Big-ish Cichlid For A 40 Gallon Tank?

[Corleone]

A friend of mine had two oscars in the thing for a few years before they died, and he sold me the tank and filter. I know the oscars were far too much for the tank, but I was wondering if any of the other bigger cichlids would be suitable to keep alone in the tank? I'd love an oscar, but couldn't commit to having a suitable home ready for it when it outgrew the tank. Would a JD be acceptable, though?

Dimensions are 36" long x12" wide x23" high

I'm also considering some of the bigger African cichlids, but looking at the local stock, there's a huge size gap from around 5 inches up to fish to Frontosa, which I think would also be big for the tank. Can't find anything in between. Also been looking at various oddballs, but I'm not confident I'd be able to handle a puffer and the tank's far too small for any kind of knife.

 

[calandra]

mmmmm.Jack Dempseys should be kept IMHO in a 48" + tank, as some adults do grow to be at least 10". Personally I would go for a Green Terror (8") max

Cal

 

[shroob]

Have to say I've seen some GT's bigger than 8", and if kept in good conditions should reach bigger than 8" (granted they are slow growing).

If you like the look of a GT, try the blue acara, they stay smaller and you could fit a pair in that size tank.

For a single fish a salvini might just fit, but for that size tank I would recommend a pair of 6"ish fish as the tanks not really big enough for a single 'wet pet' type fish.

 

[calandra]

Nice one shroob didn't think of the blue acara

 

[duncs]

Blue Acara are a good choice, beautiful fish

If you can find the electric blue JD, they don't grow quite so large as JDs and aren't quite as aggressive until breeding.

 

[juanveldez]

JD, Blue Acara and any number of south american pikes including the always fun to watch dwarf pikes would all be suitable. with the JD though I wouldn't get more than one fish. my vote would go for a dwarf pike set up.

 

[jameshiggins]

if your that desperate for bigger chichilds, ebay is great you get get some rite bargains, i wanted a juwel rio 400 (5x2x2ish) and had a buget of £300. i got one on ebay for £70! the best move i ever made now i have 2 adult osars,1jd and 3 tinfoils all very happy.

 

[Corleone]

if your that desperate for bigger chichilds, ebay is great you get get some rite bargains, i wanted a juwel rio 400 (5x2x2ish) and had a buget of £300. i got one on ebay for £70! the best move i ever made now i have 2 adult osars,1jd and 3 tinfoils all very happy.

My budget for this tank is closer to $0, heh. I traded some spare computer parts for it, and with 20 and 29 gallon tanks mid-cycle I wouldn't be spending on another one just yet anyway.

I'm going over to pick it up today. I might update the dimensions - what I posted is what he told me, but it seems like an odd size, and he says it's a 60 tall, but the dimensions are nowhere near 60 gallons. In the meantime, if my first post holds accurate, I think I'll scale myself back to a couple firemouths or convicts.