Firemouth...add More ? What To Do

[Faythee]

I have a 75 gal. tank housing 1 firemouth, 1 opaline gourami, 8 danios, 3 tinfoil Barbs, and 1 pictus cat. My firemouth , about 4" is aggressive and doesn't like any fish within a foot of him, except for the danios he ignores. My gourmai is also a bit aggressive but has succumbed to the firemouth. I am going to transfer the gourami to another tank as I see no other possible additions with this set up and their aggressions and I love him.

So....can I add say 2 more firemouths and 1 Jack Dempsey of similar size with the rest of the tankmates ?

How will my firemouth react to the other firemouths and the Jack ?

Here is what it would be eventually:
3 firemouths
1 Jack Dempsey
3 tinfoil Barbs
1 Pictus Cat

The danios will stay in the tank or move with the gourami. The tinfoils I "think" are redtail and shouldn't get much bigger than 7". I am partial as to keeping them. They are goofball fishies...lol

 

[Faythee]

The firemouth does not take "bites" that I have seen....just flares his gills and charges. The gourami will nip...he tried for a few days to nip the firemouth. I fear the gourami would eventually be killed though and/or pretty unhappy adding more cichlids.

 

[Faythee]

After researching the Dempsey, I am thinking not a good idea.

Anyone have experience with the firemouths and how they interact with each other ? Thank You !

 

[jayjay]

If the barbs are red tail tinfoils (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii), they'll more likely get 14", than 7".

Fire mouths can be kept in groups, I used to keep four together and know of others who keep them together.

However, you have a fish that has already established the tank as it's own territory, without the other fire mouths. This could mean it won't take well to the new additions, seeing them as rivals for territory. You will need to rearrange the tank before adding the new fish. Ideally you would have added them all together at a young age.

 

[Waterbox]

It should be ok adding some more firemouths, although instead of just adding 2 you should add at least 3 IMO. If you just add 2, you will find that the 2 non dominant fish will always have torn fins from being chased. Having 4-5 firemouths would most likely prevent this kind of severe aggression.