Which Cichlids Are Best For Me?

[SchottayB]

I would try an get an established pair of keyholes. And see how it goes. I added too many too soon and things got a bit hectic... start off slowly with them.

So say I'd try get a pair of Keyholes... then,

How many Rams would I be able to keep? And if a pair formed would the others fight and I'd have to re-home them?

 

[AmazonFTW]

Rams don't do well in over pH 7 and they require higher temperatures. You could house 1m 2f Bolivian Rams though. Keyholes would make a good single pair. I don't know measurements of your tank but with plenty of visual barriers, hiding places and possible spawning surfaces (rocks, broken pots etc.) you should be OK. If your Bolivians and Keyholes are like mine - peaceful and not at all aggressive.

Red-breast may be labelled as Laetacara/Aequidens Dorsiger(a) depending on how up to date your LFS is with names. Festive will be Festive or Festivum.

Good Luck,
AmazonFTW

 

[SchottayB]

Rams don't do well in over pH 7 and they require higher temperatures. You could house 1m 2f Bolivian Rams though. Keyholes would make a good single pair. I don't know measurements of your tank but with plenty of visual barriers, hiding places and possible spawning surfaces (rocks, broken pots etc.) you should be OK. If your Bolivians and Keyholes are like mine - peaceful and not at all aggressive.

Red-breast may be labelled as Laetacara/Aequidens Dorsiger(a) depending on how up to date your LFS is with names. Festive will be Festive or Festivum.

Good Luck,
AmazonFTW

That's what I meant, Bolivian Rams .

I'll go with your advice and check my LFS this weekend .

Thank you!

 

[minnnt]

There are some lovely acaras, had over looked them tbh. The red breast is beautiful. The flag is too! I also saw some brown ones at a friends house which he said were golden acaras, unsure, but they were totally amazing. It all depends on your lfs and what kind of stocking the push. They add a different element as they have a more unusual body/head shape. Festivum also have a funny head shape. I like them, but they're not my favourites. Keep us posted mate. Unsure as to where you are but if you're near the Midlands you're welcome to some hrp fry... I'm in Nottinghamshire

Edit; leicester I see... its upto you mate if you want to travel and would like a few then just let me know.

 

[hamfist]

For most cichlids in a relatively small tank (and yes 190litres is still "relatively small" compared to the space they would have in nature) more than one will often result in carnage. If of the opposite sex they will breed (protecting eggs/fry aggression). If of the same sex they will more than likely fight (breeding competitor aggression).
if you are keen for a pair in your tank, there are only a few species that might just fit the bill. As has been mentioned keyholes, bolivian rams and HRPs are some of the "gentlest" cichlid breeders out there. Be careful of HRP's though. THere are lots of fish out there being sold as HRP's which are not. There also seem to be 2 "races" of HRP which may or may not be the same species, but one is far more aggressive than the other (basically being a more colourful convict).

My advice on all the acaras is to leave well alone unless you want a singleton. IMO, they are inherently more aggressive than the other species mentioned. Festives are OK but are, again, more aggressive than their reputation might lead you to think. They also grow to be a big old chunky fish of 7" in length. The sweet little ones we see in LFS are only tiny little juvies.

As for overall stocking levels, lookng at your tank and what you have already, I would go with one established pair (or at least a M/F pair) of either keyholes or bolivian rams. Any more cichlids and your chances of success diminish greatly IMO.

 

[SchottayB]

There are some lovely acaras, had over looked them tbh. The red breast is beautiful. The flag is too! I also saw some brown ones at a friends house which he said were golden acaras, unsure, but they were totally amazing. It all depends on your lfs and what kind of stocking the push. They add a different element as they have a more unusual body/head shape. Festivum also have a funny head shape. I like them, but they're not my favourites. Keep us posted mate. Unsure as to where you are but if you're near the Midlands you're welcome to some hrp fry... I'm in Nottinghamshire

Edit; leicester I see... its upto you mate if you want to travel and would like a few then just let me know.

I'll keep you posted on the offer bud .

I'm going to the LFS tomorrow with the misses to see what's avalible. I have a load of community fish to get rid of before buying any. Hope the LFS will just take them off me.

Would you reccomend getting some slate peices to put in the gravle and maybe a cave or two?

