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There isn't really any big mean cichlids that will fit in a 55g. A 75g is the start for the big monsters. There are some good medium sized cichlids though. Texas and jack dempseys are two of the most common. Salvini are relatives of the parachromis genus that houses the true terrors of CA. A green terror would be good. Some little bit smaller but equal agressive CA's would be neets, they get about 6 inches and easily rival and surpass cons for breeding agressiveness.

I am getting a 55 gal for my bday and i want to know what really mean big cichlids can i get in there?

if you want the red devil look, then A. zaliosus would be the best choice. This is one of the smaller species of the "Red Devil Complex". A single male or female would probably be ok in a 55, or a pair could be kept with a divider onhand just in case.

Red Devils and Oscars are definate no's. The only one that may fit would be a true female[/b ]midas. Even then its probably a stretch

Last edited by greenmonkey51 at 07-May-2005 00:58

A red devil would probably be happy in there, possibly an Oscar.
How about a group of Firemouth cichlids, they can be pretty mean looking and are small enough you could have a few.


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your problem is your tank isn't big enough for any really big, mean fish. the biggest fish that could comfortably go into a 55 gallon is one that will grow no larger than around 8". That being said I still think salvini is your best bet. that or go with some African mbuna. some of these species are downright ruthless but most won't grow larger than 4-6".

stop crushing my hopes i need helop finding stocking possibilities for this is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!

Big fish and 55g's don't work.

i dont want small fish in the 55 gal i want big mean fish with colors(the colors are optional)

Go with 2 convicts and a small texas or something.

salvini would be about the biggest aggressive fish that would be comfortable in a 55.

p.s. if you cant find a p. polleni, then go with the auratis, mean nasty little african, pound for pound, one of the meanest cichlid out there.

i have a madagascar black beauty, (paratalipia polleni) he is at the moment 5 inches, his full size will be around 10-12 inches. he is currently kept with a zbra a chipokea and a johanni, in a 40 gal tank.
he is getting very aggresive and is becoming a danger to his tankmates, so i have been shopping for a tank to put this fish in by himself. i have researched this fish and found some information showing that he would actuly prefer a smaller space.
the source of this info has a breeding pair in a TWENTY NINE GALLON TANK!! he has tried to put them in a larger tank and claims that they hid in the corners and lost coloration for a month, when he returned them to the 29, they spawned.
the store that i bought my m.b.b. has an adult male in a forty gallon, and he is as healthy and happy as can be.

man a red devil ful gromn are mad and will in there becase i have one in my 55 with a convict and bala shark

where can i buy Pirhanas, what kinds should i get????

either if i am unable to purchase Pirhanas, i am buying a Midas Cichlid

Midas/reddevil, pretty much the same thing, midas might get bigger though.

what about a midas cichlid???

Your best bet as said before is a Jack Dempsey or a Texas Cichlid.

If you want only 1 mean fish, then get either a red devil or a flowerhorn.

If you want more than one fish, the try a salvini, convict, and a jack dempsey.

pirhanas will also get too big for a 55. they'll get to 12" and are schooling fish.

there are some pikes that would be ok in a 55 such as C. regani. this is one of the more common dwarf pikes and they'll get to I believe around 6" or so. there are other dwarf pike species but they may be harder to come by.