What To Have?

[snoopyfrench87]

Hello

I have a 3ft tank with guppies, platys, mollys and a plec in. I would like to add a large centre piece fish that will not attack/eat/chase my smaller fish.

I was told that key hole cichlids were the thing to go for - however i have not seen these before

are they friendly? do they need to be in pairs or groups?

I also like DIscus - would discus harm my little fish?

I love the colours of discus - would i need to get a pair or a group?

if i need to get a male and female (how do you sex them?)

do i have to get ones of the same colour?


please help im a bit of a cichlid newb and i have lots of questions!!

thanks

 

[shroob]

What are the dimensions of the tank? That will influence the stocking alot.

 

[england]

depends as shroob says
also you have to change the water i here there difficult to care for
and price,,,as you know here in the uk there very costly indeed

 

[severum boy]

Goto be keyholes!
Much more interesting than Discus, cheaper and easier to care for.
However, they are not really centerpiece fish. They are shy, and rarely get over 4", and arnt that brightly coloured.

 

[snoopyfrench87]

the tank is 3ft long 16 inches high and 15inches wide.
I think its 142 liters.... not sure

here are some piccys!

what do you recon?

for what one would i need to change the water?

thanks

 

[shroob]

the tank is 3ft long 16 inches high and 15inches wide.
I think its 142 liters.... not sure

here are some piccys!

for what one would i need to change the water?

thanks

I think nelly meant for the discus, that they require lots of water changes, are high maintinance and may not be the best choice. Plus you might have to alter the water chemistry of your tank to suit discus (If I interpirited Nelly right that is).

Its hard to recommend a 'centrepiece' fish as most that will stand out in that tank, will also be of a size to eat your guppies. Maybe try bolivian rams, or apisto species, they don't get big but have nice colours. You could get a pair of these and maybe even see spawning behaviour.

 

[england]

yep discus i ment,,,,have to change water chemistry most times and need to keep on top of it,,,,try to find angelmouse she has some beautiful discus and should be able to help you!!!if thats what you want

keyholes on the other hand are great and easy to care for

 

[snoopyfrench87]

are there any other rightly coloured, placid cichlids?

i was hoping for angels - but i was informed they too would eat all my little fish..

 

[severum boy]

Nothing bigger than a Keyhole really.
If you got rid of the little fish and went for stuff above 3" a Festivum would be great, but other than that option a Keyhole is your best bet.

 

[snoopyfrench87]

okay thanks guys!

a key hole it is then!!

 

[DiscusAngel]

Well for starters discus are a no. so forget them, as there are various reasons here's a few main ones.
Your tank is too small and discus can reach a 9-10" disc size. they are also needed to be kept in groups UNLESS you have a proven breeding pair which can live in a tank your size but they are very pricey. i paid £250 for my breeding pair. you cannot also keep them in 2's as one will bully the other.

ok so heres a few other cichlids that you could think about,

Angels, looking at the fish you have angels wouldnt be able to eat your fish unless they have babies. also if you grow baby angels up they often will not eat there smaller tankmates unless they are not being fed enough food. in a tank your size i would recommend either getting 6 babys and letting 2 pair of and then reutnr the other 4 to the shop, or just buying 2 baby's and hope that they like each other.

Rams, are easy caring fish not to picky and not aggressive they wont each your other fish but they dont get past 3" so they wont really be a centrepiece fish.

Keyholes, like said are shy i had 4 in the past that were very shy and not to lively. but a nice fish for a centrepiece fish if thats what you like.

Firemouth, these fish have stunning colours and are aggressive if breeding so you could have 1 or go for 2 females. they get to around 5" and would certainly be a real centrepiece fish in a tank like yours.

Re-search the fish i have said and see what takes your fancy.

Just out of interest what type of plec do you have, many people buy plecs for algea and buy "common plecs" for a couple of quid without knowing that these monsters get to around 2ft. i just dont want you to be one of them who will be lumbered with a 2ft fish in a 3ft(your tanks looks like a 3ft) tank.

HTH Connor