I need advice on getting a cichlid. I have a 46 gallon tank that is currenty home to 2-platies, 5 fancy guppies, 1 dwarf gourami, 1 polka dot loach, 1 albino cory cat, 1 otocinclus, and 1 fantail goldfish. Ok, I know... typically cichids don't belong in a community tank; however, I have been reading up on the Firemouth Cichlid and the Blood Parrot Cichlid, and have learned that they can actually be quite peaceful when kept alone and not paired for breeding. Is the firemouth cichlid a good choice? I have considered some blue rams, but unfortunately no pet store in my area or surrounding area carries these little guys, and I'm not comfortable with purchasing fish online. So, my options are limited to the cichlids that my local stores carry. If the firemouth is not a good choice, could someone suggest some other cichlid that might be alright in my tank? Thanks.
Cichlid Question
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Faythee
Fish Herder
I tried a Firemouth and it harassed EVERYTHING in the tank. I may have had a particularly mean one, but I don't think it will work with your stocking. I would hold out until I found Rams, or Angelfish would likely work.
england
channa aka snakehead
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Firemouths can be quite agressive,ive had a pair which were aggressive in the community,because they were a pair, had a female also in a community without any issues, cichlids are different with each one,so no one could say 100% yes or no, some mixes work for some and not others, other nice cichlids are rainbow cichlids/ tbar cichlids/ festivum cichlids/ flag cichlids/ blue acara/ keyhole cichlids/ thats to name but a few
Hi 
Cichlids are pretty diverse and there is usually one for every tank - before I start suggesting them your stocking has quite a few issues in it these are my reccomendations for species and figures that you need to keep them in you have a nice big tank so you have room to do this list plus a few more
2 platies
5 fancy guppies
1 dwarf gourami
5 polka dot loach
5 albino cory cat
5 otocinclus,
The main thing to do is up the numbers of your loaches, cories and ottos and rehome the goldfish it needs a totally different set up and when it gets bigger it could eat your ottos, cories and guppies I have even heard of them getting platies stuck in their mouths. Your Dwarf Gourami will probably nip its long tail as well.
So far as cichlids go - where are you from I might be able to point you in the right direction, how far are you prepared to travel as well
I would not do parrots or firemouths in that tank as they will be too aggressive for the likes of the guppies and perhaps the gourami among others. You would be better off sticking to dwarf species but not blue rams (or gold rams or dutch rams or any of the other common names) as they need high temperatures and low Ph and suffer quickly if these are not met. You could however consider the Bolivian Ram which is a bit different but still looks good and tons of character! You could also try and find some Apistogramms or Laetacaras - Krobias and Cupid Cichlids would also be good choices but the cupids will need a sand substrate. There are others but thats a nice start have a google of those names and see which you like also when we know what area you are in you might be able to source some different cichlids quite easily there are often exceptional fish shops hidden in the middle of nowhere.
Wills
Cichlids are pretty diverse and there is usually one for every tank - before I start suggesting them your stocking has quite a few issues in it these are my reccomendations for species and figures that you need to keep them in you have a nice big tank so you have room to do this list plus a few more 2 platies
5 fancy guppies
1 dwarf gourami
5 polka dot loach
5 albino cory cat
5 otocinclus,
The main thing to do is up the numbers of your loaches, cories and ottos and rehome the goldfish it needs a totally different set up and when it gets bigger it could eat your ottos, cories and guppies I have even heard of them getting platies stuck in their mouths. Your Dwarf Gourami will probably nip its long tail as well.
So far as cichlids go - where are you from I might be able to point you in the right direction, how far are you prepared to travel as well
I would not do parrots or firemouths in that tank as they will be too aggressive for the likes of the guppies and perhaps the gourami among others. You would be better off sticking to dwarf species but not blue rams (or gold rams or dutch rams or any of the other common names) as they need high temperatures and low Ph and suffer quickly if these are not met. You could however consider the Bolivian Ram which is a bit different but still looks good and tons of character! You could also try and find some Apistogramms or Laetacaras - Krobias and Cupid Cichlids would also be good choices but the cupids will need a sand substrate. There are others but thats a nice start have a google of those names and see which you like also when we know what area you are in you might be able to source some different cichlids quite easily there are often exceptional fish shops hidden in the middle of nowhere.
Wills
N0body Of The Goat
Oddball and African riverine fish keeper
Wills has beaten me to the "allow social fish to be socialable" speach!
Another small cichlid to consider is the Lionhead, as they naturally stay low, as they have virtually no swim bladder (so fish will quickly learn mid-high levels are extremely safe).
Another small cichlid to consider is the Lionhead, as they naturally stay low, as they have virtually no swim bladder (so fish will quickly learn mid-high levels are extremely safe).
BethK
Rattie tat tat
as said above, rehome the goldfish and up your corys, ottos loaches, before adding a diff species of fish.
Dwarf cichlids are a good species, apistogrammas are a good bet
Dwarf cichlids are a good species, apistogrammas are a good bet
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