Firemouth Tank Mates

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
I am hoping to convert my 30 gallon community tank into an American Cichlid tank.
I would like to have firmouths in the tank. What other cichlids can i have in there?
Are keyholes a posiibility and convicts?
Thanks,
Luke

 

[RadaR]

If the tank is 3ft long then you could keep a pair of Firemouths and a pair of adult Keyholes or Cryptoheros Sajica, Spilurum.

 

[Fighterfish]

Thanks. Do you know whtehr there are any othe rifsh that i could havewith them.

 

[RadaR]

You could have some Catfish with them. Like 4 Hoplosternum thoracatum or 2 upside down catfish. I wouldnt add anymore fish that would swim in the same stratas as the cichlids and if you went with the catfish then id say your tank was fully stocked.

 

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
I was hoping to put a senegal birchir in with themis that ok.

 

[LisaLQ]

If you're getting pairs, I'd stick with just one of the species ie. either two firemouths or two keyholes. The tank isn't big enough for both, and firemouths are known to be a little on the touchy side One of each might work, but it depends on the firemouth really, as they're usually a bit feistier than keyholes.

 

[RadaR]

I wouldnt really say so, sorry. Reason being is that they are quite chunky and without a doubt produce alot of waste. But what you could do is get two Ropefish (Snakefish). Do some research on them, theyre very cool and related to the senegal. They are longish but becasue theyre thin its not as bad as the senegal. They twist and turn throughtout the ornaments.

Edit: but i would either have the ropefish or the catfish.

 

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
LisaLQ thanks for that. Although i have a problem with my Keyholes cichlids as they are a breeding pair which i am hoping to sell but if i can't sell them they will have to go in here.

 

[Fighterfish]

Yeah. That is fine. I don't think i will go for ropewfich or birchir as i am not to keen on the ropefish (well i don't mind but my dad does.) Also radar do you know where i can pick up either Cryptoheros Sajica, Spilurum.
I am interested in them after you have replied to this i will post my propposed stocking for you to ok it.
Thanks,
Luke

 

[RadaR]

Im sure you would be able to order them in if you go to a good fish store ie. MaidenHead Aquatics, Watermarque perhaps.
I have a pair of Sajica that had bred atleast 4 times. However recently the bond has broken and the male had taken to beating the female which was a real shame as i wanted to sell them as a proven breeding pair. If you live close then Id gladly sell you the male (im a bit scared of posting fish).

 

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
Thanks for that info. I am not nearby so can't buy the fish of you . How much was it? I will go to Wildwoods and check them out.
My final stocking list:
Convict Cichlid Pair
Firemouth pair
Cryptoheros x2
Synodontis Brichardi x2
Common pLec
Bristlenose Plec.
Thanks,
Luke

 

[RadaR]

I bought 4 originally and i think they together cost £17.
Is that list of the fish that you may want but not together in the 30g or is that a list of the fish you want together in the 30g?

Im sure others would agree with me when i say that you wouldnt be able to keep a common plec in a tank of that size.

 

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
Yeah those are the fish i want to go together in the tnak. I know about the common he was given to me by someone who had him in a 5 GALLON!!! I had to take him of them. he is only little at the moment around 5'' so when he is bigger i will either put him in my malawi tank or get him a new home.
Thanks,
Luke

 

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
Yeah those are the fish i want to go together in the tnak. I know about the common he was given to me by someone who had him in a 5 GALLON!!! I had to take him of them. he is only little at the moment around 5'' so when he is bigger i will either put him in my malawi tank or get him a new home.
Thanks,
Luke

 

[LisaLQ]

That would be vastly overstocked. Pick one pair of cichlids, and dont get the rest - there's not enough room for that many breeding pairs - they'd kill each other. The convicts would need a tank that sized to themselves, as they've been known to kill everything else in the tank when in breeding mode - even massive oscars!

I'd go for:

2 x sajica
1 x bristlenose

And that's it. And even the bristlenose might get it from a breeding pair of cichlids. Thought about any more peaceful cichlids like rainbows or keyholes? A breeding pair of those would be fine with a bristlenose in there and then you could even put in some community fish.

But seriously - nothing more than that - it'd be seriously pushing it. Maybe some dither fish (barbs perhaps?) but no more than one pair of cichlids. And certainly not a common plec. My common has grown from 2" to 4-5" in around 4-6 weeks, so that 5" fish wouldn't stay that sized for very long at all.