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  • new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

    i am setting up a 55 gallon regular (47*12*20)

    its not going to be a planted tank, its already cycled

    currently i have 2 juvy pink convicts, i am attached to them and so i have to build the tank around them!

    i will have plenty of hiding places (rock, hollow tree trunk decorations, fake plants, etc.) and have neutral small gravel

    here is my starting fish thoughts:

    2 pink convicts (maybe one more if both turn out to be the same sex)
    3 or so fire mouth juvy cichlids (so i can get a pair)
    10 giant danios
    8 tiger barbs
    1 bn pleco

    here is my question:
    i wanted to make a cichlid tank, which other cichlids will go with the convicts/firemouths?
    does the above seem compatable (if there are no other cichlids i can have with convict/firemouth)?
    65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
    55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
    30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

    live and let live

  • #2
    Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

    In my experience, alot depends upon your convicts. Males tend to be more aggressive than females. I would put males in with larger SA cichlids such as Oscars, JDs, or Green Terrors. Those would get too big for a 55 though. Females would work well with the smaller SA cichlids - Firemouths would be great. If it turns out that you have a pair of convicts though, all bets are off in a 55. They will force all other fish to live in the far corner of the tank. Adding the fish that you have listed as juvies would more likely be successful than if they were added as adults. ....Severums would work too...

    I'm not sure that having two different pairs of SA cichlids in a standard 55 would be a very good idea. I think you need another tank! :wink:
    Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
    Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
    Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
    Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

      I am going to agree with Arm here..  Firemouths and Pink convicts work well together, but your 55g might end up a warzone if you end up having more than two pairs of adults cichlids in the tank.  Those who could handle it would be another pair of JD's or Green Terror's.  The Pink Convicts and Firemouths will end up around 6in max, where the Green Terror and JD's could become 8-10" fish which at that point the smaller cichlids might have a fight on their hands.  If this happens.. go Arm's way.. get second bigger tank  :) :) :) :) :)

      What fish do Jesper have
      180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
      110
      Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
      58 S. Decorus

      "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

        If you end up with a pair of convicts, you will have lots of convicts and the reason is, the daddy will protect them aggressively...he will take on a fish 10 times his size and would probably win.  

        As the convicts mature, the females will have red markings on the sides of their body.  The male does not get this coloration.  Its the same for Pink and Black convicts.

        Keeping that in mind, your list should be ok.  I'm not 100% on the giant danios.  

        two same sex convicts
        three fire mouths
        two severum
        10 tiger barbs
        10 ruby red barbs
        2 bn

        This would be something I would do if I chose to.  You could replace your barbs with Roseline sharks, or Rainbows.
        Raul
        PokerFace

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

          thanks for the advice, at fishgallery they have a display tank (probably 100 or 150 gallons), they have a pair of pink convicts that are having babies regularly, and then they have tons of mix africans, i sat there and observed, the convicts fend off a small territory maybe 10 square inch or so, but that is about it, they don't venture out to the rest of the tank and all other fish (not much bigger than the convicts) are doing fine (including another male convict), i have seen at least three spawns in there and they have all worked out, how do you think that works?  is it better to get a mix of africans instead of my current plan?
          65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
          55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
          30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

          live and let live

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

            Good Luck with your mix, it could work out nicely...

            CF
            Truth is the cement that holds the bricks and stones of a sane and civilized society together. Remove the former and the latter will crumble.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

              Originally posted by finfan";p="
              thanks for the advice, at fishgallery they have a display tank (probably 100 or 150 gallons), they have a pair of pink convicts that are having babies regularly, and then they have tons of mix africans, i sat there and observed, the convicts fend off a small territory maybe 10 square inch or so, but that is about it, they don't venture out to the rest of the tank and all other fish (not much bigger than the convicts) are doing fine (including another male convict), i have seen at least three spawns in there and they have all worked out, how do you think that works?  is it better to get a mix of africans instead of my current plan?
              I think it works because its a larger tank.  What you should put in your 55g should be fish you like and want.  Write that list down and then go with what works.  I use to be big into SA but changed over to africans because the just don't get as big and there are some with really nice color.
              Raul
              PokerFace

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                ok i did what i probably should not have done, keeping my fingers crossed, we will see what happens:

                i got the following fish for my 55 gallon:

                3 yellow lab juvies
                3 red zebra juvies
                2 firemouth juvies
                2 firemouth semi-adults

                i already had 2 pink convict juvies that i raised from couple of days old (got off a tank at a petco in november)

                i have good hiding places, but i will get more, so everyone can hide from each other!
                65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                live and let live

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                  Keep us updated!
                  Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
                  Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
                  Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
                  Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                    do you guys think i would be better off returning the 4 firemouths and getting 4 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos instead?
                    65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                    55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                    30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                    live and let live

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                      Personally I dont like to mix SA and Rifts...  there usually is just to much conflict with water and other issues.

                      What fish do Jesper have
                      180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                      110
                      Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                      58 S. Decorus

                      "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                        just an update, i still have all the fish together, they don't seem to squabble too much, just your regular quick/short chases, the only exception is that the large firemouth (almost adult) keeps the other 3 firemouths in one corner, s/he does not seem to affect anyone else, although the other fish are much smaller than him/her, maybe i will take the other 3 firemouths back, the large one is very nice, and his colors have gotten vividly nice

                        the yellow labs are playful

                        the red zebras are relatively more aggressive but nothing too much

                        the two convicts seem to be very tame, they mind their business mostly, it seems like the larger of the two is a female (started showing red/pink in the belly), the smaller one does not have any color in the belly, but maybe it is too small, i guess if this one does not get any red in the belly in the next month or two it will be a male and then i can have a pink pair!
                        65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                        55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                        30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                        live and let live

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                          sounds great!
                          Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
                          Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
                          Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
                          Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                            The Female firemouth will not look nearly as nice as the male, and her fins will not really extend from the body.  If you keep the three others for a while longer you should hopefully have a female out of one of them.  He will most likely pair up with her and once you have figured that out I would sell the two remaining firemouths off.  Firemouths for me are some of the more fun SA cichlids to watch when they get territorial as his colors really start to show and the fire in his grill while flaring will really be impressive.  I dont feel they show well until they are paired up :)

                            my 2c worth :)

                            What fish do Jesper have
                            180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                            110
                            Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                            58 S. Decorus

                            "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: new 55 gallon cichlid tank? - need advice

                              lets hope there is a female in the other three, the largest firemouth does show very nice green/blue irridecent and some red, but only when he is trying to show off to someone, but i am sure it would more intense and continuous, it will be interesting if the smaller pink convict ends up being a male and pairs up with the female, it will be a battle zone, hopefully 55 gallon is enough if that happens!
                              65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                              55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                              30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                              live and let live

                              Comment

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