Firemouth As A Centerpiece?

[Paavn]

after looking through lots and lots of fish i decided that id like a firemouth (lots of them around and not as expensive)
I was just wondering what other fish i could keep with the firemouth. or how many firemouth i can keep

i have a 30 US gallon tank/109 liters

i was also thinking of adding a lobster to the tank (cobalt blue) in a couple of months they grow to a maximum size of 5"

 

[shroob]

I'd advise against a blue lobster, they shouldn't be mixed with fish. Most often you hear stories of the fish eating the lobster (may work well for a while but then the lobster sheds and the fish eats it while its soft) or the lobster attacking and even killing the fish at night when they are resting. You do hear stories of how they 'get along fine' but these are the minority and not the majority.

If it was my tank I'd have a firemouth and another medium cichlid such as a convict or sajica. Or you could do a pair of firemouths if you want to see the breeding behaviour (worth it).

 

[Paavn]

thanks shroob. i'd rather not take the risk

i havnt seen any LFS's around me that have a sajica, but theres one that has really nice colored convicts, the stripes/bands contrast alot so they stand out.

but like you said getting a pair of firemouths to observe the breeding behavior would be intersting

is two the most i should keep in 30 US gallons?

could i do: 2x firemouths and 5 tiger barbs? or is that pushing it?
2x sajica (if i can find them) 1x firemouth
1x firemouth 1x convict 1x sajica

 

[shroob]

I'd keep it to just 2 medium fish.
The pair of FM might kill the tiger barbs when breeding, due to their aggression because they want to protect the babies so I'd give them a miss. Tiger barbs may work if you don't have a breeding pair but its not a certainty.

 

[simonas]

I'd go for the pair of firemouths. I've always loved these fish but you rarely see decent ones.

a full grown pair is amazing but I think the quality has been bred out of these fish now cos the ones for sale look bland

 

[foley69]

or if you want a more colourful varaid approach why not go for either 1x firemouth, 1xconvict and 1x bristlenose or 1x firemouth, 1x sajica and 1x bristlenose that way you have more than one type of fish to enjoy also almost every cichlid leave bristlenose alone due to the fact that they just go around doing their thing but i wouldnt put one in with a breeding pair

 

[Paavn]

so after tantrums and demands from my sister it looks like im going to have to get a community tank.... i was looking forward to getting a cichlid... maybe if i get another tank

 

[birdys.stirling]

Hi,
With my firemouths i did have some blue acaras, convicts (untill they decided to spawn and i had to separate them) and i had some kribs in there with them and they all got along fine.

 

[Paavn]

Hi,
With my firemouths i did have some blue acaras, convicts (untill they decided to spawn and i had to separate them) and i had some kribs in there with them and they all got along fine.

how big was your tank? i think that would be hard to do since each firemouth will grow to 6"
i just have a 30US gallon tank and no other tanks. since im in an apartment (second floor) i have problems with space

 

[Ficious]

Get a 55 gallon...perfect to fill a wall

 

[Water]

I have a local fish store that is offering Firemouths for a 1 dollar adoption fee. Would this be a good idea or investment?