Some clips of my unsual oddball aquarium

Thought I'd post some vids of my unusual tank. Yes, it is overstocked. I bought all these fish as babies when I set up the tank in 2007 and haven't purchased a single fish since. The most unusual part of my tank is the variety of fish which breaks the "rules" of much fish keeping advice. I have tiny fish an inch long hanging boldly with fish 6, 7 even 11 inches long. A few oddballs in there as well. Also, many of the fish are, (in just little over a year), larger than most books say the max size is. Finally, click in the last link for a shot of one of the most amazing eartheater cichlids I have ever seen.

Here's a list of fish with some video links at the bottom.

4 Black Bar Myleus "Tetra disco" "Blackear Pacu" (Myleus Schomburgki) over 6.5-7.5 inches
3 Common Silver Dollar (Metynnis Hypsauchen or Argenteus) 6.5-7.5 inches
2 Mystery Silver Dollars (Metynnis Mola or Luna) almost 5 inches
1 Flagtail (Semaprochilodus taeniurus) 11 inches
1 Silver Distichodus (Distichodus affinis) 7.5 inches
1 Chinese Hi Fin "Hifin" Banded Shark (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) over 7 inches
1 Earth Eater Cichlid (Satanoperca leucosticta) over 7 inches
1 Rosy Red Minnow (Pimephales promelas) 4 inches
3 Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) 5-6+ inches
1 Keyhole Cichlid (Aequidens maroni) 4+ inches
5 Pleco (Plecostomus) 5-9+ inches
1 Royal Pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus) 6 inches
1 Blue Gourami ((Trichogaster trichopterus) 4 inches
4 Bumblebee Goby (Brachygobius xanthozona) over 1 inch
7 Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) 1.5-2 inches
1 Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) almost 2 inches
1 Darter Fish 3 inches
1 Bluefin Killifish? (Lucania goodei)
4 Hillstream Loach (Beaufortia kweichowensis) 2 inches
2 Horseface Loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchos) 5+ inches
1 Neon Blue Australian Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) almost 3 inches
6 Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) 4 inches
2 Ghost Shrimp (Palaemonetes) over 2 inches (body)
1 Bright red bamboo shrimp

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9bpi3bE3bE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9bpi3bE3bE</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jcp8_lUIW8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jcp8_lUIW8</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VoyVNVEpsE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VoyVNVEpsE</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt377tU6tB0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt377tU6tB0</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy7oFucTYPw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy7oFucTYPw</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhvWFVCB6Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhvWFVCB6Q</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l010jZaSbrE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l010jZaSbrE</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZtY8aR9zS4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZtY8aR9zS4</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtB3nqTkh3M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtB3nqTkh3M</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBpjU5hP67Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBpjU5hP67Y</a>


Many more on my youtube page.

 

Thanks for your replys and generally, you are all absolutely correct.

Before you go on and on about how "stressed" my fish are, the very reason I have so many fish is because of the extreme low mortality rate in my tank. I've had only one (tiny) fish die in the past year. I have not purchased a single fish since I set up this tank in the end of 2007.

Also please note the behavior of my fish in my tank. See "neons at play" and witness yourself how "stressed" they appear "not" to be. See the extreme colors of my fish and ask yourself if that is any indicator of "stress". Finally, notice that in 1 year/4months, many of my fish have grown to sizes significantly beyond what the general concensus is for their max growth. I'll remind you:

Silver distichodus: 7.5 inches
Common silver dollars: 7.5 inches
Common minnow: 4.5 inches
Ghost shrimp: over 2 inches (body only)
Black neons: close to 2 inches

Conidering I bought these fish a little over a year ago as babies. (most under 2 inches), that doesn't point to stress. My little fishes swim freely amongst the giants in the tank and are ignored by them.

That said, I respect all of your opinions and in general, you are right. I would never recommend a set-up like this. I did not do it in ignorance. I knew the risks.

Call it what you want. I love my fish and take good care of them.

Thank-you. I do appreciate your thoughtful comments

 

I feed a variety of flakes, pellets, and freeze dried food.

I'm out in California and only saw these guys in a couple of stores for a very short time for 20$ a pop (as babies)

 

They guys all grew up together which helps. Also, as random as this selection looks, I was very particular to buy only large fish that would be less likely to eat smaller fish. An Oscar would clear out this tank in a second, even if I fed him steak and eggs every morning!!

 

thanks, I try

 

I don't have any pacu's but thanks for the advice.