Cichlid Compatibility

[JenCliBee]

Hi all, couple of questions as im very new to NW's, i have a 400 ltr tank and plan on stocking with a few largish cichlids.

The fish were already chosen and the stocking was pretty final until the other half changed her mind .

The stocking was originally going to be....

2 severums
2 EBJD's which is still the part of the planned stocking
2 groups of 7 rainbows which will still happen
6 L128's which will be the main purpose of the tank

Now though the other half wants a semi ish planted tank and i know that's a no go with severums so it looks like that idea is out of the window.

What i want to know will the above stock (minus the sevs) be fine with plants of most sorts?

I want another species in there so what would you suggest as a non aggressive largish cichlid?.

I was thinking ellioti, are these plant safe?

It could well be the ellioti as a replacement for the severums but would like some idea's on other possible candidates

Thanks

jake

 

[minxfishy]

Ellioti wont eat the plants, cant help on EBJD's never kept them, but be aware they are reported to be pretty sensitive fish unlike normal JD's.

Yep severums will munch away and those they dont eat, they will mutilate for fun!

If you go for a group of 4-6 Ellioti, rainbows, plecs and still want the EBJD's then you are pretty well stocked, the ellioti reaching 6" (sometimes larger) the EBJD's at 6-8" (I think), 14 x 5" rainbows, plus the plecs, thats about all you have room for really. Obviously you can have less Ellioti, depends on how many you were thinking.

 

[JenCliBee]

Ellioti wont eat the plants, cant help on EBJD's never kept them, but be aware they are reported to be pretty sensitive fish unlike normal JD's.

Yep severums will munch away and those they dont eat, they will mutilate for fun!

If you go for a group of 4-6 Ellioti, rainbows, plecs and still want the EBJD's then you are pretty well stocked, the ellioti reaching 6" (sometimes larger) the EBJD's at 6-8" (I think), 14 x 5" rainbows, plus the plecs, thats about all you have room for really. Obviously you can have less Ellioti, depends on how many you were thinking.

Thanks hun , the EBJD's hopefully will be fine, the tank has a mature 3 year old filter and HMA water added for water changes so.... hopefully that will be enough.

The stocking with the ellioti will be final if that's what i go for, it will probably be the 4 of them with the 2 EBJD's the 2 groups of rainbows, both been a group of 7 and of course the plecs are a must lol.

Just curious of what other things could be possible instead of the ellioti and even maybe a nice replacement for the EBJD's

 

[minxfishy]

Instead of the ellioti, Id say their relative the Aureus (although finding them ...... good luck lol) Other things would be sajica's (beautiful fish), or rainbow cichlids, neither of those particuarly plant eating fish.

You could go with the EBJD's and a group of 4 - 6 geophagus species, although bottom dwelling mainly, they wouldnt bother the plecs or the plants.

 

[star4]

Not sure if it goes for all, but my Blue acara hasnt touched the plants in my tank. The Elliots in my tanks havnt touched plants, keyholes or festivums could also be a possibility.

 

[Davo86]

I would personally go for Rainbow Cichlids over everything else mentioned, especially if you are getting the EBJDs at a young age, As said above young EBJD are very easily stressed and can be very sensitive until they hit around 4"

Rainbow Cichlids get to a good size (5") but have the temperaments of dwarf cichlids, they do fine in groups and would pose no threat even to a young EBJD, From my experience Ellioti on the other hand can be bullyish, I currently have a single Male that harasses and gives chase to anything that won't turn and fight back

A small group of 4-6 laetacara dorsigera may also be an option and should thrive in a semi planted setup

Lastly a pair of Gymnogeophagus would be good; (if you can find them), Balzani are the most common, with 3-4 other related species cropping up every so often

 

[JenCliBee]

Instead of the ellioti, Id say their relative the Aureus (although finding them ...... good luck lol) Other things would be sajica's (beautiful fish), or rainbow cichlids, neither of those particuarly plant eating fish.

