Chilids For Comunity Tank

[plecostomus-mad]

hi all,

im looking to get some chilids that are well behaved and are non fin nippers. my tank consists of plecos,corys and 1 talking cat.the tank is a 50uk gallon,temp is a steady 78F.any help is greatly appreciated.

mark

 

[Ben M]

hi, it's not recommended to keep cichlids with corys, as they will constantly chase them and nip them. this is happening now with my kribs and C. copei, and i'm going to have to get rid of the kribs. whenever the corys come out, the kribs chase them away.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

oh thats disappointing.looks like my mts is coming back , chilid species tank

 

[walkers101]

is that always true? i have a sev and rams with 5 pepper corys and a pair of kribs with 5 bronze corys ive never seen them fight

 

[star4]

I have blue acara, Kribs (was breeding pair till I lost the female) and angels with corys dont have any problems, had a couple of my Ellioti in with them also without any bother.

 

[Wills]

Yeah Ive not heard of many issues with cichlids and cories, although from what I have seen between the two species clashing is when the cichlids breed (in particular dwarf cichlids) and the cories wander in and dont learn.

There are plenty of cichlids suitable for your tank did you have anything in mind?

Wills

 

[Glenbo1981]

The only Cichlids i have ever had trouble with Corys is Kribensis when breeding.

Because Corys try and eat the Eggs.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

hi wills and star4

umm, not too sure on the kind of chilid. first i need help to determine what species of chilid like nw,african,milawi etc would be suitible for my tank setup.any ideas?

The only Cichlids i have ever had trouble with Corys is Kribensis when breeding.

Because Corys try and eat the Eggs.

makes sense lovable silly corys.

 

[Wills]

there are a few central american species suitable, more south american species. A handful of africans but avoid the ones from specific rivers like milawi, tangs etc.

I would probs stick to the americans as they are easiest and most varied so far as options for the tank, from central america you could consider honduran red points, yellow convicts or a lone sajica avoid regular convicts though - you also have things like fire mouths, ellioti etc. South America, do you like blue acaras? Bandit cichlids, cupid cichlids, apistos, festivums, bolivian rams, angels probs more but thats off the top of my head.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i love blue acaras and firemouths there adult size may limit me to 2 of one species.i think a male and female blue acara would look amazing. would my medium planted tank be ok for them?i have rocks and woo etc. do they like to hide in nooks and crannys?lol

 

[Wills]

If your going for cichlids I would just get individuals in a community set up especially if you dont have a spare tank to move the pair, fry or the female out too. When they start breeding it becomes a bit like a soap drama and you have to handle all of that.

In your tank I would try a firemouth and a blue acara your stock will be fine with that and as they get to adult size they will be a really nice mix for the tank

I would get some dithers in the mid water as well as you do seem a bit bottom heavy, maybe some dwarf neon rainbows or black ruby barbs - columbian tetras would be good as well.

Wills

 

[star4]

Agree with Wills, from the sound of your set up with bogwood etc you are there already for americans. Malawi require a different set up with more rock, coral sand/gravel, not really suited for the plecs and corys. I would recommend Ellioti, not just because I still have some for sale, but they are gorgous fish, comical and inquisitive any agression I have seen is all bluff, they flare thier gills and look tough but thats about it. I had 10 in the tank when the Geophagus Brazilliensis spawned, had fry swimming around in the tank for 13 days and they just never bothered with them. Ditto wills on the convicts, gorgous as they are they are mean little so and so's. Keyholes are also nice, relatively small too, flag/festivum (can never spell it), unless you want to go even smaller Bolivian rams, german blue rams. List is endless really lol


and answer to the next bit I missed lol. I have a pair of wild caught blue acara in with corys, no bother although I do love the acara they do tend to spend more time towards the bottom of the tank amongst the bogwood and java fern, weather its bacuse they are wild and more shy I dont know as they are the only blue acara I have kept.

Firemouths are nice Ellioti are better lol

 

[plecostomus-mad]

my problem is im a fond lover of cats and plecos most where bought without an actual theme to my tank and before i realized it ive got a bottom heavy tank as wills described it. i couldnt get rid of any of the current stock because im attached to them all.i would sooner setup another tank

so im thiking of this...

current stock

1 talking cat,
2 clown plecos,
1 adult female bn,
6 corys
2 stray danios

new stock

2 blue acuras,
2 shoals of larger tetra,harlequins etc

 

[star4]

Blue acara are gorgous, good choice, there is a chap in tipton advertising on the AC site some blue acara at £2 each.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

and answer to the next bit I missed lol. I have a pair of wild caught blue acara in with corys, no bother although I do love the acara they do tend to spend more time towards the bottom of the tank amongst the bogwood and java fern, weather its bacuse they are wild and more shy I dont know as they are the only blue acara I have kept.

Firemouths are nice Ellioti are better lol

Ellioti may grow too big for my tank. 30cm / 12 iches? i try and limit the size to 9 inches max.....the adult size of my talking cat