Cichlid Compatibility

[cuticom]

Figured I'd start a new thread since I'm no longer asking about angelfish.

I ahve a 55g four foot tank current stock is
1 x blue acara 1.5"
1 x rainbow shark 3"

So I'd like to add some more small-medium cichlids. The main problem is finding them since our LFS don't exactly have the hugest ranges for sane prices LOL. Anyway I found a guy advertising his fish, have emailed for prices but he had listed
1 x pink convict
1 x normal convict
2 x small firemouths
1 x keyhole
1 x bolivian butterfly

Ignore the bolivian butterfly, as I want that for a different tank. Anyway would the other fish be ok? assuming none of them are mated pairs? I'm happy to do extra water changes, and if they do end up overstocking I can set up a couple of smaller tanks for the cons and keyhole.

So would that be an ok stock? So the tank would have (measurements are adult lengths)
1 x blue acara 6-8"
1 x rainbow shark 6"
2 x convicts 5-6"
2 x firemouths 6"
1 x keyhole 6"

It's a 55g four foot tank.

Thanks
Emma

 

[BIG SHARK]

sounds ok but im not 2 sure if it wud be over crowded, ive got 3 gold severums, 2 green severums and 2 convicts and they all seem 2 get on fine, gold severums r amazing, really bright yellow. gorgeous, u shud think about getting 1 of them instead of summit. id just like 2 know how much theyre costing u. r u in the uk? im in the uk and the severeums are £3. 50 each which i think is really good and we got 2 convicts the other day for £1 each from the lfs. wot a bargain eh i think £3. 50 is about $2.50 for the green and gold severums and £1 is about 70 cents lol cheap az chips

 

[cuticom]

LOl I wish $25 for a scrawny 1 inch severum, and $8 for scrawny convict fry. I'm hoping the guy who had the add with all the fish for sale has some decent prices.

Actually I'm in Australia and one pound = two dollars, or two dollars and fifty cents

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thats seems about right. The best way to see if the tank will be over stocked, is to picture all the fish full grown, swimming around, and with a territory in the tank.

 

[cuticom]

LOl the guy's offered to sell me everything apart for the firemouths for $20, fantastic deal, now I just need to work out how many cichlids I can squeeze into various tanks LOL. Ignore whats below, I'm just working out sizes etc
1 rusty cichlid about 6-7cm 4"
1 jewel cichlid about 6-7cm 6"
1 tropheus "red" moliro 4-5cm ?
1 yellow "benga" peacock about 6cm 3-6"
1 lombardoi about 4cm 6"
2 convicts (normal and white) about 5-6cm 6"
1 Geophagus Surinamensis about 4cm 12"

Hmmm might take the lombardi, don't particularly want the other africans though, the lombardi would look good in a spare tank I ahve right mow.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

LOl the guy's offered to sell me everything apart for the firemouths for $20, fantastic deal, now I just need to work out how many cichlids I can squeeze into various tanks LOL. Ignore whats below, I'm just working out sizes etc
1 rusty cichlid about 6-7cm 4"
1 jewel cichlid about 6-7cm 6"
1 tropheus "red" moliro 4-5cm ?
1 yellow "benga" peacock about 6cm 3-6"
1 lombardoi about 4cm 6"
2 convicts (normal and white) about 5-6cm 6"
1 Geophagus Surinamensis about 4cm 12"

Hmmm might take the lombardi, don't particularly want the other africans though, the lombardi would look good in a spare tank I ahve right mow.

You aren't going to mix Africans with Central/South Americans, and other fishes are you?

 

[cuticom]

Nope, have a spare tank I'm thinking of setting up as an african tank

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Nope, have a spare tank I'm thinking of setting up as an african tank

Okay

 

[cuticom]

Gah the guy emailed back to say he's given all his fish away, I'd told him I'd definitely take them! Sigh and since theres such a sad collection of fish available at the local fish shops, I'm down to ordering online which is sooo expensive. They've got a mildly larger range of cichlids, ones that interste me are
Convicts $6.50 each
Firemouth $9.60
Green severum $8.75
Gold Saum $11.69
Geophagus Surinamensis $11.25

I'm going to have to ask Mum if I can borrow money off of her, I have enough for one convict and shipping and thats it. What about getting the Geo and the gold saum? The gold saums beautiful but maybe to aggressive?

Just found this- Cichlasoma Carpinte Texas, is that the texas cichlid?

 

[cuticom]

Ad Mum thinks its a waste of time, am starting to regret ever wanting cichlids, maybe I should just sell the acara and do a community tank, seems simpler though most likely boring. I don't amke much money ($5 a week off my parents) and I saved for months for that stupid tank and money to get some nice fish for it, and that moneys all just gone down the drain since fish keep dying me, I'm so tempted to just drain the tank and stick it in the shed and forget about it.

 

[cuticom]

Well Mum just brought home another oscar, she couldnt resist him, he is rather nice but still. Oh well third time lucky, if this doesnt work I'll be buying a new 3 foot tank for the acara and keeping a black shark in the 4 foot, grow it out, sell it when it gets to big.

 

[vancouver]

So you've got an oscar, acara, and shark in your tank?

 

[cuticom]

Yes, and before someone starts screaming, theres a 150g in the shed, it needs to be resealed though, so the 55g is a growout and when the oscar gets past 8" it gets the 150g. Thats if it does manage to live. I just rather wait until I have a reason to use the 150g, otherwise I know either me or Mum will end up stuffing it with fish, I'm sure most people know that temptation LOL.