Multiple Species Cichlids Tank? (50gallon)

[piranha_tim]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 50G 36" x 18" x 18" tank.

I thought I would go for a really colourful fish without resorting to salt water.

Is a multiple species cichlid tank likely to work under these conditions.

I have a friend offering me 4 convicts (free - although I know then its a species only tank from there on)

So anything come to mind?

Then I will see what I can get locally.

 

[piranha_tim]

bump

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

It really depends on if you are going to take the convicts or not. IMO if you take the convicts you are stuck with some more dull Cichlids.

If you don't it really depends on how hard you want to work on the tank.

Colorful fish that come to mind:

Discus (require a fair bit of work)
German Blue Ram
Apisto species

Not cichlids, but a lot of Killiefish can be very colorful like:

Aphyosemion australe (these do prefer a little cooler temperatures)
Nothobranchius rubripinnis
Aphyosemion gardneri

 

[veil92]

I agree with DiscusLova. Most likely with the 4 convicts, a pair will form and you'll really be stuck with the convicts.
Maybe you should see what's available to you first, then you can look over your options.

 

[piranha_tim]

I felt sorry for the Convicts ... I know he loved them just with the move he is worried they aren't getting the attention they diserve ... So I took him.

People have been saying I am good as long as I put other aggressive cichlids with them ... I don't know ... I also have the option of purchasing another 2 convicts to have 6 in total ... making a total of 2 males 4 females.

 

[sic0198]

Don't do that, all you want is a male and female. When they breed convicts are mean thdey'll kill anything that's not the adults or fry. They see other fish [convicts or not] as a threat. Then they play terminator.

If ya had just a fem ale con you could put it with an oscar [I think].

 

[ox5477]

I wouldnt put an oscar in that 50G tank. The biggest fish I'd put in there is a JD (max 8" for a male adult).

Ox

 

[sic0198]

I read that an oscar could go in a 40 gal [if the tank was well maintained]. But it sounds way to small [to me anyway], I think a 75 should be minimum.


How big do Oscars get?

 

[ox5477]

at the extreme end... females to 12", males to 15"... so best to plan to these sizes.... besides, a 40G tank is 12" wide at most and leaving a fish 1 inch or less to turn around isn't very cool.....

For the people saying that this is the min, they mean this is the absolute minimum size an oscar can physically fit into. Does this mean a fish can live happily, protecting territory and feeding.... no I dont believe it does. Its bad enough we try and make these tanks a good home when they can't match the wide open rivers that most of these fish make their homes, but there are little things that can be done to try and make things a little better and tolerable, and giving them as much space as we can is one of the best.

Ox

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

To be honest I think that taking those Cons was a bad idea. With four you have a good chance two will pair up. Like said, once you get a pair it's going to kill everything including other Convicts.

 

[jayjay]

at the extreme end... females to 12", males to 15"...

Extremely large Oscars can be even bigger, largest one caught/kept was 18" I believe.