Anyone keep cichlids?
- Thread starter dtn1992
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well depending on what you want do you want 2 huge fish or say 6-10 medium sized ones?
personally with that size tank im assuming its about 55-60 gallons
if you wanted 2 big fish you could get away with oscars, the rule of thumb is 1 oscar=55 gallons 2=75 3=90 and so on but 2 oscars and a big pleco and some drift wood and other rocks you could have something good thats what i have. my albino and tiger oscar are both 9inches and are mean as hell. just google what your interested in.
personally with that size tank im assuming its about 55-60 gallons
if you wanted 2 big fish you could get away with oscars, the rule of thumb is 1 oscar=55 gallons 2=75 3=90 and so on but 2 oscars and a big pleco and some drift wood and other rocks you could have something good thats what i have. my albino and tiger oscar are both 9inches and are mean as hell. just google what your interested in.
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I like the African cichlids. YOu could keep a few yellow labs and electric blues in a 55 gallon. They usually get along well and the colors are awsome together.
When I kept cichlids I went to this forum.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/
When I kept cichlids I went to this forum.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/
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I used to breed severums. AHH the good ole days.. I miss them. 
Theyre BIG and mellow and beautiful. Good beginner cichlid.
Theyre BIG and mellow and beautiful. Good beginner cichlid.
try firemouth cichlids. most places sell them pretty cheap. they are very forgiving as far as mistakes go. they like mealworms. they get a nice size. do well in groups. sometimes you ca even find them used as feeder fish at some larger petstore chains. i have a small group that i have had since 2004 in a 10 gallon. they are not as colorful as other cichlids but they can still put on some impressive displays. just make sure you get a tank lid. mine like to jump and splash everywhere.
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ive been keeping and breeding cichlids for years, my favorite fish family .
i'm guessing your tank is a 55g. if you want smaller cichlids, that are commen, and bullet proof, you cant go wrong with convicts. they breed like rabbits, dont get that big (ive seen males at 7", but that takes a pretty long while). you would also be able to add some larger schooling fish and smaller species of catfish with them. if you're looking for something with more color, look up 'honduran red points'. they are closely related to convicts, but glow blue and red and are less aggresive, they can be found at many online dealers shops.
oscars get much to large for a 55g tank. and the amount of waste they pump out is legendary. i wouldnt put on in anythign less than 100g, although a 55g would work for a very long time.
if you are planning on getting a bigger tank in the future, get a female red terror, you cant find a fresh water fish with more color and attitude. they get around 12", but that takes a very long time, so a 55g would work for a good while. here's a pic of mine not too happy about me touching 'its' tank.
there are many other species too choose from, read up on them and see what's avalable locally.
.i'm guessing your tank is a 55g. if you want smaller cichlids, that are commen, and bullet proof, you cant go wrong with convicts. they breed like rabbits, dont get that big (ive seen males at 7", but that takes a pretty long while). you would also be able to add some larger schooling fish and smaller species of catfish with them. if you're looking for something with more color, look up 'honduran red points'. they are closely related to convicts, but glow blue and red and are less aggresive, they can be found at many online dealers shops.
oscars get much to large for a 55g tank. and the amount of waste they pump out is legendary. i wouldnt put on in anythign less than 100g, although a 55g would work for a very long time.
if you are planning on getting a bigger tank in the future, get a female red terror, you cant find a fresh water fish with more color and attitude. they get around 12", but that takes a very long time, so a 55g would work for a good while. here's a pic of mine not too happy about me touching 'its' tank.
there are many other species too choose from, read up on them and see what's avalable locally.
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I have A cichlid, a Parrot Cichlid. Yeah yeah, one of those evil hybrids. I only found that out after I received her as a gift.
She's the only cichlid I've got, but I love her to death. 72 gallon bow front tank, some Congo Tetra's to chase around, and a big pleco someone gave me because it was too big for their 29.
When she passes on, I do plan to convert it into a more populated cichlid tank. Right now she's too feisty on her own. I've had her since 2001, and she's just content to bully the Congo's.
I really like the Yellow Labs and Electric Blue ones myself. They're about all that's common around here.
Here's her blurring across the tank:
Based on what I know from friends having Oscars, because they were "cute" when they were 3-4" big, don't get them. They get huge, and most of them end up being given back to the petstore when they outgrow everything, and its just sad all around. Stay small unless you're planning on buying everything appropriately sized and keeping up with growth rates.
She's the only cichlid I've got, but I love her to death. 72 gallon bow front tank, some Congo Tetra's to chase around, and a big pleco someone gave me because it was too big for their 29.
When she passes on, I do plan to convert it into a more populated cichlid tank. Right now she's too feisty on her own. I've had her since 2001, and she's just content to bully the Congo's.
