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Well, this stock of New world cichlids that I am about to note, is probably very contradictory, and not to mention I might be insane for posting this, but this is something I want to test out with new world cichlids. I am just simply putting the idea out there. I am just simply saying this out of my own curiosity (not too mention this is probably something a more experienced aquarist might try...not me quite yet, until I get a 150 gallon)

ok, again, this is just a theory...

Many new world cichlids are agressive breeders, but a few of them have been able to cope with each other. I am going to test the limits of cooperation among these fish and see if I can have multiple spawns from multiple cichlid species(I know, it sounds fictional even to me).

My idea, is a densly (I mean dense!) planted tank with a bit of rock work and driftwood would make the fish feel safe enough to spawn.

I am thinking (of course, just theory and will not be attempted int he near future, but maybe someday) that if I put about 3 or 4 species in the tank I can cause enough tension for a fight, but hopefully the environment itself can deter the fish form fighting.

1 Pair of breeding Convicts
1 Pair of breeding Blue Rams
1 Pair of breeding Bolivian Rams
1 pair of breeding Severums
1 pair of breeding Angelfish
1 pair of breeding discus (where the experienced aquarist requirement comes in the heaviest)

I am thinking (and slightly hoping) that the aquascape of the tank can affect the fishes behavior directly. they would see each other, but would feel secure enough to spawn.

Reading this from an outside point of view I even find this idea kind of farfetched and maybe a waste of time, but if you could, maybe introduce some ideas to me or simply say it won't work, that would be greatly appreciated.

As I am not really asking for advice I thank those who take the time to post.

i'm kinda new to breeding cichlids but i've seen convicts breed at the the pet store i work at. they kill everything. i cannot speak for the rest of the fish however. it seems awsome if you could pull it off.

It wouldn't works besided the fact that the cons and severums will destroy and plants they'll stress out the discus and kill them. the angels are sitting targets for them. The rams would get mauled. Generally its not a good idea to mix community cichlids with the general bigger ones.

I figured I would get responses like that. They are perfectly fine for I see that happening too. If I twiddle my stock list, come up with something that might tip the tables, I could maybe come close to have a slightly reasonable list.

I doubt it would work myself, but I have several years of planning ahead of me (maybe...mgiht just drop the idea entirely) to get a large tank with at least 3 pairs of cichlids in there.

I think I'm going insane...this never even occured to me until just the other day...I'm even fighting it over with myself...I'm determined to at least have the Severum and Discus together along with the Rams.

To any beginners reading this, this is definately something that we try to lead away from...I think I might be off my rocker on this one...but I am willing to try anything that will let the severums and discus breed in the same tank (my 2 favorite larger cichlids).

I think I should have slept on this idea first before posting.

It is highly doubtful that the discus will breed in there with severums. Its hard enough in a perfect enviroment. Severums are very outgoing boisterous fish which is exactly what you dont want with discus. Try rams, angels, and festivums. Or maybe keyholes.

What size tank are you aiming for?

The only cichlids that would work are probably the angelfish, discus, and rams. Drop the severums, they'll boss the others around, and don't do as well in a densely planted aquarium.

Have you thought about adding other species of cichlids instead? Rainbow cichlids, festivums, apistos? I think you should drop the more aggressive cichlids such as the severums and convicts, which would honestly be the ones which would make your plans fall through.

I think I should have slept on this idea first before posting.

sounds like you've been already been thinking about it for a long time if its driving you crazy! :%)

its good that you posted it, someone will always learn something from it. it really gets the thinking caps going!

i think convicts would be a big no no, if your fish were introduced all together they will settle in the fastest, breed and become aggressive while to other fish are still settling down, and convicts are IMO pound for pound one of the meanest suckers out there when they get aggressive!

if your REALLY want to try this (Severums), maybe add them once the other fish are settled, and definatelly not a breeding pair, just one or 2 of the same sex. and dont put their rockpile in the middle of the tank, mayb off in one of the corners.

OH! and make sure u have a spare tank cycled and ready to go if they start taking a beating!


Last edited by sumthin_fishy at 10-Aug-2005 01:31

Yeah, I see all this. The other cichlids that you mentioned are actually pretty neat and I have wanted them for quite a long time. Like said earlier I would tweak the stock list over time and try to be able to do something by next year or even later. I was thinking on getting a 125-150 gallon for this.

Thanks for all the input, I had thought about this for a while, but I meant I should have slept on the ideas in my post, because they make my idea sound fictional (which it was).

But I can see those fish will not bother me because I really like them. So let's see on a tweaked stocking list...

1 pair of blue rams
1 pair of keyhole's
1 pair of angelfish
1 pair of festivum

Ok, now how is that looking? I'm thinking about adding a larger dither fish such as a school of congo tetras to.

Last edited by Tetra Fan at 10-Aug-2005 15:27

for the keyholes and festivums go in groups of 3 at least. Keyholes need the extra security and festivums can be a little nippy at the others.

With that stocklist and that large of an aquarium (or even something smaller in the 100-80 range), you could add a nice school of larger tetras, such as the congos you mentioned, or a school of beautiful rainbows. You might want to raise the number of the cichlids of course, and remove some of the extras (such as spare males) later on as a pair eventually starts.

Did you plan on having bottom feeders? Cories, other cats, plecos?

I plan on having a Gold nugget pleco (L-18) And a pair of BN plecos. Or maybe a school of larger cory's.

This si all going to happen in the years ahead though...I think I will save this thread to word or jsut a favorites page for references back to this.

Last edited by Tetra Fan at 10-Aug-2005 22:29