125gal aquarium. What should I put in it?

Question

Was thinking a couple largemouth bass and some bluegill. I have plenty of space but I want something interesting besides oscars or cichlids.

Answer 1

Largemouth bass and blue gill might be a liiiittle tight for a 125 gal. You could probably get away with 1 or 2, but more than that would be too much.

Anyway, you could go with a variety of tetras. You know, lots of plants, maybe some shrimp, and 9 or 10 schools of tetras:
neon tetras http://img225.exs.cx/img225/3290/neontetra6mc.jpg
cardinal tetra http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/cardinals.jpg
lemon tetra http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/fish/034.jpg
harlequin rasbora http://tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/templates/BMan1Blue/images/profile_pics/fish_profiles_heteromorpha1.jpg
glowlight tetra http://www.solodvds.com/images/fish/Hemigrammus_erythrozonus_s.jpg
zebra danio http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/fish/zebradanio.jpg
... the list goes on and on and on.

You could do a gourami tank. Some of them are on the aggressive side, but many are placid, like pearls:
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/pearl_gourami.jpg
dwarfs:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d6/Colisa_lalia.jpg/250px-Colisa_lalia.jpg

Also, there are a LOT of cichlids out there. Have you seen peacocks?
http://zenandjuice.com/word/images/Aul_eureka_01.jpg
http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/peacock_yellow.jpg
http://cjexotics.com/images/alunarubadmale.jpg
http://research.yale.edu/peabody/CICHLID/AB/aul-red-shoulder.jpg
http://www.dainichi.com/cichlid_page/ULTIMA/Blue-neon-peacock-juv.jpg

Or discus or angelfish?
http://kendziora.net/photography/discus.jpg
http://www.lafferty.ca/photos/Montreal/Montreal_Biodome_2001/angelfish.jpg

Or tanganyikan shellies?
http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/alt-calvus.jpg
http://cichlidpress.pair.com/photos/tro-duboisi.jpg
http://www.thatfishshop.com/j_fish/neolamprologus_leleupi2.jpg
http://www.thatfishshop.com/j_fish/neolamprologus_tretocephalus.jpg
http://www2.biology.ualberta.ca/jackson.hp/IWR/Taxa/Perciformes/Cichlidae/Neolamprologus/N_tretocephalus/Mvc-896f.jpg

Or you could get a 'wet pet' like a lung fish
http://www.sooreams.com/animalia/pics/lungfish.jpg

Anyway, there's no shortage of possibilities with a 125gallon. Go with waht you want. If you have lots of cash, you could even go saltwater.

Answer 2

If you want some unusual larger fish, you could go with a S. American cichlid biotope, with some fancy plecos and an uaru, which are great fish. Severums, firemouths, festivums, the possibilities are almost endless. Try the south americans, I find them to be much more rewarding than africans, and their water parameters are easier to maintain. Or, you could go with discus, which are also a south american, but they're pickier, and shouldn't live with any of the other cichlids I mentioned. They do well with angelfish, but keep in mind, they like to school, so be sure that you have enough room for a small school of them if thats the route you take. Another discus compatible fish is the german blue ram, which are beautifully colored, and non-agressive. Leave the bass and bluegill where they are, there are many more rewarding fish to keep in the aquarium hobby, especially with your good sized tank. Best of luck!

Answer 3

I like the idea of bass and bluegill, very few people keep native species tanks. A few things to think about - few pet stores sell these fish, so you'll have to catch them in the wild yourself! That means they may not take to eating flake food right away, you'll need a supply of flies, worms, and minnows at first, slowly mixing in flake til they eat it.

On the plus side, these fish don't need a heater, but in the summer you may find you need a chiller to keep the water as cool as these fish need.

You could also look at other sunfish/crappies, or even "bait fish", some minnows and darters are really quite pretty!

Love the idea!

Answer 4

Well if African cichlids dont pull your trigger, fill the tank with about 15 Synodontis Petricola and 5-6 Clown loaches. Breed them kitty cats.Bottom feeder frenzy. Catfish rule LOL.

Answer 5

I had a large mouth bass. he was fun and ate out of my hand but he messed the tank up fast. You would need a very good filter. The blue gill would be a better choice.

Answer 6

I have one too, and after different tropical pain in the **** fish, ended up filling with beautiful GOLDFISH, there are many types and colors, VERY easy to maintain and are nice to look at. Plus they grow fast and according to their environment.

Answer 7

i would go with a community tank. you could put alot of different types of fish in it as long as they are all non-aggressive. i think it is more interesting when you have a variety of fish with different colors and sizes.

Answer 8

fish! or rocks for the fish, kelp,squid

Answer 9

I would go for discus.

Answer 10

sharks