I really like the Yellow Labs and Electric Blue ones myself. They're about all that's common around here.
Here's her blurring across the tank:
Based on what I know from friends having Oscars, because they were "cute" when they were 3-4" big, don't get them. They get huge, and most of them end up being given back to the petstore when they outgrow everything, and its just sad all around. Stay small unless you're planning on buying everything appropriately sized and keeping up with growth rates.
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4'x2'x1 1/2'?
thats about 90 gallons (i think). if its that big, that opens up a lot more options as far as stocking it goes.
how about a jack dempsey? or a texas cichlid? both are pretty easy to find, not expensive, and easy to care for
thats about 90 gallons (i think). if its that big, that opens up a lot more options as far as stocking it goes.
how about a jack dempsey? or a texas cichlid? both are pretty easy to find, not expensive, and easy to care for
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it calculates to 89.76 gallons
plenty big for 1 oscar and i ouwl keep 2 in it. I had 2 in a 55 gallon with no problems ...well one time the cat slept on top of the tank and i had a tank full of hair but other than that i had no prob. 2 10inch oscars. 2 12" blue cat fish, 1 12" bristle nose pleco. BUT
I used undergravel and canister filters and bio augmented wiht happy pond ( you cant get better than happy pond)
plenty big for 1 oscar and i ouwl keep 2 in it. I had 2 in a 55 gallon with no problems ...well one time the cat slept on top of the tank and i had a tank full of hair but other than that i had no prob. 2 10inch oscars. 2 12" blue cat fish, 1 12" bristle nose pleco. BUT
I used undergravel and canister filters and bio augmented wiht happy pond ( you cant get better than happy pond)
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get a male midas cichlid (Amphilophus Citrinellus). you won't be sorry.
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Most of the Malawi Chiclids from Africa are very colorfull and you'll get to see some pretty good carnidge. If you really want something real aggresive, try one or two Red Devils. I have a male and female in a 55 gal with a pleco. I built a rock bearier up the middle so they will better tollerate each other. Both can still get to anywhere in the tank they want to go but they tend to be solitary and the rocks seem to keep them seperated enough so they won't kill each other. I've had them both for over 5 years and the male seems to enjoy the female most of the time. The male is bright red and the female is bright yellow. To top it all off, they love a very simple tank because they can be destructive and will move a lot of gravel.
Most chiclids you can get at a generic pet store are going to be easy to take care of. If you get African chiclids, you can get a lot of satisfaction from a boitope aquarium. That'll limit the type of chiclids you can have in the tank but they can be very cool looking.
Most chiclids you can get at a generic pet store are going to be easy to take care of. If you get African chiclids, you can get a lot of satisfaction from a boitope aquarium. That'll limit the type of chiclids you can have in the tank but they can be very cool looking.
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I personally would set it up very nicely with a lot of bogwood and hides with plants and then have lots of Dwarf Red Cockatoos and Blue Ram Cichlids. I know they aren't big but the are sure beautiful fish and very funny to watch.. and besides your tank could make you money with the babies!
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I would go woth victorian cichlids, semi rare but you should be able to turn a small profit with breeding them. My favorites are Astatotilapia latifasciata and Haplochromis (Astatotilapia) nubila Both are active and you can have quite a number in that tank as they are fairly small 4 to six inches, and are feisty to boot. Make sure you have lots of hiding places and plants.
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I've had parrot chiclids and jack demseys in my house, we had a few of each in a tank and I dont think that was a good idea :? We used to have oscars for years but my dad got sick of the mess.
The parrots were great, was much fun watching them grow, same with the jack demseys. However, the parrots would get chased around, being a bit smaller. Never got caught or beat up though, they just had their separate ends of the tank, usually. There were two parrots and three demseys... and two of the demseys ended up being a couple and had babies. They beat up the other demsey until it died. The babies got eaten anyway... and the parrots ended up dying for some reason. So we're left with the grouchy looking, now huge, demseys. Very pretty fish, I love how they change colors. I wish we had learned more about them when we got them, but now we know how territorial they are. The only thing they left alone is the pleco.
The parrots were great, was much fun watching them grow, same with the jack demseys. However, the parrots would get chased around, being a bit smaller. Never got caught or beat up though, they just had their separate ends of the tank, usually. There were two parrots and three demseys... and two of the demseys ended up being a couple and had babies. They beat up the other demsey until it died. The babies got eaten anyway... and the parrots ended up dying for some reason. So we're left with the grouchy looking, now huge, demseys. Very pretty fish, I love how they change colors. I wish we had learned more about them when we got them, but now we know how territorial they are. The only thing they left alone is the pleco.