You could go with the EBJD's and a group of 4 - 6 geophagus species, although bottom dwelling mainly, they wouldnt bother the plecs or the plants.

Thanks for the suggestions hun, i have thought of geo's but if you say more a bottom dweller, i would rather stay clear. As you say they wont bother the plecs but spoking them would be my main concern.

Ive tried googling the aureus species but i cant tell the difference form the ellioti lol, any distinguishing differences?. There's a few people selling on AC but i would be a bit dubious if they turned out to be ellioti, not that it matters becasue i really do like these anyways.

Rainbows im not sure on and ive also googled sajica's, i presume all of them have that ugly, horrible bump thing on there head? lol... i really don't like that at all lol.

I would personally go for Rainbow Cichlids over everything else mentioned, especially if you are getting the EBJDs at a young age, As said above young EBJD are very easily stressed and can be very sensitive until they hit around 4"

Rainbow Cichlids get to a good size (5") but have the temperaments of dwarf cichlids, they do fine in groups and would pose no threat even to a young EBJD, From my experience Ellioti on the other hand can be bullyish, I currently have a single Male that harasses and gives chase to anything that won't turn and fight back

A small group of 4-6 laetacara dorsigera may also be an option and should thrive in a semi planted setup

Lastly a pair of Gymnogeophagus would be good; (if you can find them), Balzani are the most common, with 3-4 other related species cropping up every so often

Thanks for the suggestion davo, i really do want to try the EBJD's so i will work round them the best i can, the info ive read on laetacara dorsigera keeps saying 3 inch?, i don't really want fish this small, i will already have a couple different species of rainbows which will be the main shoaling fish so to speak and the other fish mentioned has that bump thing again on it's head lol.

Thanks again so far for the suggestions, definitely giving me an idea of what not and what to possibly have

jake

 

[Davo86]

The Festivum mentioned above may work well, As could Angelfish; both would stick to upper levels therefore not disturbing the plecs,

A large cichlid that should also work well would be a chocolate cichlid, which would definitely become the centrepiece in the tank,
These are very similar to Severums but IME don't eat plants; they have a stunning range of colours which gows from deep black through brown to red depending on their mood, They also tend to occupy the upper levels

 

[minxfishy]

Instead of the ellioti, Id say their relative the Aureus (although finding them ...... good luck lol) Other things would be sajica's (beautiful fish), or rainbow cichlids, neither of those particuarly plant eating fish.

You could go with the EBJD's and a group of 4 - 6 geophagus species, although bottom dwelling mainly, they wouldnt bother the plecs or the plants.

Thanks for the suggestions hun, i have thought of geo's but if you say more a bottom dweller, i would rather stay clear. As you say they wont bother the plecs but spoking them would be my main concern.

Ive tried googling the aureus species but i cant tell the difference form the ellioti lol, any distinguishing differences?. There's a few people selling on AC but i would be a bit dubious if they turned out to be ellioti, not that it matters becasue i really do like these anyways.

Rainbows im not sure on and ive also googled sajica's, i presume all of them have that ugly, horrible bump thing on there head? lol... i really don't like that at all lol.

I would personally go for Rainbow Cichlids over everything else mentioned, especially if you are getting the EBJDs at a young age, As said above young EBJD are very easily stressed and can be very sensitive until they hit around 4"

Rainbow Cichlids get to a good size (5") but have the temperaments of dwarf cichlids, they do fine in groups and would pose no threat even to a young EBJD, From my experience Ellioti on the other hand can be bullyish, I currently have a single Male that harasses and gives chase to anything that won't turn and fight back

A small group of 4-6 laetacara dorsigera may also be an option and should thrive in a semi planted setup

Lastly a pair of Gymnogeophagus would be good; (if you can find them), Balzani are the most common, with 3-4 other related species cropping up every so often

Thanks for the suggestion davo, i really do want to try the EBJD's so i will work round them the best i can, the info ive read on laetacara dorsigera keeps saying 3 inch?, i don't really want fish this small, i will already have a couple different species of rainbows which will be the main shoaling fish so to speak and the other fish mentioned has that bump thing again on it's head lol.

