Firemouth tank - new addition

[skiltrip]

Hello all! I haven't posted here in probably over a year! It's good to be back...

I have a 37 gallon... current tank inhabitants are...

1 firemouth
1 redtail shark
1 cuckoo cat
1 pleco

I want to add another cichlid most likely, or just something big/pretty/interesting...

i really like yellow labs, but the store salesman has said in the past it's no good.
if this definitely would never work, does anyone have suggestions about others 5 or 6" cichlids that could work in this tank?
thanks.

 

[Ben]

back!

maybe some blue acaras, or a couple of firemouths,maybe some cons(dont get pairs because they will breed and attack or kill everything in your tank.)those are some of the best tank mates for firemouths

HTH

DD

 

[Vip]

I would say Blue Acara, it is possible to put a yellow lab in there though.

 

[skiltrip]

would 1 firemouth + 1 blue acara + 1 yellow lab = disaster? or could it work?

 

[Vip]

i think it would be ok the yellow lab will just swim around all day at the front of the tank begging for food where as acaras just like to kick back in the same spot, all mine get along well.

 

[skiltrip]

thanks for the helpful advice. i'll be heading to the petstore tomorrow, i'll let you know how i make out.

 

[skiltrip]

So, i picked up two more fish for the tank...

1 Rock Krib, and 1 Yellow Lab.

so far, they've been in the tank a few hours.

my Redtail shark has been chasing the Yellow Lab like crazy. Yellow Lab keeps trying to hide out and keep away from him

and something must have spooked the Krib cause he's hiding between a plant and the side of the tank. he seems pretty disturbed.

I'm gonna try not to freak out. i know it takes time for new fish to relax and flow with the other fish.

when i first got my firemouth, he hid for days and days and wouldnt eat. but he got over it.

 

[freddyk]

I don't think those were wise choices. The Lab could work but it's hardly the right environement for them. The are social fish and are best kept with other mbuna, and now he has to deal with the strange behavior of his odd tankmates. The Krib will certainly not do well, at best he'll find a comfortable hiding spot and merely exist.

I would have gotten a couple more firemouths and aimed for a pair.

 

[Vip]

The choice is ok besides the Krib, soon enough the yellow lab will defend its self and be fine. If he got a pair of FM's they would be to agressive towards his other fish in the tank and he will also end up with to many babies.

 

[skiltrip]

just a little update...

the yellow lab like you said is just swimmin in the front of the tank begging for food. he kind of ignore the redtail shark now, and is definitely smarter than the shark. he can easily lose him if he's being persued. the krib is just hanging out.

the one having the hardest time adjusting is my firemouth i think. he's quite the shy guy. just peeking out from behind his favorite piece of driftwood.

if there are any problems, i can always take the incompatable fish back to the LFS. not a problem. but so far so good. thanks for the encouraging words about the Yellow Lab. i love him, he's beautiful!