Hardy, Long Lived Cichlids

[onidrase]

I'm planning on gettin a 75 gallon within a few months, and the tiger oscar idea is officially out.

I wanna go with the new world cichlids, whether or not the species are aggressive isn't a big deal to me, as long as they're compatible with each other.

I want them to be hardy and easy to care for. And no, this is not a "What fish can I put in a tank without cleaning it?" thing. I enjoy doing water changes and tank cleaning and the like, but I want to start out with some hardier species.

I've got experience with multiple tanks as it is, so I'm not brand new to the hobby. But I haven't been doing this for years and years either.

What I have in mind is 1 8-12 inch fish as sort of a centerpiece, and some smaller ones, perhaps in multiples, as tank mates.

Of course, this is just what I have in mind. It's not set in stone or anything. It might not even be possible.

so, some suggestions? Perhaps give me suggested communities? Thanks much <3

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I'm planning on gettin a 75 gallon within a few months, and the tiger oscar idea is officially out.

I wanna go with the new world cichlids, whether or not the species are aggressive isn't a big deal to me, as long as they're compatible with each other.

I want them to be hardy and easy to care for. And no, this is not a "What fish can I put in a tank without cleaning it?" thing. I enjoy doing water changes and tank cleaning and the like, but I want to start out with some hardier species.

I've got experience with multiple tanks as it is, so I'm not brand new to the hobby. But I haven't been doing this for years and years either.

What I have in mind is 1 8-12 inch fish as sort of a centerpiece, and some smaller ones, perhaps in multiples, as tank mates.

Of course, this is just what I have in mind. It's not set in stone or anything. It might not even be possible.

so, some suggestions? Perhaps give me suggested communities? Thanks much <3

I don't know much about Cichlids (although I am setting up a tank for some!) but be careful. An 8-12 inch fish could easily swaller smaller tankmates. Although when you get some good stocking ideas, pass some ideas to me! I am setting up a 55g cichlid tank!

 

[onidrase]

I don't know much about Cichlids (although I am setting up a tank for some!) but be careful. An 8-12 inch fish could easily swaller smaller tankmates. Although when you get some good stocking ideas, pass some ideas to me! I am setting up a 55g cichlid tank!

yeah, I'm aware, so I'm not going for that much smaller (probably tankmates being around 5-6 inches) but it all depends on what I can do, rather than what I just want to do

 

[karin]

I'll approach it from the other direction... I have heard that electric blue jack demsey is often difficult because of genetic weakness. The discus also is rumored to have special needs. I think a lot of cichlids are pretty hardy like the angel fish, bolivian rams, severum all seem hardy to me.

 

[onidrase]

I'll approach it from the other direction... I have heard that electric blue jack demsey is often difficult because of genetic weakness. The discus also is rumored to have special needs. I think a lot of cichlids are pretty hardy like the angel fish, bolivian rams, severum all seem hardy to me.

Yeah. Discus seem pretty fragile, and I've been looking into green severums quite a bit tonight. I might even aim for some keyholes (I think they're adorable) and steer a little further from a full cichlid community tank. I guess only time will tell

I've seen plenty of sites saying that convicts are tough as nails, but I'm concerned about the limitations having such an aggressive fish could put on my tankmate options.

 

[hamfist]

I think a severum is an excellent idea for a centrepiece fish. They are generally very sturdy and hardy animals. They can be grumpy and intolerant of other cichlids at times (especially other sevs), although are generally very accepting of smaller, non-cichlid, tankmates. They are great, interactive, characters too.
One sev, with a selection of something like rainbow fish, larger tetras, swordtails or corys would make a nice display for a 75G tank. THey will eat small fish if they can get them in their mouths, so things like neons are out of the question long term for an adult sev. If you are keen to have other smaller cichlids in there, then get them first and let them settle in before getting a sev. And then, try and get a smaller sev to grow on, so it grows up knowing and accepting it's tankmates. Other smaller cichlids to look at could be bolivian rams, keyholes, any of the laetacara genus, cupid cichlids etc.

Have a look at red-spotted sevs. In my opinion they are the most stunning type of severum !

