Stocking Advice

[webber555]

Hopefully for xmas I can find a large 6ft tank - roughly 500L. I've posted over in the tropical section re a community setup, but I might just leave my 60l small community as is or rehome them and use the large tank for sth/central cichlids after viewing some photos. My water is naturally nuetral, ph around 7.

I like the look of gold severum, also blue acara, convicts. Am open to any suggestions of what would work well - I'm after colour and activity, also the tank will be planted on one end - probably potted so they aren't dug up, and some java moss, with lots of rocks/caves.

I'm not a total newbie, but have never kept cichlids before so would like any advice - I need fish that go well together - how many can I fit in a tank of this size?

 

[shroob]

If you want colour and activity then you might prefer old world cichlids. Thats not to say that NW cichlids are drab, just that the majority of people chose OW if they want colour.

Depending on the width of the tank you could house a severum, convict and blue acara quite easily.

Also be prepared for your plants to be eaten/ripped up (especially with a severum), potting them may avoid this but the leafs might get torn.

Other NW cichlids I think are colourful could be:
Green terror (gold saums)
Texas cichlid
Salvini
Female red terror (possibly the most colourful there is)
Some of the geophagus have nice colouring
Archocentrus nanoluteus (not sure if thats the valid name anymore 'yellow dwarf' is a common name)
red tiger mota's
Most of the dwarf cichlids (rams, apisto's etc)

Though the fish in that list can't all live together (eg. dwarfs) and in a 6ft tank theres not room for them all, have a look through and see what you like, nothing worse than rushing in to buy fish in the excitement of a new tank to find you would have prefered something else.

The number of fish you can have depends on the type of fish you choose (their size and aggression being the main factors).

 

[foley69]

i would go go for a jack dempsey with maybe and oscar and some other smaller cichlids like firemouthes, convicts, blue acaras and also a green terror would be good

i have a severum myself and they are stunning fish and grow to a nice size mine is only about 2 inches at the moment but he is still a stunner he bullies all m y smaller fish like my firemouth as they are all juve's aswell

 

[Davo86]

Hi, have a look through the species guides and see if there is anything that really catches your eye.

Central and South American Cichlids
African Cichlids

Once you've selected one species that you definitely would like to keep it becomes pretty easy for us to suggest tankmates.

 

[webber555]

Okay I love the look of a Green terror now, still haven't got my tank but it may be a bit smaller than 500l. If I work on an absolute minimum of 250L, what would be an ok stocking list? Maybe a Severum or a Blue Acara? A Jaguar or a JD perhaps? I need ideas or examples from others that work...

 

[Davo86]

Okay I love the look of a Green terror now, still haven't got my tank but it may be a bit smaller than 500l. If I work on an absolute minimum of 250L, what would be an ok stocking list? Maybe a Severum or a Blue Acara? A Jaguar or a JD perhaps? I need ideas or examples from others that work...

obviously a 250L is not going to give you anywhere near the stocking of a 500L,
IMO you could have either

1 Green Terror, or
1 Jack Dempsey or
1 Severum and 1 Blue Acara

with dithers and/or a couple of bottom dwellers

you would need a bigger tank for a Jag IMO

 

[webber555]

Okay I love the look of a Green terror now, still haven't got my tank but it may be a bit smaller than 500l. If I work on an absolute minimum of 250L, what would be an ok stocking list? Maybe a Severum or a Blue Acara? A Jaguar or a JD perhaps? I need ideas or examples from others that work...

obviously a 250L is not going to give you anywhere near the stocking of a 500L,
IMO you could have either

1 Green Terror, or
1 Jack Dempsey or
1 Severum and 1 Blue Acara

with dithers and/or a couple of bottom dwellers

you would need a bigger tank for a Jag IMO

250 is the absolute minimum, will most likely be more. What size do I need to keep say a GT, Firemouth, Blue Acara & Severum together? Or a breeding pair and something else together?

 

[Davo86]

250 is the absolute minimum, will most likely be more. What size do I need to keep say a GT, Firemouth, Blue Acara & Severum together? Or a breeding pair and something else together?

I don't personally suggest keeping GTs and Blue Acaras together due to the risks of aggression between them,

for 4 cichlids around that size i'd be looking at a 100USG (which is about 375L i think)