Stocking A 55 Gallon Tank

[RockyRaccoon]

ive never had a cichlid tank before so i dont really know what im doing. i know 55 gallons isnt the ideal size for a community so i'm trying to get ideas for stockin. i dont want anything too rare or expensive... i like the common cichlids like convicts, jack dempseys, firemouths, and acaras. i also don't want any pairs. realistically, how many full grown cichlids could i put in a wellplanted/sheltered 55 gallon?

 

[minxfishy]

For the smaller dwarf species, like rams, apistogramma's, you could have a 5/6. The larger sized cichlids, like firemouths, sajica's, you could have 2/3, acaras possibly two, convicts two (but these if they pair up can be very aggressive), you could have something like a single JD or GT with some dithers like larger sized tetras, barbs, giant danios, rainbowfish. You couldnt have anything like a severum, Oscar, chocolate cichlid as the tank isnt large enough.

 

[RockyRaccoon]

For the smaller dwarf species, like rams, apistogramma's, you could have a 5/6. The larger sized cichlids, like firemouths, sajica's, you could have 2/3, acaras possibly two, convicts two (but these if they pair up can be very aggressive), you could have something like a single JD or GT with some dithers like larger sized tetras, barbs, giant danios, rainbowfish. You couldnt have anything like a severum, Oscar, chocolate cichlid as the tank isnt large enough.

hmm.. could i have a blue acara, a convict, and a firemouth in a 55 gallon? and if i did decide on three cichlids, could i add any smaller schooling fish or scavengers or would the cichlids tear them apart? thanks for the help

 

[minxfishy]

Not in my opinion no, possibly a BA and FM but without a third cichlid. As I said, dithers in the size of larger tetras, rainbowfish, giant danios and barbs would be fine as dithers, you could have a plec for the bottom like a bristlenose plec.

 

[Glenbo1981]

I wouldnt mix a Convict with anything unless it is alot larger than it.

I have tried them countless items because they are beautiful and they are fine until they hit about 4" and then they become P4P one of the most aggressive Cichlids around.

Extremely territorial also,my 4" convict kept every fish to one side of the tank...including my Adult Severum...Firemouthes and Geophagus.

Honeslty look into Green Terrors (Gold Saums) they are a awesome looking fish.

 

[Confish]

hey im doing the same thing at the moment i am getting a rio 240 and ive got 6 convicts and a blue crayfish at the moment and im gonna add sum jewel cichlids when i put them in the new tank. what do people think? also m8 check out jewels there beaut

 

[tenohfive]

I've got a Rio 180, similar size to your tank. I've got a C.Sajica, T.Ellioti (similar to a FM but slightly more placid from what FM keepers have told me) and a Blue Acara. Theres some flaring between them but it doesn't get violent, and they look stunning.