 

[minnnt]

Hollowed out coconut shells, overturned plant pots, rocks etc will work well. My hrps have gone for the plant pot this time, the rainbows are on a slate. Have a read on keyholes and see what it suggests as a setting for them to breed.

 

[SchottayB]

Hollowed out coconut shells, overturned plant pots, rocks etc will work well. My hrps have gone for the plant pot this time, the rainbows are on a slate. Have a read on keyholes and see what it suggests as a setting for them to breed.

I'll try see if there are any caves with the same colour of my 3d background, and get a few peices of slate, wouldn't want to go crazy on rocks, coconut shells etc as it's thickly planted at the moment. Thats why I wasnt sure of Cichlids, wanted to keep the tank planted with them but didn't know if it was possible

 

[SchottayB]

Went to my LFS today to have a look whats avalible, and it's pants!

Only ones there that have been listed here are, Blue Rams, Neon Blue Rams?, Keyholes, Red Rams? and Bolivian Rams.

Can't have the Blue Rams
Can't have the Neon Blue Rams?
Can't have the Red Rams? (Or can I? These wasnt mentioned by anyone, but guess they are the same as the Blue Rams?)

Keyholes look good, will be getting a few of them, but they grow 7cm? Is that a bit big for my tank?
Bolivian Rams also look nice. Will be getting a few of these too!

If I get the same sex of each, will they all fight? If they will, would 1m and 2f of each be ok? But the trouble is I can't sex them and my LFS sure as hell won't be able to they are kinda pants!


Edit: I know my pH might be out the window for some Cichlids, but my temp is at 26c, always has been since I've been keeping tropical fish and non have ever had problems. Some fish are 1+ year old in there. And I read for some Rams 26 to 28C is ideal?

 

[minnnt]

Bolivian Rams are easier to sex as the males have a taller 3rd (i think) dorsal fin spike. If you fancy a journey, try Wharf Aquatics in Pinxton, Nottinghamshire. They have a vast selection of the cichlids mentioned in the above posts.

If i was you i would get a group of 3 or 4 and see if you get a pairing off. You may want to try and get 2 from one lfs and 2 from another to try and get better blood lines.

 

[SchottayB]

Bolivian Rams are easier to sex as the males have a taller 3rd (i think) dorsal fin spike. If you fancy a journey, try Wharf Aquatics in Pinxton, Nottinghamshire. They have a vast selection of the cichlids mentioned in the above posts.

If i was you i would get a group of 3 or 4 and see if you get a pairing off. You may want to try and get 2 from one lfs and 2 from another to try and get better blood lines.

Was waiting for you to reply

If I knew I could get my hands on some decent ones I wouldnt mind a little drive round. Ones at my LFS today looked so life-less, otherwise I would of walked out with some!

I have two fishy places near me, one doesn't sell them and one does. So wouldnt be able to get two from each place.

How much are they at Wharf Aquatics? I have a Maidenhead Aquatics in Stapleton near me, I'll try there tomorrow and see what they have to offer.

Just need to get rid of these darn community fish that no one wants!

Wharf Aquatics is roughly 55 minuets from my house. Might take a drive over next weeked.

 

[minnnt]

What community fish have you got?

 

[SchottayB]

Sword Tails, Guppies, Platy, Zebra Dannio.. I used to know a lad that worked at my LFS who gave me free fish and any fish I didn't want he would just take off my hands. But he doesn't work there any more and they wont have any off me!

 

[minnnt]

Hmmm... sounds like a familiar mix been there and done that.

Advertise them on Gumtree mate, i have shifted no end on there.

Also, from memory... I think the Keyholes at Wharf were about £3.50 They also have a few others (well, alot!) that are considered more peaceful than most cichlids, but the names escape me. An hours journey isn't bad really.

 

[SchottayB]

Hmmm... sounds like a familiar mix been there and done that.

Advertise them on Gumtree mate, i have shifted no end on there.

Also, from memory... I think the Keyholes at Wharf were about £3.50 They also have a few others (well, alot!) that are considered more peaceful than most cichlids, but the names escape me. An hours journey isn't bad really.

They came with the tank! If I didn't take them they would of been flushed! And I don't have the guts to see that happen . I'll try that Gumtree and see what happens.

I'll take a run over there next weekend . Keyholes was the same price at my LFS, some from 2cm - 4cm.