Mixed Community

[Squidward]

Hi All,

My new 500L tank is due to arrive soon.

One of the options I am considering is a mixed community of medium sized SA cichlids.

Has anyone else something similar?
What would a compatable mix be?

Thanks
Squidward

 

[Squidward]

Verminator....as I was saying.....

I am torn between...
1)A Discus set up
2)Or a mixed SA setup.
I realise that all cichlids can get agro at times, but the list in the other thread, those would go well together?

As a group?
Or mixed individuals?

Any adivce much appreciated. Besides Angels and Malawis(from Africa), I don't have experience keeping the SA cichlids

Also, the species you listed, are they relatively easy to come by?

 

[Verminator89]

Certainly can continue this on your thread

Have you any idea what sort of direction you'd like? Or even colours you like maybe, or perhaps fish with a bit of personality?

 

[Verminator89]

The fish i listed are ones that i have come across atleast once or twice yes, but any good shop will be able to source exact species out for you if you ask.

As singletons there is no reason why they can't go together. Without double checking them all i'm pretty sure they all come from rather similar conditions naturally, and so besides a few minor differences most should co-exist in that respect. SA and CA are for me, the most interesting fish that can be kept.

As fun as singletons are, and you get more variety in your tank. I personally find the attraction of observing natural behaviour far more rewarding so i'd have a group of something, like Cupid Cichlids. My opinion will always be biased in this sense, as i have my own principle to fish stocking that i stick to almost like religion. I set-up my tanks with Centre Piece, side piece and an interesting piece. There is nothing to it really, other than i have my cichlid(s), dithers (tetra's of sorts) and plec(s) (usually <6" species).

 

[Davo86]

In a 500l there are endless options, my 500l has been home to severum, chocolates, nicaraguas, acaras, sajicas, ellioti, geophagus, JDs keyholes, kribs, and ABC's over the years, granted they're not all SA cichlids and they weren't all present as the same time but you could easily do a community of individual cichlids if that is your preferred route, there is also the option of going for larger/smaller/more aggressive species if you so wished.

A starting point is needed in all walks of life but I think with cichlids especially once you have your starting fish, (I.e. Your must have species) then it becomes very easy tobuild up a suitable stocking in your mind

 

[Squidward]

Verminator & Davo,
Thank you both for your input.

At the moment I have a 240L tank with some Angels, Rainbows, Reedfish, various Plecs, and some oddballs.

My 5x2x2 (I make that approx 500L?) tank upgrade is getting delivered on Thursday.

I am very keen on Discus.
But even with the Stendkers that are supposed to be more tolerant, I am a bit put off by the need for massive water changes.

I like Cichlids as I find they have more character than a lot of other fish.
I had an Mbuna setup, and the constant aggression really annoyed me. So I packed those in, and would never go back down that route again.
So I am thinking some of the more "chilled" SA and CA medium sized cichlids.

Haven't thought of colours or anything like that beyond my initial query.

Thanks
Squidward

 

[Davo86]

Over the years I have personally become more interested in the oddball species and have slowly started moving away from a simple cichlid environment,
species like your reedfish, bichirs, knifefish, plus odd characins like annostomus, added to a select few cichlid species can make a rather unique community

 

[Squidward]

Over the years I have personally become more interested in the oddball species and have slowly started moving away from a simple cichlid environment,
species like your reedfish, bichirs, knifefish, plus odd characins like annostomus, added to a select few cichlid species can make a rather unique community

Davo
That's the sort of thing that I have in mind.

 

[Squidward]

Verminator, Davo,

So I went to a few lfs this weekend to see what they had in stock.

Most of the people that worked there told me that I tried that combination, I would end up with a lot of fighting.

Is there truth in this?
Or ignorant hearsay?

I am feeling a bit discouraged now.

Thanks
Squidward

 

[Dieses Madchen]

What woudl you say to a severum as a centerpiece and some various species of Geophagus as the medium sized tankmates?

 

[Davo86]

Fishkeeping is all about trial and error, even in a peaceful community tank you can find the odd aggressive tetra or Molly so you can never assume that some type of aggression won't be present,

What stocking are you thinking of going with?

At present I have a number of large cichlids, bichirs, a dwarf snakehead, a tiger datnoid, a large ghost knife, headstander, six large clown loach plus a few more in my 500l and apart from the odd flaring and chase (normal in any cichlid setup) it is a completely peaceful environment

 

[Squidward]

Fishkeeping is all about trial and error, even in a peaceful community tank you can find the odd aggressive tetra or Molly so you can never assume that some type of aggression won't be present,

What stocking are you thinking of going with?

At present I have a number of large cichlids, bichirs, a dwarf snakehead, a tiger datnoid, a large ghost knife, headstander, six large clown loach plus a few more in my 500l and apart from the odd flaring and chase (normal in any cichlid setup) it is a completely peaceful environment

Davo,

Yup, I do realise that there can be a bit of chasing, even with common mollies
I had Malawis, and that sort of aggression really annoyed me, so I don't want to go back to that sort of thing.

No idea on exact species yet, that's why I am asking advice here first.

What species of cichlids do you have?
Which species of snakehead do you have??

 

[Davo86]

I have a gold severum, chocolate, JD, Nicaragua cichlid, geophagus and green acara,

The snakehead is a channa bankanensis, Normally I wouldn't recommend mixing snakeheads with cichlids but in this case it seems to work.

My tank is also slightly overstocked if I'm honest which I think does sometimes help ease any aggressive behaviour, plus the clown loach are an excellent dither species that seem to get in-between any disputes.
I've often thought of condensing the stocking but given that some have been together for 6-10 years and even the newest (bar 2) have been there 3 years I just don't have the heart to move any.

 

[Squidward]

Davo,

Thinking about it would some sort of combination of following work?
(Sorry, I am not an expert at the names).

EBJD, Nicaragua, salvinii, severum, firemouth, keyhole, an acara or two, geophagus (not sure of species and numbers)

And then I was thinking of keeping the following from my current set up.
Various Plecs, Reedfish, Angel, Rainbow fish, BGK

 

[Davo86]

Your current stock would certainly limit the amount and type of cichlids you could have but there are still plenty of options, what numbers of each do you already have?

The Salvini would definitely be far too aggressive and IME species like Nicaraguas are far too unpredictable to be safe with your stocking

A severum, acara, geos and a keyhole pair on the other hand could be ideal tankmates in a tank of this size,

Not knowing the current numbers its hard to suggest a stocking but something like this could be possible:

1 Severum
1 Blue acara
4 red head tapajos (geophagus)
4 Angels

6 Rainbow fish
1 BGK
4 plecs
4 Reedfish