Larger Cichlids

[vancouver]

You might get away with a couple firemouths.. or a couple convicts.. but I wouldn't try cories with either of those.

Apistos are more expensive (around here at least) then convicts/firemouths.. you could go with them and some tetras.


ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

 

[CAC]

So you would surrgest either a pair of convicts, or a pair of firemouths, with no tankmates?

Mikey

 

[CFC]

As already mentioned several times the tank is only large enough for a single pair of medium/large Cichlids with no tankmates except maybe a similar sized plec or a few fast moving dither fish such as giant danios or larger tetras such as congo tetras.

Keeping Cichlds is different to keeping normal community type fishes so i would recomend getting a cheaper and fairly common species first to gain some experience of Cichlid behaviour and husbandry before spending out on some rarer species, in general the higher the price tag the harder they are to keep alive.

 

[vancouver]

Yea... tankmates for breeding pairs of cichlids isn't going to happen in a tank of that size.

 

[CAC]

As already mentioned several times the tank is only large enough for a single pair of medium/large Cichlids with no tankmates except maybe a similar sized plec or a few fast moving dither fish such as giant danios or larger tetras such as congo tetras.

Keeping Cichlds is different to keeping normal community type fishes so i would recomend getting a cheaper and fairly common species first to gain some experience of Cichlid behaviour and husbandry before spending out on some rarer species, in general the higher the price tag the harder they are to keep alive.

Well if i did keep a pair of firemouths, could i have some Serpae tetras (maybe 6)???
or could i have a male firemouth, and a pair of german blue rams and BN plec or something?

Mikey

 

[vancouver]

No tankmates for a pair of firemouths.... tank isn't big enough.

 

[CAC]

Could i have a single firemouth and some other tankmates?
they are said to be quite peaceful on some sites, yet other say they can be quite aggressive....
as i said before, could i have a male firemouth, and a pair of german blue rams and BN plec or something
cos i would love a firemouth, but id also like (for my first larger tank) the inhabitants to be interesting and lively...

Mikey

 

[ercnan]

Hi, im going to get south american cichlids for my 32UK G tank, and im not sure weather to get smaller community style fish, or weather to get some larger (6" or less) fish to go into the tank...
In terms of larger south americans, i was thinking about some of these species:
Convicts
Juwels
Firemouths
Anything else?

Would i be able to keep a breeding pair, or a couple of those species, or an individual, with some other tankmates?
just wanting to find out so i can make my decision on what fish to get...

All help much appreciated.

Mikey

If you are talking about these Jewels http/www.fishandtips.com/displaydb.php?ID=71 ,
They are West African riverine fish, not South American.

 

[-=Joel=-]

Might aswell do what you like as you are not listening to any of the advice given.

Firemouths are not aggressive by cichlid standards but would beat the cr*p out of the rams.

Good luck.

Joel

 

[CAC]

Might aswell do what you like as you are not listening to any of the advice given.

Firemouths are not aggressive by cichlid standards but would beat the cr*p out of the rams.

Good luck.

Joel

Joel, if i did what i liked, then i would have placed my order of all those fish 3 days ago...
Im trying to find out what my options are, cos once ive got the fish, you cant always take them back and get a refund like you can in a normal shop...

Mikey

 

[Griz]

There are basic proven stocking options for a given tank size. You have expressed an interest in keeping cichlids, so people have given you a few examples of what will work for you. For example, a pair of convicts or firemouths with NO tank mates, a pair of dwarf cichlids WITH tankmates. These are tried and true options that will work based on experience. My advice to you is simply to take the advice being offered. Trust me, you WILL NOT come up with some new combination of fish that will work on your own so don't try. Keep it simple and go with one of the basic setups offered.

 

[CAC]

There are basic proven stocking options for a given tank size. You have expressed an interest in keeping cichlids, so people have given you a few examples of what will work for you. For example, a pair of convicts or firemouths with NO tank mates, a pair of dwarf cichlids WITH tankmates. These are tried and true options that will work based on experience. My advice to you is simply to take the advice being offered. Trust me, you WILL NOT come up with some new combination of fish that will work on your own so don't try. Keep it simple and go with one of the basic setups offered.

I know, i dont want to try a new combination...
i think what i might do is have something small to breed, blue ram pair, then a shoal, maybe 6 rummy noses, a chocolate zebra pleco (L270, they get to 4") and then id like some sort of centrepiece fish...
would i be able to have something thats peaceful, and that grows to about 4-5" do you think?
or could i have a peaceful centrepiece fish thats 4-5", and replace the pleco, if theres wasnt enough room?

Any other surrgestions?
Mikey

 

[Griz]

Breeding rams in a community setup will prove challenging. Tetras and other tankmates will eat fry and eggs. Generally, if you are really interested in breeding (this goes for most fish) a species tank is your best option and you may also require a grow-out tank. Tankmates for a breeding setup would be rather limted, perhaps a few pencilfish. My advice would be to go ahead and get a pair of rams and raise them in a community setup. You will still be able to enjoy the mating rituals/behaviours but fry survival will be next to nil. Later on, you may decide to breed them seriously.

IMO the rams would be the centrepiece of the tank you are considering.

 

[CFC]

If you add a fish that is larger than the Cichlids then they will spend their whole time in defence mode guarding their territory from the possible danger. When keeping Cichlids they are the center piece and you work the tank around them with smaller non threatening species.

 

[vancouver]

If you get a pair of ANYTHING... you wont get away with any ''centerpiece'' fish with them.

If you did a pair of rams you could keep a few tetras as dithers, but no rams + centerpiece fish.