Which Sa Cichlid Would You Recommend For Me?

[scouse_andy]

I'm after some stocking advice for a tank I am planning.

I kept fish a few years back and ended up with 8 or 9 tanks as there were so many different fish I liked. I then put the hobby on hold as child number 3 came along and we were pushed for space.

I'm keen to get back into the hobby but with only one tank this time! I am planning to get a 4 foot tank - probably about 240 litres and want to keep it low maintenance; gravel, bogwood maybe one or two easy plants. The water around here is fairly hard and pH is about 7.6.

I have a good idea of how I would like to stock it and am planning on getting a Bristlenose or similar-sized plec. I also would like a couple of Bolivian Rams and a shoal of Congo Tetra. Those 3 species are pretty much a given.

In addition, I would like a slightly larger fish to finish the tank off (either a single or 2/3 if that were possible). I'm very keen on some SA cichlids, which would obviously need to have the right temperament for the tankmates. I have no extra space to upgrade the tank in the future so can't go too big.

I'm after some suggestions, in the past we had 3 keyhole cichlids and we really liked them, especially watching them grow up in the tank.

I saw some Festivums in the LFS which looked lovely and would occupy the upper level of the tank nicely - would they be suitable tankmates? If so could I keep a single festivum or even 2/3 fully grown adults without needing to upgrade the tank longer term?

I also like the look of Uaru - again I'm unsure if they would outgrow the tank and know they prefer a lower pH.

I'd consider getting Keyholes again but quite fancy a change...

Other thoughts are possible a trio of cuckatoo dwarf cichlids or other apistos (although I'm going to end up with a full lower part of the tank and emptyish upper area) or a small shoal of rainbowfish, possibly Bosemani - really keen on SA cichlids though.

Finally I've kept congos in the past and they never developed in the way I expected with the flowing fins (I may have ended up with a group of females). I saw some really stunning males in the LFS today and wondered if I could keep a group of 6-8 males without females or is that asking for trouble?

I'd be really grateful for any advice you can give me, particularly on the Festivums. Are there any other cichlids I've not thought of which don't grow too big and would get on with the other fish I have mentioned?

Can't wait to get started on this project but want to get my stocking ideas together before I leap back into the hobby.

Cheers, Andy.

 

[kaivalagi]

A small group of Festivums would definitely work, as would a group of Apistos, say 1M and 2 or 3F, so long as there are enough hiding places etc...but being an established fish keeper (9 tanks!!!) I am sure you know this.

I'd say you could get away with one larger cichlid in a 4 ft'er as an alternative, if it were me I'd aim for one of the smaller varieties of Severums as they tend to be well natured and not aggressive for their size and are rather nice...a Rotkeil being lovely IMHO...

I am sure more will chip in with ideas and opinions, as there are lots of options available to you

I hope you find what you're after and manage to stay with one tank

 

[star4]

Uaru would outgrow a 240l tank, these can get 10", they are a gorgous looking fish though. Rotkeils are a good choice, peaceful and small severum. You could go small acara like the A. Metae, since having them I have found them a lovely colourful fish. Krobia Xingu spot cheek are also really nice.

 

[markandhisfish]

another vote for rotkeil . fantastic fish . gorgeous colours bags of personality and imo make a wondeful centrepiece.

 

[hamfist]

Other easily available med sized cichlids that would easily fit your criteria could be ...

rainbow cichlid
Blue acara
Sajica cichlid
Firemouth
T.Ellioti

As mentioned uaru get too big.

Be cautious getting any of the "non-dwarf" rainbow fish. Even a small shoal of something lke bosemanis will hoon around the tank and make 240 litres look very small very quickly ! I have 4 x 4" rainbows in a 5'x2'x2' and they can make it look surprisingly small once they start going for it. They do need a lot of space ideally.
If you were going for rainbows I would stick to M.praecox (dwarf neon rainbows) which are much smaller.

 

[Graphic5]

another vote for rotkeil . fantastic fish . gorgeous colours bags of personality and imo make a wondeful centrepiece.

Me too, had one for 3 weeks and never been happier with my fish. Sometimes a bit shy but great fish most of the time. Destoying my plants though lol

 

[karin]

Look at my signature for an idea... I will be moving the bolivian rams out of there at some time but the cupid cichlids are quite young still.

In that 60 gallon before I added the rotkeil and cupids I had a pair of apistogramma caratuoides in there. But the competition with the rams must have kept both from breeding. Now they are both in breeding mode since being separated.

