Breeding Cichlid Question In General

[Verminator89]

Is there such a fish that can fall into both of these two simple categories.


- South American
- NOT a threat to cichlid eggs/fry


Two very simple things, basically i want to know if there is such a fish that is both of these. If at all possible i want a fish that i can add to my breeding Dempsey tank and not have to worry about them eating the eggs and fry. I'd love to be able to have a companion species of fish in the tank with them, but the priority of the tank is Dempsey breeding. So they can't see the eggs/fry as food. Is there such a fish that exists?

 

[rdp50734]

Plastic ones? Sorry I have no idea!

 

[star4]

Personally the biggest threat to eggs are pleco's although my two little Rotties keep an 18" pleco well away, my rotties will raise fry so far with texas in the tank (they just seem to abandon them after about 5 days). My Geophagus brazilliensis sucessfully raised fry for upto 14 days old with thorichthys Ellioti tank mates, the Ellioti never bothered with the eggs or fry (there were 12 Ellioti in the tank at the time) it was again a pleco that got them in the end. To go with the JD's I would go for something like the Ellioti size, personally not a firemouth as I found these far more aggressive than the Ellioti and my fm did constantly harrass the severum pair, my blue acara doesnt bother with eggs or fry either, but I think she is just an acceptionally nice of from other reports I have heard. Thats if you want to add other cichlids, there are various barbs etc you could add, but too many of a shoaling fish may cause the parents to eat the fry. Hope this helps.

scratch my waffle Ellioti are centra not southern teach me to read things propperly

 

[Verminator89]

Plastic ones - FAIL

I don't really want to add other cichlids Lesley, i'd rather stick to a shoaling fish. I've been looking at Cyprinella lutrensis (aka Red Shiners), albeit they are from Texas, they do occupy some parts of Mexico, which my Dempseys do too I can relate to your situation Lesley where yours raise the fry to a certain stage in a tank with those tankmates as my dempseys have bred with Rummynose in the tank, with Boesemani's in the tank and with 2 plecs in the tank! Gill came that sunday (along with you) to collect the plecs, and you took my loach because they were the main culprits for pestering the parents during breeding. I didnt know if fish like tetras and similar such as shiners would be to quick and nip the fry up before the parents could react - although in saying that i remember how parental they were with the last brood. I had fry to about 3 days then they gradually went missing. The main issue is Dempseys are quite shy, and the i got the boesemani's as a dither fish (it worked). So i'm worrying that this bigger tank is going to make them nervous again, so i'm wanting a "dither" that is South American and not going to be a threat to the eggs/fry.

I've just thought. The angels i "planned" on selling are South American, and they get on with my Dempseys ok currently, although my female Dempsey does like to nip at them every so often to let them know whos boss. I suppose they could work, i only have 3. 2 Juvi's and 1 ancient old timer (must be atleast 10+ years old)

 

[kaivalagi]

Hatchet Fish, Definitely wouldn't eat eggs
Headstanders, Not sure...I doubt it though

 

[ChilliPepper]

Not sure whether the tiny species of Rainbowfish would eat the eggs?

 

[kaivalagi]

Rainbowfish aren't SA are they? Nice fish though

 

[Verminator89]

I like the idea of a small shoaling red(ish) fish just to narrow it down further. Headstanders drive me insane - so they're out the window i'm afraid. I'm picky Haha.

Hatchet fish, although ugly are a possibility.

Nannostomus mortenthaleri (Coral Red Pencilfish (for example) I love this fish!

 

[kaivalagi]

Nannostomus mortenthaleri (Coral Red Pencilfish (for example) I love this fish!

Ooooo, want some! Not seen those anywhere though

I have some Hatchet fish, they really need surface plants, but all my other fish eat them....with no cover they really don't like moving much. I may well get rid of mine, not sure yet, early days.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Rainbowfish aren't SA are they? Nice fish though

Oh no, whoops Blonde moment

 

[PDSimon]

I thought they were australian (rainbowfish)? most don't like lower pH anyways...

I agree hatchets wouldn't even know whats going on down there!

red coral fish are stunning. I think nelly posted a tank the other day with some in

 

[Verminator89]

I do plan on having floating plants in my new tank when i get it, so the hatchet fish would be ok in that sense. Its a big tank that i want to focus on the Dempseys in (61G) So i might opt for a few hatchets say 3 (maybe 5), and 7 Red Coral Pencilfish. I don't want to stock it to much, as i said its a tank for the Dempseys, just want some dithers + colour to make them less shy.

EDIT: Hatchets woud have to be the commons, no way am i having mahoosive silver hatchets floating about The big ones are wayyyyy uglier anyway.

I will be having 2 True SAE's just to keep on top of any algae issues But thats the only exception to the South American/Amazon ruling

 

[kaivalagi]

Marbled hatchetfish are the smaller variety, Silver hatchets are the big ones (common)

Get Bristlenoses for the algae, they're SA

@Chillipepper - Rainbowfish would be nice in there though

 

[PDSimon]

I thought common hatchet fish were small and silver hatchet fish get big? I'm sure they're two different species! not that it matters if you don't want them..

 

[kaivalagi]

Now you questioned it I have to prove it

• Marbled Hatchetfish (Small - 1.5"):http/badmanstropic.../profile32.html
• Silver / Common Hatchetfish (Big - 2.5"):http/badmanstropic.../profile89.html