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The ones suggested aboves are dwarfs, which has a less potential of killing large fish due to their size. Having them top off at 4" with such a slender body work, they cant do much harm to larger cichlids.

I dont really know much of the more "complicating" cichlisoma family, but in a 55+, you could have a pair-trio of dwarf pikes, sometimes more (Crenicichla compressiceps which only attains 3" full size). If your interested in mixing some medium-large cichlids, I'm sure Jason can whip up a good of mild tempered cichlids for you.

Get some good cichlids that wont bother pikes, but can hold their ground. T.meeki is a good choice. Acaras are a good choice also. Clarias catfish works. If your interested in larger pikes, larger cichlids are reccomended; green terrors, midas, doviis, jaguars, etc.

Basically, have room for them. PVC pipes are normally used for pikes to spawn and form territories in so these are great for pikes, and another bonus- large cichlids cant go inside.

for 2 severums and 4 clowns a 125 would probably work great for a long time. another cichlid or 2 could probably be added depending on what kinds. a chocolate cichlid or 2 would go great with the severums as they have similar temperaments and grow to ~10", possibly 12". A single oscar could also go with the 2 severums and 4 clowns in a 125 but I probably wouldn't add much more than that.

Jason

Jason,

If he wanted to go with that mix 2 Sevs, 4 Clowns, etc. what size tank would you recommend. I am planning to keep similar cichlids, although I really havent decided on the mix.

-greg

my GT and my JD are doing great in my 55g 2gether and they'll eat absolutly anything they can including gravel

I know the clowns need a bigger home. This is a between tank for them. Believe me I've wanted to get rid of them. It's not my choice. If I have to keep them they will end up in a 150-200 eventually, but for now as they are small and grow very slowly they will have to make a home in the 75.

I thought the list might be pushing it a bit, so yes I will get rid of the BP. Aquabid here I come. lol

Thanks Again!

Auratus perfers hard pH, they also are africans, so it's not "reccomended" to mix.

I think 6 clowns are quite alot though..maybe you should aim for a 100 gallon?

If you're still looking for possible fish, might I suggest an Auratus? The petco near here has them stocked fairly often, I've even seen them in the assorted tanks in walmart. Auratus don't grow more than 5 inches and definitely is a fish with an attitude. Many people say they are too vicious to have and will kill other tankmates but I have mine in a fairly small tank with a much smaller female convict and they get along very well. Its a suggestion! Good luck

I would go with 1 severum instead of 2 and find a new home for the blood parrot. 1 oscar, 2 severums and a blood parrot would just be too many large fish in a 75 gallon imo.

As these fish reach their adult sizes you'll need a larger tank to keep them and the clown loaches as they all get quite large.

Jason

Thanks for all the suggestions! After much debate I've decided to go with a 75 gal with an Albino Oscar, 2 Gold Severums, 1 Blood Parrot (might have to find him new home), 6 4" Clown Loaches, and 4 BNs. I will be getting the Oscar and the Severums at a young age so they get used to having tank mates.

I made this choice cause of what is easily available for me to get and as I said before I want to keep other fish in there.*cough cough no choice about the Loaches cough cough*

We will be running 2 whisper 60 filters on it. That's 700 GPH of filtration. There will be plenty of caves n such for all the hiding fish.

Any problems with this setup?

I want a cichlid that will readily eat live foods, like anything it can fit in it's mouth. I know the first thing that comes to mind is "get an Oscar". Well to be truthful, I'm not to wild with how messy the are and how big they get. I'm thinking more along the lines of something a lil smaller, and I don't want one with a bad attitude, meaning I would like to keep 1 or 2 other types of larger fish with it.


The first thing that comes to my mind is a Severum, but are they very predatory? It's important this fish eat live food. Is it good for them to eat allot of live foods?

So what do you think? Any other options? Any input about Severums? I searched for the better part of the day looking for info on them. What detailed info I could find on them was limited to say the least.

Thanks for the input!

edit: Sorry, It will live in a 55 gal.

[span class="edited"][Edited by phoneshannen 2004-08-27 21:29][/span]

How many pike cichlids can you keep in that size of tank. I was given a demo of how they feed in in a lfs, they definitely fit the predator fish profiles. I also was told they will kill other tank mates by rip off fins of other fish, even larger fish than themselves, is this true?

I mentioned them to you in chat, but Salvini, P. loisellei and P. friedrichsthalli would should work great. they can go with certain other fish but won't do well with fish that are closely related to them.

My gold severum chowed on a female betta....nothing left. He's in a community tank, & he won't mess with any of the fish that were already there before him-not even the baby mollies, but any new fish that get added disappear without a trace.

The only two suggestions I have for a 55 are Jack Dempseys and Green Terrors. I would not keep both together in a 55 and at that I would only keep one in a 55. You could probably keep one of the above with eithera p pair of female cons(I would not advise keeping a male and female con with any other fish) or a pair of firemouths.

To some degree, most large fish in the cichlasoma family will feed off small fish. Severums arent a predatory fish, and they are commonly kept with tetras and barbs.

Not quite sure what you meant about eating live food, I think all fish will accept live food. Did you mean brine shrimp, worms, or feeders and crickets? I've given you some choices below with a mix..usually large ones will accept feeders.

Flowerhorns arent that great in this situation, as you'll usually have problems arising if you have more than two in a tank that arent a pair.

The fact that it is a 55 gallon, and the thought of you wanting to keep large fish is a challenge.

Cuban cichlids will usually readily accept live foods, and you might get away with keeping two in the 55 gallon with very good filtration.

Jack Dempseys are good in 55 gallon, but most will disagree about you keeping two, but you can do a combo of one jack dempsey with a pair of firemouths or convicts.

Dwarf Pikes are a good for accepting live foods,but you'll have some fun locating them.Crenicichla urosema, Crenicichla heckelli, Crenichicla regani,Crenicichla compressiceps are the most common dwarf pikes. The listed will grow 4" or smaller.

Crenicichla johanna is a 12" pike that is suitable for a 55 and is also an aggressive feeder.

Jaguars are good in a solitary tank, as they are very aggressive, but will eat almost any feeder you throw at them.

You'd get away with two texas cichlids too, if they are a compatible pair, and they do eat feeders.

If you want to do an interesting tank, go for a small colony of compressiceps. They are ambush predators and will eat small fish, as long as brine shrimp and worms. In a 55, you'd get away with 3-5.

I have a Jack Dempsy that does a great job on cull clean up, better than my oscar. I also have a Gold Sevrum and I think their mouth is too small for what you're looking for. Get a Jack.

Happy hunting, Mike

You didn't say how big your tank is.

I don't think severums are that predatory, but you might try flowerhorns. I know they have bad attitudes.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."