Strange Cichlid pairing???

[Magnum Man]

Assuming that most mid sized Cichlids “can” breed??? If so, what is the likelihood of strange pairs???
I have a female Fire Mouth Cichlid right now… long story short, bought at the semi local big box pet store… they just came in that day, and the bulk didn’t look good… I bought a few of the better looking and put in my quarantine tank… this female is the only survivor… right now she is chumming with my 3 Blue Acaras… and next week a school of Cupids will arrive… I’m not intentionally trying to interbreed them, just curious if she chooses a different Cichlid, before or if I get a few more Fire Mouths is it likely they could try to breed???

 

[GaryE]

They could, but more likely the hardwater firemouth will end up ignored by the growing softwater acaras and cupido.

If they do spawn, chances are the fry won't be viable. If they were, the pet shops would be buried in them.

 

[Magnum Man]

Actually I don’t much trust the semi local big box store much… “fire mouth” actually kind of looks like what I remember from previous, as a jewel Cichlid… color was really dark, coming from a pretty dark quarantine tank will have to give it a few days to color up, and get a few more tank mates and look at it closer

 

[GaryE]

I hope it's a firemouth. If it's in the jewel group, get it out as fast as you can, or you will lose the gentler South Americans. Some firemouths throw their weight around and could terrorize cupido, which are shy fish. But not all. I've also had blue acaras make life hard for Geophagines. I rehomed all the acaras.

My rule of thumb for aggression in smaller Cichlids goes:
Lake Victoria tough and nasty;
Malawi next:
Central/North Americans;
Tanganyikans;
Riverine African species next.
non predatory South Americans as the gentlest.

All rules are made to be broken though. Still, it has worked for me, after a few bad experiences. I never mix Cichlid regions, though I sometimes make weird communities with other fish groups.
I really like firemouths. I've been to their habitats, but never fished for them. They're my favourite North American Cichlid. The jewel group are beauties, but they are domineering, fight loving fish.

 

[Colin_T]

Actually I don’t much trust the semi local big box store much… “fire mouth” actually kind of looks like what I remember from previous, as a jewel Cichlid… color was really dark, coming from a pretty dark quarantine tank will have to give it a few days to color up, and get a few more tank mates and look at it closer

post a picture of them and we will try to ID them

 

[Magnum Man]

thanks, I'm at work right now... will try to remember tonight... got a long busy day today

 

[Magnum Man]

 

[Magnum Man]

The biggest blue… I’m not seeing any dancing, just odd duck is just hanging with the 3 blues… but is bossier

 

[Colin_T]

its a jewel cichlid, not a firemouth. get rid of it so it doesn't kill everything else.

 

[Magnum Man]

I didn’t think it looked like a Firemouth… I just added my angel ( about a 2 inch platinum ) it’s not really bothered anyone yet, including the new Angel… going to be challenging as I can only really work from the top of one of the ends… but better to do it now, while it’s not trying to kill anyone, and before the tank gets too crowded, and fully landscaped… I haven’t use a. net with a 30 inch handle

 

[Magnum Man]

Took the hollow log out… the net I have with a long enough handle, is only a 6 inch net… didn’t work well the 1st try… don’t what to freak the angel out too bad, will try again later…

 

[Magnum Man]

Caught the Jewel and it’s back in a holding tank… had to remove most of the decor, and use 2 nets to capture it… everyone else was terrified, probably from the Jewel, and the chases… the smaller blue had some nips on it’s tail… so guessing this needed to be done today… and actually everyone else looks to have settled down, with the sunset lighting coming on