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First of all hello everyone.

I am not new to fishkeeping (I have 3 tanks running currently) but i am new to ciclids and therefore want to avoid any of the same problems I had when starting out. My experiance is mostly with livebearers. I have a 29 gallon devoted to mollies and guppies and am proud to say I have about 6-7 fry and more on the way. (they are soooo cute)

But back on track. I will be coming into possesion of a 55-60 gallon tank (not sure about exact measurements but whatever the "standard" size is) and have decided to finally get my ciclid tank up and running. My original plan was this:

4-6 convicts (hopefully breeding pairs) and...
1-2 Jack dempseys as I have been told by the LFS that they will be ok with the convicts.

Of course I, like most of you I am guessing, have been burned my the LFS before so I usually come here to verify what they tell me. (my favorite piece of advice was that an african brown knife would be ok not only in a 29 gallon tank...but also with a group of 1-2 inch guppies and mollies)

My major concern is that the tank would be overstocked and the fish would not be compatible. Anyone here ever have a similar setup (not exact numbers perse but the species setup.) That could offer some advice?

Thanks in advance
Jaric

Last edited by jaric at 21-Sep-2005 16:33

I would not put a JD in anything less than a 75g. A 55g is only 12" wide and would not give a JD a lot of room to move about.

As with the Convicts. They are a much better sized fish to go into a 55g. The only thing you have to look out for is when you get a breeding pair they become very agressive. I would sugest a pair of Cons. (Females have an orange belly), catfish, pleco, and say a school of some fast fish (Rainbows or Giant Danios).

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

Welcome to FP Jaric, and you will enjoy cichlids..

I was in exactly your shoes before, bred livebearers for years, then found myself wanting oscars.. My intro to the cichlid world.

For a 55-60 gal I think convicts would be ideal, you'd prob need to buy a group of 5 or so juvies and when they mature a pair will develop. Soon as you realize you have a pairing off, you will need to re-home the others to a different tank.

Good luck !




The Amazon Nut...

I agree....eventually you'll want no more than 1 pair of convicts if that's the cichlid you go with and maybe some fast swimming topdwellers like tiger barbs or giant danios. Once the convict pair gets to a good size (3-4" they'll pretty much want most of the bottom to themselves. You could keep some catfish like Raphael cats and some type of smaller pleco like a bristlenose or rubbernose.

Thanks for the advice. The only problem is that once these fish come home with me moving them is not an option This 4th tank is a stretch with the GF as it is.

I don't want to even think about the havoc a pair of convicts would cause with my mollies and that is the only tank I have that would be size appropriate.

IIRC dempseys grow to about 10-12 inches, a pair of 2 in a 55 gallon would be far below what I usually consider overstocked. But I guess with cichlids they need more room than normal fish. Is the issue with the fish needing room to swim or fouling the water? Or both?

Anyway I appreciate the help.

Is the issue with the fish needing room to swim or fouling the water? Or both?

both, though foul water can be controlled by water changes and excessive filtration. my main concern would be swimming space. IMO a 55 gallon is best suited for fish no larger than 6-8". It will however take 2 dempseys a long time to get large enough to look cramped in a 55.

I would probably recommend Firemouth Cichlids. Never kept them, but they are beautiful at my lfs' display tank. They reach about 6 inches and are quite peaceful. The only problem would be if you got a breeding pair, then they may turn a little agressive. Definately not as agressive as the convicts get though.

I say a pair of firemouths and the addition of a medium pleco such as a BN or 2 would be fine.

Remember this when chosing larger fish, the fish should probably be about 4 inches shorter than the aquarium is wide. IE an 8 inch fish at most for a 12 inch wide aquarium.

Good luck, cichlids are addicting and it won't be long until you are enticed by the dwarf cichlid family



Last edited by Tetra Fan at 22-Sep-2005 06:17

Last edited by Tetra Fan at 22-Sep-2005 06:18

Well I have done it again. I start off looking at one type of set up and end up thinking about a completly differant direction.

Was looking through some of the referance material I have about cichlids and the blue acara's caught my eye. They look to be a good fit for a 55g (think they only get 6-8 inches at full grown.) Plus they are usually described as generally peaceful. Maybe a mixture of acaras and teh firemouths? Not sure if water cond are the same but ill look into that.

Anyone have blue acaras in a tank mixed with anything suitable for a 55gallon? Want this to be a cichlid only tank (except for a bottom feeder to 2)

Ok I figured out what I want for sure this time. According to my research Blue acaras and firemouth cichlids can live in the same water conditions. They are both small enough and of an appropriate temperment to coexist (of course if anyone has had a similar setup I would love to hear about it )

My only question left is how many would be a good number of each

was thinking
4 acaras (hopefully 2 pairs)
2 firemouths (hopefully a pair)

Thanks again in advance

I would do more Firemouths than Acaras being that Firemouths stay smaller where acaras get to be about 8 inches.

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

Thanks for that idea wing

so with that list reversed

4 firemouths
2 blue acaras

would that work in your opinion

Yeah I think that would be a better idea. Maybe only one acara. Use it as a center peice fish. Then add in your bottem feeders.... pleco, catfish (some type of Synodontis or Raphael Catfish or a pictus. Good luck!! Show us some pictures!!

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

I hate to completly destroy your plan, it does look fine by the way, but if you were looking for some pretty fish that are relitivly easy breeders maybe you should try some spinosissimum's or "spinner cichlids". they are beautiful, hardy fish and quite easy to breed. As secondarys I would go with a couple Sajica's. Also a beautiful fish. Neither are to expensive, large, or down right mean. Don't get me wrong nothing is easier to breed then convicts but with some spinners you could sell them and make some money back. Plus they compleatly destroy convicts in the looks department... just my two cents.

4 firemouths
2 blue acaras

I would go with no more than 1 pair of each and you may have problems with this as they reach adult size. I had a pair of firemouths no more than 3" in my 55 and they wanted half the tank at that size as their territory once they started breeding. As they grow, so will the territory they require. Just be prepared to possibly have to use a tank divider as they get larger or even get a second tank.

just wanted to edit to add that while they're small you could easily get by with probably 6 of each. however, once they start growing and pair off (should be by the time they get to around 3" or so) then you'd need to start getting rid of extras and go down to just a pair of each.

Last edited by Jason_R_S at 22-Sep-2005 23:36

Thanks Jason Ill keep that it mind. The thing is when I set up a tank I plan the fish that I keep in it from the begining. I really don't like setting up a tank with fish that will eventually out grow it unless I already have another tank to put them in when the time comes. So basically if 6 fish won't fit when they are full grown they don't get put in as juvies.

I appreciate all the help you guys have given me, now I just need to get the tank set up. Pictures might take awhile as I have been toying with a fishless cycle which takes a couple weeks as most of you know.

Two last questions really quick. One what kind of habitat would be most suitable for these 2? Rocks? Plants? All of my tanks currently are fully planted but most of the cichlids I read about are terrors on plants. Caves seem to be a big thing for cichlids though. Last question is any suggestions for another single fish to add? Similar size. Could be a cichlid or not. If you guys think the 2 pairs (2 acaras and 2 firemouths) is already at tank limit thats cool too. Had been thinking about getting back the brown knife I got rid of since I don't think the cichlids would have a problem protecting themselves from him. But at 9-10 inches it might be pushing things.

Anyway thanks again for all the help.]]]