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I got two rainbow cichlids (Herotilapia multispinosa) last night. They're about 2.5" - 3". They get along great - always swimming together and darting around eachother.
Right now, they're in a 55 with one angelfish with a body about the size of the diameter of a mug, six blackskirts, six dojos, one male pearl gourami, and one male blue gourami. I'm already selling the rest of the fish that are in the tank with them right now when I move later this month.
What would go well with the rainbow cichlids in a 55? Are there catfish that are bigger than cories and still small enough to be happy in a 55? Would tiger barbs work?
If any of you have had them before, can you tell me about your experiences with them?

Last edited by bananacoladafuze at 06-Jan-2006 11:08

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Cake or death?

Tiger barbs would be too nippy for the angel fish, u could possibly up the group of tetras, maybe add another group of tetra if u wanted, raphael cat fishes would work,possibly some corys as well, there are the multipuctus cat fish a african cat i believe it is, maybe some hatchet fish for surface.

Actually, out of the fish that are in the tank right now, only the rainbow cichlids are staying. The rest are going to friends right before I move.

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Cake or death?

I have a pair of rainbow cichlids and they're great, I've never seen any aggression toward any other fish in the tank with them including cories.
How about an asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis), they get about 15cm long and would go well in a 55 gal. I have them as well and although they tend to hide a bit they don't bother other fish

Rusty, how do you have the tank 'scaped? Will they go after live plants? Are there any other tankmates that you'd suggest?

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Cake or death?

Banana, I've got plenty of live plants and they do have a peck at them every now and again but they don't really do any damage to them. As you've said with your pair, mine swim up and down the tank together as well and seem to be oblivious to the other fish in the tank.
As far as tank mates go the options are really up to you. If your 2 rainbows want to breed in the future then it would be best to try and steer clear of anything that could be territorial like alot of cichlids. I've had tiger barbs in with these guys and there wasn't a problem but there needs to be at least 6 so they just pick on each other rather than other tank mates
The rainbows are one of the least aggressive cichlids there is, even when breeding they're not too bad so you're choices for tank mates is really only limited to what size the fish is