Another potential fish could be a flowerhorn or a midas/red devil. It would need to be kept on it's own but they great wet pets. More active, energetic and aggressive then a sev. All depends on what you are looking for really.

 

[konor123]

Convicts are quite hardy. Mine are semi-aggressive. I have them with a Blood parrot, a red devil, a green severum and a few bristlenose. I'm also thinking about getting a flowerhorn too.

 

[micko]

I'm completely biased when I say severum as I love them. I've found the green severum to be a little more aggressive than the golden or red spotted. Have a look at the rotkeil severum.

 

[onidrase]

I'm completely biased when I say severum as I love them. I've found the green severum to be a little more aggressive than the golden or red spotted. Have a look at the rotkeil severum.

Thw rotkeil severums are beautiful <3 Are they at all hard to find, though? Chances are I'll be raiding the internet for most of these, unfortunately. And even the websites I'm going to don't have every fish under the sun. I was lucky to even find Bolivian Rams at the nearby stores here.

 

[micko]

Depends on where you live I suppose. I waited over two years to find some rotkeil. They seem to be more common in England.

 

[onidrase]

I think a severum is an excellent idea for a centrepiece fish. They are generally very sturdy and hardy animals. They can be grumpy and intolerant of other cichlids at times (especially other sevs), although are generally very accepting of smaller, non-cichlid, tankmates. They are great, interactive, characters too.
One sev, with a selection of something like rainbow fish, larger tetras, swordtails or corys would make a nice display for a 75G tank. THey will eat small fish if they can get them in their mouths, so things like neons are out of the question long term for an adult sev. If you are keen to have other smaller cichlids in there, then get them first and let them settle in before getting a sev. And then, try and get a smaller sev to grow on, so it grows up knowing and accepting it's tankmates. Other smaller cichlids to look at could be bolivian rams, keyholes, any of the laetacara genus, cupid cichlids etc.

Have a look at red-spotted sevs. In my opinion they are the most stunning type of severum !

Another potential fish could be a flowerhorn or a midas/red devil. It would need to be kept on it's own but they great wet pets. More active, energetic and aggressive then a sev. All depends on what you are looking for really.

I already have some Bolivian rams, and it would be quite nice to have them in the bigger tank. The keyholes also have appealed to me quite a bit.

I also have quite a bit of tiger barbs, do you think they'd be tolerated? If not, I'll just keep them in my other tank, but they're my personal favorites of the shoaling fish

I was gonna try and stay away from having one aggressive fish and nothing else in the tank, though, so I'm gonna keep away from the red devils.

Also, in regards to the severums being put in last, and growing up with the other fishes, would that mean that if any of the others passed, it would be difficult to add more in in the future?

 

[GShorty1981]

Depends on where you live I suppose. I waited over two years to find some rotkeil. They seem to be more common in England.

Took me years to find them here in England, i bought them off the net in the end, then i sold them cos i wanted more aggressive fish...to my friend, now they have grown up i'm jealous as hell and regret it!

 

[micko]

My four rotkeil are still very small, bit bigger than a 50pence piece. I got mine off a fella on here, well, my girlfriend got them for me.

 

[hamfist]

Also, in regards to the severums being put in last, and growing up with the other fishes, would that mean that if any of the others passed, it would be difficult to add more in in the future?

Once the sev is adult is would simply make it more difficult to introduce other cichlids. Not impossible, just not quite as easy as when the sev was young. Any adult cichlid, once established in a territory, is going to be rather unpredictable in how it responds to any newcomers. In general when adding new cichlids to a tank with an established adult cichlid already, I try and get the newcomers as small as possible (without being at risk of being eaten). The smaller the newcomers are, the less of a territorial threat they are to the established adult.


Also, tiger barbs would be fine mixed with these fish, as long as you have a decent shoal (ie 8+ fish).

 

[minnnt]

A my gold sev is awesome! I've gad rotkeils before, and tbh, much prefer my current gold. Also got a green sev which isn't quite as nice imo.

Look into jade eyeds, very interesting indeed. The females colour change is unbelievable! Beautiful fish that are overlooked.