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welcome 2 fp

and first off, the catfish, im guessing its a pictus cat (spotted-4in other-? bigger though)

oscar-15in
servum-?
firemouth-not quite sure, but i THINK its like 10in, but im not sure
blood parrot-4in+
silver dolars-again not sure, bu probly like 10in
convict-im thinking like 5in
but check out our profiles for additional info

A 180 would be the minimum for this combo. A 6ft tank is the minimum for silver dollars. They are a very active fish and need there space. Im surprised this hasn't been said yet, but pictus really need to be kept in groups of at least 4 or more. It would be a lot easier to just get rid of a couple of them than setting up a stock tank for a few months. They should all get along adults but that it is very hard to predict behavior for cichlids. The one fish that would most likely be a problem is the convict, though I have seen mean parrots and I've had a mean severum. Before you setup a new tank though you really need to think about how important these fish are.

a really good size for all of these fish if your gonna keep all of them is a 150 or 200...
before transfering them to a bigger tank make sure you have have white cloud minnows or zebra danios in there for 6 weeks for your bacteria to build up and use tank water from the 55 gallon too

Could a few of them live in a rubbermaid stock tank with a heater and a filter? I think this might be the best option right now, because it would be a few months before I could get another tank, and I think as they grow the aggression is going to be an issue. Please let me know if you think this idea would work.

If the Pink Convict has an orange belly then it is a female and will probably stay on the smaller size say 4" max. Also if it a female it will play much nicer than a male would. As long as you let them grow up with other fish and you do not have a super breeding pair then convicts are not as mean as everyone makes them out to be.

One more thing..... if you don't really know about the fish say so and don't give crappy info!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yeah,

if you get the chance get the bigger tank.
This lot would look superb in the right sized tank.
Keep us informed!!!!

Well, wait. If Jellybean's willing to upgrade, let's help! Most of these fish are compatible, given space.

1 Red Oscar, 1 Firemouth, 1 Severum, 1 Blood Parrot, 1 catfish (not sure what kind, but has long whiskers), 2 Silver Dollars, 1 Pink Convict

Other than the Firemouth and possibly the catfish depending on what it is, I think in a good-sized (6' definitely, ideally along the lines of a 180) tank the others could learn to get along - Oscars aren't Wolf Cichlids, after all!

But, you should try to upgrade pretty soon; Oscars grow very fast, as much as an inch a month until they near full size.

-Molly
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Biological filtration is NOT the probelm at hand. Rather, size is. I suggest you take the advice given and rid yourself of the oscar and the convict.

It is a pictus catfish. He looks just like that one. I think I am going to go ahead and buy the filter I would need for the bigger tank, and then see how fast they grow before I buy the tank. I now I probably will have to get one in the next few months.

have a look at this, is that it ??

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/pictus.htm

:%):%):%)

I would really like to keep all the fish I have already. I was looking into getting a bigger tank, I just didn't know how big.

Will the silver dollars be okay in a group of 2 until I can get a bigger tank?

I am pretty sure the catfish is a pictus. The blood parrot is dark in color-they said it would change to a brighter color as it matured. I don't think it was dyed. I hope not atleast.

How long before I need a bigger tank? The oscar is the biggest of the group and it is about 4.5"

Thanks for helping me out.

Sorry, let me refraise that

Probably a 100Gal. Make sure it is long not Tall, as the more surface area the better !!!.

Your going to also need good filtration !!

1 Red Oscar rarely grow much bigger than 12" - 75GAL Tank
1 Firemouth, 4 - 6 Inches, 20-55Gal Tank
1 Severum, up to 8 inches - Min 55Gal Tank
1 Blood Parrot up to 10 Inches - 50GAL PLUS
1 Pictus Cat up to 4Inches, 20 Gallon Tank
2 Silver Dollars - 8Inches - 50 Gallon Plus
1 Pink Convict - 5Inches - 20 Gallons

Now there is a rough guide which some people go for which isnt always ideal - 1 Inch of fish for every Gallon.

which may suggest a 60Gal will be OK.
I wouldnt always go for this though. Id have at very least have a 75Gal , Probably a 100Gal. Make sure it is long not all, as the more surface area the better !!!

A couple of other points.

