Future tank :)

[forian123]

Hello everybody, a friend of mine whom used to own a petstore is getting out of the trade and getting rid of most of his tanks. ive been looking into getting large American cichlids for some time now. basically i want to know if these fish will be compatible together and what size tank they'll need.

what i'd like is:
2 tiger oscars
fire mouths (suggestion on numbers would be nice)
2 green terrors
tinfoil barbs (how many?)
pleco's
4-5 severums

Maybe:
jack dempsey ( heard they can be quite aggressive?)
convicts (aggression)

I want to grow these fish from small juveniles, will there be any problems growing up, as i know the oscars grow really fast is it possible that they might eat any fish that may still be small?

Is there any other larger , not too aggressive S.A. that i can put in the tank?
Any compatability issures with any of the fish?
what size tank will they need? i know that i can get a 180 gallon for sure, i dont know if there are any bigger ones that he has.

[Rbishop]

all the ones you mentioned/listed...? Something about 20 feet long so they can have their own area. And even then, there will be squabbles.

[krytan]

I'd get a 180g if you can.
I'd only put one oscar and one GT in, If you put a pair in and they breed you'll have BIG problems.
Leave the firemouths out.
Two or three tinfoil barbs should be ok.
I would leave the sev's out as well, it'll start getting to crowded with them.
If you want a JD or con only have one of each, they become more aggressive when there is more than one of them.
You could think about having a texas, i have one in my 180g and he is my favourite fish.

[forian123]

okay ignoring the jack and the conivct. how big would it have to be?

[Sploke]

haha yep basically what he said. In a 180 could probably do 2 oscars (maybe, would depend on individuals) and the severums, and maybe a few plecos and some silver dollars or something. I wouldn't try all those fish though.

[forian123]

i want to have the 2 oscars for sure
i like the firemouths but if they will be a problem thats okay.
i like the GTs as well but i'll pick the oscars over them so thats fine
i was thinking about 3 tin foils
would 2 sevs be okay?

how big/aggressive is the tex?

[krytan]

If you want a pair of O's then i wouln't put any other fish in there.
A texas will grow to 10 - 12" and are just as agggressive as a GT or JD.

[Marinemom]

Texas cichlids are beautiful. I had one for years(Miss Texas) until she got too big and I gave her away.I would only do one oscar in the 180 since they grow really fast and needs lots of room not to mention they are very messy fish and will need a lot of water changes as well. Green terrors are also very beautiful but again I would stick with just one. I would leave the sevs out but a Jack Dempsey with them would be nice with a couple of tinfoils.

Marinemom

[livebearerfreak]

instead of a 180 geet a 210 or 240 and get the 2 Os ( still with 180 2 Os is good enuf ) a trio of firemouths or get 4 if u want. 1 GT 1 texas 1 convict 1 jack ( love my jack ) so heres the stock:
2 oscars ( or 1 if u want more rooom )
3-4 firemouths
1 GT
1 texas
1 convict
1 jack D.
tank: 210 or 240.

[SchizotypalVamp]

Tinfoils are large fish, i would suggest leaving them out for simplicity.

[Digital]

I recommend a lot of water changes / gravel vacs, and high over filtration.

[nano cichlids]

instead of a 180 geet a 210 or 240 and get the 2 Os ( still with 180 2 Os is good enuf ) a trio of firemouths or get 4 if u want. 1 GT 1 texas 1 convict 1 jack ( love my jack ) so heres the stock:
2 oscars ( or 1 if u want more rooom )
3-4 firemouths
1 GT
1 texas
1 convict
1 jack D.
tank: 210 or 240.

i dont think he had a 200 gallon tank in mind.... and even with that large of a tank there will still be aggression.... i say just keep a pair of oscars and maybe a GT but i wouldn't count on it