Chiclids/ Puffers

[gatorman543]

I was wondering if you can mix africain chiclids with some freshwater pufferes. If this is the wrong forum would a moderator please move it to the correct one. Thanks in advance

 

[gatorman543]

o by the way this is a baby chiclid tank in which i am raising these fish in my 30 gallon tank until i upgrade to a 55 gallon tank. Right now i have 12 fish all under 1 "

 

[sylvia]

This should either be in the neotropical cichlids forum (You said they're south american right? You posted in african...) or in the oddball section.

But to answer the question. To put it bluntly, no. It's a bad idea.

It also helps to know what species we are talking about - it may be rams or jack dempseys for all we know (actualy you're probably going to have a problem putting 12 of most any neotropical cichlid in a 55 gallon...). Are you sure they aren't africans?

Obviously, if you have the puffers already, it would be useful to know what species they are as well.

 

[gatorman543]

no they are africains, and they are a mix, i have electric blues, electric yellows, orange ones, and a few albinos. What are neotropical fish anyways. No i saw puffers among africains in the local fish store. And to let everyone know all fish in my tank are extremely passive for chiclids, they all hang out in the middle and swim with each other

 

[fish_r_great]

Thats great and all but puffers aren't community fish. Your LFS might've had them together but most people would agree its a bad idea. I'd wait untill the cichlids are out if you want puffers and I' d only get the puffers if they are dwarf puffers then because all others get big.

 

[juanveldez]

I would say no. the Ph and hardness of the water that africans like according to the books is way way too much for puffers to handle. now in my experiance raising africans they will take pretty much any water that you throw them into, as long as you provide territories in the form of caves for all the males that you have. the other reason that I wouldn't do it is that I just don't see puffers as being somehting that I would put into a cichlid tank

 

[pica_nuttalli]

and no dwarfs. even the smallest puffers can take a chunk out of an eye. and should an african ever decide to eat a puffer, ( a ) the puffer could puff and choke the fish to death or ( b ) the cichlid would later die of poisoning since the flesh of all freshwater puffers is quite toxic.

 

[gatorman543]

okay thanks guys i will avoid this mix, is there anything else that can go with these chiclids. I already have a clown pleco with it.

 

[fish_r_great]

certain bottom feeders and plecos

 

[gatorman543]

what kinds of bottem dwellers and plecos

 

[fish_r_great]

Some smaller plecos

gold nugget - 6"
candy stripe - 4"
any bushy nose - 4"
medusa head - 6"
any tiger - 6"
starry night - 4"
Gold Banded Peckoltia - 4"
long fin - 4"

all found here http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=837

cheapest is bushy nose

Some bottom feeders

I have loaches and other people have various types of cats.

 

[afireinside]

puffers will rip poor fishies to shreds, acording to one of the workers at my lfs.