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Does anyone know if compressicep cichlids (8 juveniles) can peaceably share a 70gal tank w/2 venezuelan rams, 3 zebra plecs, 3 emerald cories and 3 botia loaches? At least until I can set up another tank for them?


[span class="edited"][Edited by June 2004-09-01 15:00][/span]

The pH is probably going to be the main problem. Loaches,rams and cories perfer low pH, compressiceps like the high 7's and low 8's. Also cories perfer to be in a school.

A 70 gallon can house the compressiceps though.

compressiceps are also VERY agressive!!! Even if you could get the water parameters to work out for all the fish you have, the compressiceps would kill all of your fish, in no time fast.

They are quite interesting fish, but they get too big and too agressive for the current tank you have.

Altolamprologus Compressiceps are very peaceful. Being a predatory fish though, they will eat most things they can fit in their mouths, this doesn't count as aggression.

I still wouldn't put them in your tank though, even if it is not permanent. The water parameters would be the major concern, but the way the tank would be decorated would have a lot to do with it too. Compressiceps lovelots of rocks.
Also, being from a whole other continent, the compressiceps wouldn't really know how to behave around your other fish, paticularly the bolivian rams.

They only get to around 6"(7" if you're lucky) so you could keep a few in a 70g 'til they start to pair off.

Was only hoping to house them there 'til their tank is ready and they are only an inch long (no one in the tank could fit in their mouth yet). But I haven't bought them yet and won't. You guys are right, water differences are most major importance, ph etc. And yes Dave, most of the population is South American (except for the loaches) and if I'm going to keep it real I should at least stick to the same continent ~ especially for a truly healthy and symbiotic environment. Only had my two tanks for 2 months and still have a lot to learn, but I'm hooked bad. Off to find yet another tank and "think African." Keep seeing the comps faces in the back of my mind, I love their look.

Oh yes, and InkoDinkoMalinko, the 3 cories are ENORMOUS emeralds, bigger than anyone in the tank, well over 3 1/2" and round like blimps. They're happy as a threesome, thank goodness!

[span class="edited"][Edited by June 2004-09-01 14:59][/span]