Thanks again so far for the suggestions, definitely giving me an idea of what not and what to possibly have

jake

Best way to show you the difference in the Thorichthys species is to show you

This is my pair of Aureus

Male

Ellioti

 

[snowflake311]

I love Festivum they are so great BUT they eat plants just as bad as my severum.

EBJD Mine is a hardy little #29###.Never had any problems with him. The youngs ones can be weak and they die off at 2" there is nothing you can do if you are unlucky and get an unhealthy EBJD it will die no matter what you try they just have genetic Health problems. BUT if one lives past 2" you have a healthy one that will be just as strong as the normal. Mine is a punk he trys to fight my Ture parrot who is larger. The EBJD acts all tough but really they are not that bad. Mine is 9 months and 4". I would not keep the EBJD with any smaller fish that could be pushed around because my EBJD loves to boss other fish around. He demands respect from take mates.

 

[JenCliBee]

The Festivum mentioned above may work well, As could Angelfish; both would stick to upper levels therefore not disturbing the plecs,

A large cichlid that should also work well would be a chocolate cichlid, which would definitely become the centrepiece in the tank,
These are very similar to Severums but IME don't eat plants; they have a stunning range of colours which gows from deep black through brown to red depending on their mood, They also tend to occupy the upper levels

I apologize for been so picky and choosy lol, im not really liking the chocolate cichlid, becasue im really new to this and my passion is plecs, the cichlid will have to be something really stand-outy to me for it to work lol. I really appreciate the input so far though mate and any others you can think of would be much appreciated

Best way to show you the difference in the Thorichthys species is to show you

I really am quite embarrassed that i don't really see any difference lol , really the only difference to me is colouration seems far brighter on the aureus?, would i be close.

As you know minx, noob for me just doesn't even come close lol, so any other input on differences would be most appreciated .

BTW you selling yours?? lol... worth a try lol

I love Festivum they are so great BUT they eat plants just as bad as my severum.

EBJD Mine is a hardy little #29###.Never had any problems with him. The youngs ones can be weak and they die off at 2" there is nothing you can do if you are unlucky and get an unhealthy EBJD it will die no matter what you try they just have genetic Health problems. BUT if one lives past 2" you have a healthy one that will be just as strong as the normal. Mine is a punk he trys to fight my Ture parrot who is larger. The EBJD acts all tough but really they are not that bad. Mine is 9 months and 4". I would not keep the EBJD with any smaller fish that could be pushed around because my EBJD loves to boss other fish around. He demands respect from take mates.

Thanks for the info, the festivum was definite possibilty untill youmentioned plant eating lol.

The EBJD's im planning on getting are already 3 inch (maybe a little bigger) if i remember correctly, im presuming these would be much better to get than obviously smaller ones?.

There stunning fish and have always liked them, it may well be your one that i originally seen to make me this way lol. So if it was i thankyou .

The other half changes her mind that much it has to be perfect for me to finally pick the stock.

The plans or thoughts now for stocking is ....

2 EBJD's
4 of either ellioti or aureus.
im now thinking just the original group of 7 rainbows.
2 GBR's, i have one already which i really would like to keep (would a pair be compatible with rest of the stock?)
Now my partner likes keyhole cichlids, again would these be compatible? and how many really would be best? (im thinking 2 of them, again male and female).
6x L128's


All suggestions are appreciated.

 

[jagz]

stuff it fill it with discus

jagz

 

[JenCliBee]

stuff it fill it with discus

jagz

LOL, nah man i can just come to yours and watch them there

 

[jagz]

bring ya mrs , im sure we can convert her to propper cichlids

jagz

 

[JenCliBee]

bring ya mrs , im sure we can convert her to propper cichlids

jagz

Nah, i dont want her to convert thanks, not my type of fish lol