the whole cichlid thing...

[FishGeek]

I was thinking about possibly breeding. These things dont make it fun only being able to have one LOL I think that I might set up my little tank to house the male and keep the female in the 30G. Hmmm....So maybe with the female in the tank and the Pristellas think I could add a single dwarf gourami??

[Big Vine]

A gourami would most likely harass and/or pick-off eggs/babies from the female crayfish. I'd skip it and just stick with the tetras.
BV

[FishGeek]

Ok. Should I add to the school or see how these work first?? I mean do they stand a chance or??

BV I sent you a PM

[Big Vine]

Doesn't matter either way, because the pristella tetras are highly unlikely to mess with the eggs/babies. I'd say if you want more for your current school, then go for it. You might have the odd tetra get picked-off here and there, but most likely they oughta be fine...especially in that size of tank.
BV

[FishGeek]

Hmmmmm