This Younger Spouse
Fish Fanatic
Hey all:
First, a sincere thank you for your expertise on cichlids.
I stumbled into my cichlids not at all long ago, and your comments have been helpful to the point of changing the way I look at tropical fish keeping.
Here's where I am.
In a 55 gallon, I have a Synodontis cat, BN pleco, two JDs and two Firemouths. The FMs will be rehomed, either in my spouse's community 55 gallon or returned to the LFS for credit. By pics I posted here, it appears both my 2.5 inch JDs are females.
Thus, the crossroads.
I know that, ultimately, 55 gal is a bit on the wee side for mature JDs, but not by too much. I'm pondering two approaches with this tank. One is to keep the prettiest JD, rehome or return the other, and turn it into a community tank anchored by the three individuals that remain, with a few judicious choices down the road for potential peaceful tank mates. The other approach is to keep those three fish, but also to find a male JD and hope the resulting pair mates and produces young.
No matter which of these options I take, the JD(s) eventually will outgrow the 55, and I'll be vigilant in looking for a solid used 90 gal or bigger tank for the JD(s). At that point I'd likely turn the 55 into a saltwater environment.
So, while the decision clearly is mine, I'd like your perspectives on my two basic choices.
First, a sincere thank you for your expertise on cichlids.
I stumbled into my cichlids not at all long ago, and your comments have been helpful to the point of changing the way I look at tropical fish keeping.
Here's where I am.
In a 55 gallon, I have a Synodontis cat, BN pleco, two JDs and two Firemouths. The FMs will be rehomed, either in my spouse's community 55 gallon or returned to the LFS for credit. By pics I posted here, it appears both my 2.5 inch JDs are females.
Thus, the crossroads.
I know that, ultimately, 55 gal is a bit on the wee side for mature JDs, but not by too much. I'm pondering two approaches with this tank. One is to keep the prettiest JD, rehome or return the other, and turn it into a community tank anchored by the three individuals that remain, with a few judicious choices down the road for potential peaceful tank mates. The other approach is to keep those three fish, but also to find a male JD and hope the resulting pair mates and produces young.
No matter which of these options I take, the JD(s) eventually will outgrow the 55, and I'll be vigilant in looking for a solid used 90 gal or bigger tank for the JD(s). At that point I'd likely turn the 55 into a saltwater environment.
So, while the decision clearly is mine, I'd like your perspectives on my two basic choices.