Also you probably did have all female congos... I almost did that too. You can sex them at a pretty young age so you do want to find the young ones with longer flowy fins. I love my group of seven.

 

[scouse_andy]

Thanks for all the replies, certainly plenty of ideas from you.

Good to know that I could put a small group of festivums in there but I'm beginning to lean towards the rotkeil. I used to have 3 green sevs and they were really nice but the rotkeil look an even better colour plus they keep a bit smaller. Could I get away with 2 rotkeil in the tank - also how easy are they to sex and at what kind of size? I imagine one of each sex would keep agression lower in the tank.

I really like the look of the cupid cichlids too, not seen those before - are they fairly readily available? I would consider these instead of the bolivian rams.

Yes, I think you're right about the congos, I probably had a group of females - just my luck! I know it's not the right forum but could anybody confrim whether an all male group of 6-8 congos would be ok?

 

[Verminator89]

Cupid cichlids can be quite expensive. By that i mean £15 a fish upwards i've seen. You don't see them too often in your common run of the mill fish shops, but i've seen them in 2 'good' stockists locally to myself. So they are out there.


Rotkeils are fantastic. I bought three of Lesley (Star4) a fortnight ago (i think) and they are magnificent. Colouring up well and are always begging me for food. Sexing is quite easily done if you know what your looking for, anywhere from a little over an inch would be a good size to get a more positive sex on young fish. Fin shape isnt a good indicator as i've been told, and rightly believe as i have a female (i'm sure) with bigger fins than my male. You look for the blue spots on the gill plates. Females have a few blue spots on the gill plate whereas males have more often going as far up to surround the eye socket. Whereas females will have a few speckles low on the gill plate.

 

[karin]

My guess on the congos is that if you had all males they would not color up as nicely, I imagine still have the flowing fins though. I have 3 males and 4 females and they all look great. The females have this nice copper and green thing going. The males are stunning with red, blue, grey and their beautiful finnage. Can you tell I like the congos?

Are you in the US or UK? If UK, Rotkeils are at your fingertips at Star's place. If US I can give you one mail order source.

I'll let others advise on numbers in your tank. I was advised one rotkeil in my 60 gallon, but I also have a pair of angels.

 

[scouse_andy]

I'm in Oxfordshire in the UK, being able to buy some rotkeils (or just one) off a fellow forum member would be great, where does Star live?

Yes I suppose you're right about the congos, they need some females to display to.

pretty sorted on my stocking now then:

BN plec (or similar)
a pair of Bolivian Rams
a shoal of 8 or so Congo Tetras
rotkeil sev (1 or 2?)

I may also add 2 or 3 true Siamese Flying Foxes as I've always liked keeping these.

In a 240 litre tank how would that leave me stocking wise? possibly a bit under? (no bad thing)

I guess the question about how many rotkeils in this tank is far more about territories than it is about adequate filtration so what do people think 1,2 or 3 at a push?

 

[hamfist]

I'm in Oxfordshire in the UK, being able to buy some rotkeils (or just one) off a fellow forum member would be great, where does Star live?

Yes I suppose you're right about the congos, they need some females to display to.

pretty sorted on my stocking now then:

BN plec (or similar)
a pair of Bolivian Rams
a shoal of 8 or so Congo Tetras
rotkeil sev (1 or 2?)

I may also add 2 or 3 true Siamese Flying Foxes as I've always liked keeping these.

In a 240 litre tank how would that leave me stocking wise? possibly a bit under? (no bad thing)

I guess the question about how many rotkeils in this tank is far more about territories than it is about adequate filtration so what do people think 1,2 or 3 at a push?

I would only go for one or two rotkeils. 3 is too many for that tank and stock.

As for Star ... Birmingham ( http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail58_202577.php )

 

[minxfishy]

Yes Star4 is in Birmingham, which isnt far from Oxfordshire, Up the M40 And you can take your pick of a big selection of Rotkiels, just bought two home myself, so you can guarantee quality fish and sexed for you. I agree, 2 would be better

 

[scouse_andy]

Great, Brum is not far at all. Two rotkeils in the tank sounds brilliant.

(Just got to get my hands on a decent tank and external filter off Ebay and get started on a fishless cycle now)

 

[simonas]

festivums... beautiful fish and I have always wanted to keep them

Sajica are lovely as well