Convicts can be nutters and might terrorise other fish. Some are OK though, just have to see as time progresses.

Blood Parrots dont always to as well with other cichlids I've heard.

If you want too keep all the fish you have in there now id get a 125gal+ tank and make sure you have 6 silver dollars as they are shoaling fish

Welcome to FP
Alex

---

''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

Also, most of the species that are imported as "Silver Dollars" (Metynnis spp.) really only reach 4-5" in diameter. A school of 6-8 of them can easily be housed with a pair of firemouths in a 55 gallon tank.

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Convicts reach 8", are not Africans, and are midly aggressive unless spawning. Oscars rarely reach 16" in the home aquarium, and will not eat silver dollars even when fully grown. The tank is overstocked. Stick with a pair of convicts or a few firemouths.

1 Red Oscar, 1 Firemouth, 1 Severum, 1 Blood Parrot, 1 catfish (not sure what kind, but has long whiskers), 2 Silver Dollars, 1 Pink Convict

Ok, yes you do have some problems, and not just a bigger tank will solve these problems.
First of all, lets address the Silver Dollars.
These fish get about 8 inches in diameter, and should be kept in a school, at least 6 fish.
The Firemouth and Blood Parrot would be fine in your tank with 6 Silver Dollars, and then that would be pretty fully stocked.
The Severum will get up to 10 inches, and really needs at least a 75g tank.
The Oscar will grow to 14-16 inches, and needs around a 75G tank all by himself with no company. The Oscar will eat the Silver Dollars when he gets big.
The Catfish - It would help us very much if you described him to us- color, length, shape, how many whiskers. The most common catfish sold to beginners is a Columbian Catfish, long, Silvery, long whiskers and many of them- these fish are totally unsuitable to tank life, they grow far too large for your tank, and will eat everyone else once full grow except maybe the oscar.
The Convict- this fish doesnt fit in with your tank at all. This is an African Cichlid, they get highly aggressive, and is not a suitable tankmate for any of the other fish.
I would suggest this course of action for you:
First find out what type of Catfish you have. Browse a good online store such as liveaquaria.com to see if you can ID him. If you cant return him to the Fish store you bought him.
Return the Severum, the Convict, and the Oscar.
Get 4 more silver dollars.
Then you can build your tank around the Silver Dollars, Firemouth, and Blood Parrot.
Also, what color is the Blood Parrot? If it is purple, green, or any other color like that it is a dyed fish, return it.
Another option for you is this:
Keep the Severum,and the firemouth, get 4 more Silver Dollars.
Return all the other fish.
Im sorry, but those fish cant subsist together, the convict will probably kill all your fish, if the oscar doesnt first, or the catfish if it is a larger variety.
African Fish dont belong with any other fish other than other African fish, and all those other fish you named are South American Fish, have completely different PH and water hardness desires, and will not coexist in that size tank.
The oscar would need a tank of 75 or more to himself, preferably more- like 90-125g.
Hope this helps you some.


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Hello. I just joined the forum. I am pretty sure I have a problem. I followed the advice of the pet store in setting up my first aquarium, and I think I made a mistake. It is a 55-gallon aquarium with gravel bottom and some plastic plants. The problem is with the fish I have. These fish are all still babies, but after reading some on the Internet I think they are going to need a much larger tank and fast.


1 Red Oscar, 1 Firemouth, 1 Severum, 1 Blood Parrot, 1 catfish (not sure what kind, but has long whiskers), 2 Silver Dollars, 1 Pink Convict


Now for my questions:

1.) Will these fish get along as adults?
2.) What size tank will house all of these fish through adulthood?

I know I made a lot of mistakes, but I would like to provide these fish the best home possible.

Thanks


Last edited by JellyBean at 12-May-2005 19:18

Thanks for the help. Would everybody be okay in the 55 gallon except the Oscar? If not who else should I remove. The convict is still very small (about the size of the feeder goldfish they have at the stores)So hopefully growing up with the other fish it should not cause many problems.

The oscar and severum grow too large for a 55g tank.
I dont think a rubbermaid tote will be a good solution.
You should take them back, let them go to homes where they will have enough room, and when you get your larger tank, get an oscar and a severum again if you want to.


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