Stocking Idea's

[Grey Legion]

Got a 135 Gallon 72x18x24 tank and looking for some stocking help..

tank has good filtration and will have a sand substrate, I would like a planted tank if possible..

here is what I am looking for in my cichlids:

1 - Gentle
2 - 5 - 6 Inches
3 - can live with smaller fish
4 - like sand and plants ( not a big digger or plant eater )
5 - may breed with little to help from me
6 - Not Angels ( already have a Angel Tank )

I know I am asking a lot but I am just looking fo some idea's as to what to do

thanks for the replies !!

 

[StarOrbs]

The only Cichlid that I know of that fits all your specs are firemouths. They are gentle to other fish but they do like to chase each other.

 

[digital_run]

Keyholes/Rams are a good choice...although they may not fit your size requirement until full grown and even then may not hit 5".

 

[Macracantha]

A good choice is Festive Cichlids...

 

[ryan]

All Cichlids that reach 5-6" will consume any fish that can fit into their mouth, this goes for nearly all fish. So your looking for a peaceful species, if so I'd look at something like Discus which can be hard work but are well worth it. Firemouths may disturbs the substrate and plants.

 

[freddyk]

All Cichlids that reach 5-6" will consume any fish that can fit into their mouth

This is absolutely not true. Some will, some won't. Depends on the species of cichlid, Depends on the fish.

 

[cichlid]

All Cichlids that reach 5-6" will consume any fish that can fit into their mouth

This is absolutely not true. Some will, some won't. Depends on the species of cichlid, Depends on the fish.

iots pretty much true man... any fish will eat somthing if it fits in their mouth

 

[freddyk]

I'll go tell that to my mine now!

 

[ryan]

I'm afraid that it is generally the case, sometimes you will get an individual fish that is well feed and does not eat smaller fish but theres still always a risk. However, in most cases the larger fish will eat whatever they can fit into their mouths, it is their instinct to eat food whenever they find it as they will never know when the next meal is available in the wild.

 

[sevs]

I'm afraid that it is generally the case, sometimes you will get an individual fish that is well feed and does not eat smaller fish but theres still always a risk. However, in most cases the larger fish will eat whatever they can fit into their mouths, it is their instinct to eat food whenever they find it as they will never know when the next meal is available in the wild.

Yeah that's true. Take an angel for example, it can live with neons for years in perfect harmony but you may forget to feed them a couple days and bam, no more neons

 

[longhorn13]

if i were you, i'd go to jeff rapps website (tangledupincichlids.com) and look through his stock list. you can find lots of cichlids there that you can't normally find in your lfs. just google some of them and find if they fit your criteria. i know that's what i'm going to do when i move and have to restock my tanks.

 

[freddyk]

Yeah that's true. Take an angel for example, it can live with neons for years in perfect harmony but you may forget to feed them a couple days and bam, no more neons

Obviously neons would be a stupid choice for almost any cichlid. On the other hand, you'd be amazed at what the serpae tetra can live with, for one example. This is why I said it depends on the cichlid and on the fish. If you provide extreme silly examples, it's obvioulsy being set up for failure.

Naturally it's best to go with rumour rather then experience.

 

[freddyk]

Ok, I told my 8" Nicaraguensis he's supposed to eat his 1" Rasbora and Serpae tankmates. We'll see what happens.

Here are some choices for you, remember that 'smaller shoaling fish' must be kept in reasonable sized shoals, and smaller is in relation to the cichlids you choose, which is why the neon example was such a silly comment in the first place.

Rainbow Cichlid (6") Rasboras, danios, tetras...

Keyhole (5") Rasboras, danios, tetras...

Geophagus (4-8" species dependent) Rasboras, danios, robust tetra's...

Gymnogeophagus (6"): Rasboras, danios, robust tetra's...

Nicaraguensis (m 9" f 5"): Possibilities: Rasboras, danios, robust tetra's,

Blue Acara (8"): Possibilities: Giant danios, Rainbowfish...