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iv got jewels they are in the mids of bringing up there fry here is a picture! of the jewels
malawi freak attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/413097.jpg"]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I've been waiting to read. I'm not into cichlids enough to go in depth on this... basically the only reason I'm considering this setup is because I want JDs. I also want some variety and if that's not possible with Dempseys in this size tank then you're right; I will consider other fish but it looks like I'll just go back to small community types.

"You can put as many fish as you want in the tank but if you put too many large CA/SA cichlids then some will die either from fighting or nitrates that you won't be able to keep under control as the fish get bigger."

You're exactly right. The point of this thread was to see if I could put JDs with multiple other fish comfortably and have a beautiful, somewhat small but not TOO small, cichlid community. And most importantly I wanted to do research so I wouldn't cause any fish any undue stress/harm. So basically now it's back to the drawing board!

What's can anyone throw out some suggestions on how many fish I can really put in this 75?

You can put as many fish as you want in the tank but if you put too many large CA/SA cichlids then some will die either from fighting or nitrates that you won't be able to keep under control as the fish get bigger.

I'm definitely NOT going through all this hassle and expense if I can only put three fish in this tank

Then you're looking at the wrong kind of fish. CA/SA cichlids, especially the bigger ones, need their space and won't do well in crowded quarters especially as mature adults. Perhaps you should look at African Rift Lake cichlids or smaller CA cichlids like those from the Thorichthys genus. These fish can live in higher populations and may be more what you're looking for.

Jason

if you have a lot of hiding places for the fish you can have a lot more I have 18 in my 75 and have no trouble with mine I do a water change of 15-20 gallons every other week and that is it, clear water and no fish fights

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

Jason_R_S, so you recommend ONLY three fish alltogether? What's can anyone throw out some suggestions on how many fish I can really put in this 75? I'm definitely NOT going through all this hassle and expense if I can only put three fish in this tank

jimmy I don't know how fast the silver dollars grow where you are from but the time it takes for them to get to big for a 75 should not be a issue and where I am from it would not be hard to get rid of some large silver dollars and be able to put a few bucks in your pocket as well

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

You could get away with Acara's.They would get along with the Dempsey usually.Alot would depend on the attitude of the Dempsey though.
Some can be really wimpy and others are really mean mofo's.
I have a oscar, Acara, and convict in with my Jack.They get along fine for the most part, with the occasional territory disputes.
Good luck.
Eric

-Jack Dempseys
-Green Terrors
-Texas Cichlids
-Convicts (?)
-Severums
-blue acaras

for a 75 I'd go with a JD and either a texas or green terror and maybe a female convict. Personally, I wouldn't do blue acaras or severums with a JD in a 75 because the acara and severum are typically peaceful fish and the JD may bully them.

As for the silver dollars growing larger than dempseys, this depends on the species of silver dollar. I thought the common silver dollar maxed out at ~6" maybe slightly larger for specimens that are many years old. male dempseys can grow between 10 and 12".

Jason

try 5 or 6 silver dollars they are quick enouph to keep away and big enough that they wont get eaten

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

Before I went to the LFS the other day I was planning to set up a 75gallon community tank but on a recent trip to an LFS I saw a large Jack Dempsey.. WOW I was blown away at how beautiful this fish is. I've generally ignored large cichlids in favor of community fish but I'm totally rethinking what to do with this 75g now.

What I want to know is how many other fish can you put with Jack Dempseys? Or even, how many can go into a 75g? At a local Petsmart they have green terrors which I thought were also very interesting as well as severums. Bascially I'm looking for pretty colored cichlids, nothing like Oscars. I won't bother with this if I can only put a few fish in there since it's too much of a hassle for three or four fish.

EDIT: Oh and I love planted tanks but with large cichlids you can't have plants, right?

[span class="edited"][Edited by Rewd 2004-08-08 20:29][/span]

Jimmy22, thanks for the info. I have seen jewels now too and those are a def. possibility! however, I'm thinking of going back to my original plan of a large community because I just can't get the huge variety I want out of having only a few fish... even if they are very beautiful.

I have a 55 gallon cichlid tank with fish including firemouths and severums, and I have a common pleco and a bristlenose pleco. Both of them get along fine. The common pleco gets big, and is basically a swimming tank. The bristlenose does well in my tank because I have a lot of caves and he hides in those in the daytime and waits until night when the rest are sleeping to come out. Also they are both great algae eaters-I haven't got out my scrub brush since I got them.

About the cichlids... I have found that my severum isn't the most aggressive in my tank, but is definitely the biggest and smartest, so he does great. My firemouth is second biggest of the cichlids, but lacks the IQ of the severum, so he gets pushed around a bit. hth

no no no no black belts no texas and definantly no devils all these fish are a lot bigger and meaner than the JD Id say things like firemouths as mentioned convicts, salvivi, most geophagus are good, jewels, other archocentrus such as sarjica green terrors could work but there is the chance that you get the really mean one.

One cichlid I don't like is the red devil... how about blue acaras? too small? or convicts.. too aggressive?

Also, how about angels with JDs and these other semi-aggressive cichlids? Doubt it but I might as well throw 'em out there. I'd assume either too small or two timid. And last but not least.. firemouths. Don't know much about these but they look interesting.

So what I'm looking at now for this tank...

-Jack Dempseys
-Green Terrors
-Texas Cichlids
-Convicts (?)
-Severums
-blue acaras

If these are all compatible about how many would live comfortably in a 75g with a penguin 330 and a cascade 200 for filtration? Also, are there any other large non-cichlid fish that would live happily with these? Any large gouramis?

And finally, how about bottom feeders/algae eaters?

[span class="edited"][Edited by Rewd 2004-08-09 18:15][/span]

Maybe some of the black belt or Texas cichlids, or a red devil. They have similar temperaments to the jack demspey: ATTACK!

---

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

Cool, that's good to know. I'm not locked down on Severums and green terrors though... the only one i must have is a JD or two. What other cichlids besides the ones I mentioned would work with them?

I think you would do just fine with JDs, Severums, and Green Terrors. The severums wont be as aggressive though, so perhaps you could get smaller JDs and terrors, and a larger severum to equal things out a little. JDs and Green Terrors are pretty aggressive fish, severums not so much.


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Yes thats true most cichlids like to rip apart plants. And i wouldn't call the JD large its a more medium sized cichlid that is dawfed by some of its Nandopis cousins. I think you could have around 5-6 medium sized cichlids that are around the same temprement wise.