Larger Cichlids

[CAC]

Allright then, so no centrepiece fish with rams.
how about:
Pair of blue rams
6 rummy nose
6 bleeding heart
5 bronze corys

could that, or would that work?
any changes that would be an improvement?

Mikey

 

[vancouver]

That would probably work.

 

[CAC]

That would probably work.

Ok cool, i might try that...allthought i would love the Geophagus steindachneri....
is there really no way i could include one?

Mikey

 

[Griz]

I would say no. They are a beautiful and interesting fish but they can get quite large and really should be in a larger (48") tank. Your last list sounds like a good one.

 

[CAC]

I would say no. They are a beautiful and interesting fish but they can get quite large and really should be in a larger (48") tank. Your last list sounds like a good one.

Hmmm.
im not sure really what to do...
i know someone who keeps them, with other fish in the same size tank as me, and hes says they are fine..
but i dont want to "risk it" (if there is a risk..) haveing one...
Griz, just out of interest, why would you say i couldnt have one?

Mikey

 

[SamUK]

they can get quite large and really should be in a larger (48") tank.

for those reasons i guess.


i jus read a site (first one i came too) and it reccomended 500L for a minimum tank size which is huge so they must be fairly active for them to say that if they dont get very big.


oh and jus cos a friend does it doesnt mean you should.

 

[Griz]

Well for starters they can get fairly large. A quick internet search gives estimates of 8" up to 10". A 32gal tank really isn't suitable for a fish tht size IMO. Also, these fish like to dig and sift substrate and they share the same space (bottom) as the rams. Even though I don't believe that they would be a danger to the rams, they would certainly stress them out. You've also said you want cories, that's a lot of bottom dwelling fish in the tank.

Just had an idea for you: I'll be honest here and say that I know very little about gouramis, but I wonder if that might be a fish to look into. Perhaps someone with experience could suggest if they would be compatable and which species might work out for you in that tank. It could be what you're looking for.

 

[vancouver]

I wouldn't keep anything over 5'' in a tank of that size.

 

[CAC]

Ok, thanks alot Sam, griz and van, youve all been a real big help
Im not particularly interested in the gouramis TBO, and id also like to keep to the south american fish theme...
From a south american tank, what id really like is:
1) some sort of pair, one thats easily available, and i can have other things in the tank with.
2) a shoal of fish
3) plec/s
4) other catfish of some kind


if i could incorporate those things into my tank, and i think they have cool characteristics and look nice then id be happy. im not sure weather both the plec/s and other catfish together...

Mikey

 

[vancouver]

You could do a pair of rams with some tetra, a few catfish, and a small pleco.

Or maybe a pair of keyholes with tetra,catfish,pleco

 

[Griz]

Another South American Cichlid that would work really well in a setup like this ae Apistogramma. (My personal favorite ) Cacatuoides and Borellii are probably the most commonly available and also some of the easiest species to start with.

 

[CAC]

You could do a pair of rams with some tetra, a few catfish, and a small pleco.

Or maybe a pair of keyholes with tetra,catfish,pleco

Id love a pair of keyholes, but before you said that you wouldnt have fish of 5" in a tank of that size, thats if i can get hold of some...

So if i could have the keyhole pair, then what else could i have?
you said tetra, maybe 6 rummy nose?
catfish, maybe 5 julli, punctatus, bronze or schwarzi corys...
pleco, maybe a chocolate zebra or a bristlenose.

Mikey

 

[ryanryan]

get some smaller community sytle fish and i like your name cos catfish are my fav fish

 

[KathyM]

Keyholes aren't as small as you'd think - I don't think the tank's suitable for a pair.

 

[vancouver]

32g should be enough for 2 keyholes.. what are the dimensions?