View Full Version : want your opinions
demon_surfer
10-20-2003, 3:14 PM
Ive been trying to come up with ideas for the 55 im about to get second hand and would like your opinion on them.
I was thinking
A Firemouth
A severum
one of my two Jewels (possibly both? I dont really want them to keep breeding though)
and a Convict.
Accompanied by a shoal of 5 clown loaches.
what do you guys think?
Overstock...clown loaches get big
demon_surfer
10-20-2003, 3:38 PM
yeah but very very slowly.
could you suggest any alternatives?
Do you have plan to upgrade the tank any time soon? Lets say...within a year?
If not...I will not put 5 clown loach in.
Severum also can get as big as 8" if taken care of properly. And this cichlid isn't aggressive. Very likely severum and firemouth will get bullied.
Also, Jewel cichlid is somewhat aggressive. You might really wanna rethink what fish you want in that tank.
dave76
10-20-2003, 4:03 PM
On the contrary depending on size my FM used to bully around my JD before I moved him.
I would go with one cichlid.
id say:
greenterror
jack or 2
an oscar
tex
when you have one fish you dont need to wory about torn fins ich or fungases, + they show more personality imo;)
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 7:19 AM
I want to but my GF wants a community. so this is our compromize I get big cichlids, but not the huge ones that need the whole tank to themselves.
Firemouth and Severum can live together.
Or you can try your hands on Geophagus or Gymnogeophagus. They are very entertaining and beautiful. Or you can try Dwarf Cichlids. Some Archocentrus are small and not as aggressive as Convict. There are many beautiful Thorichthys.
It depends on what temperament cichlids are you looking for.
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 12:28 PM
I dont mind there being a little bit of tension in the tank as long as everyone is happy and health. I mean they are cichlids youve got to expect some I just dont want to put something in there that is going to kill everything else.
which is why no salvini! :)
peifc
10-21-2003, 12:50 PM
My L. Dorsigerus and L. Curvicep are pretty entertaining. They are wild caught. I got them from Jeff. Heck! My Dorsigerus and Santarem have chased off my juvi 1.5" Carpinte from the feeding site (who was in that tank to grow out before joining others). They have been nipping and chasing my carpintes' tails for a while. No harm done :D
Have you thought of Hypsophrys nicaraguensis aka copora nicaraguensis? They got teeth and don't get over 7"...average size.
Or you can try your hands on Sajica, centrarchus, spinosissimus, or myrnae. They are fairly small and beautiful. Not as aggressive as their cousin, convict, IMO.
Or you can try Neetroplus. They are beautiful cichlid as well.
I personally like Thorichthys, Archocentrus, Geophagus, Gymnogeophagus, or certain dwarf cichlids if keeping community tank.
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 1:32 PM
Im really just browsing at the moment.
It can be a real pain in the *** getting pictures of these cichlids though.
I really dont want to order blind if you know what I mean, and I will have to order them because the fish stores in my area are pretty pathetic.
the dorsigeus and curvicep you talked about, are you sure that is the correct name for them? I cant find them in fishbase.org
Laetacara Curviceps (some spell with s. Some without s).
http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0303&view_records=1
http://homepages.tesco.net/~davyreynolds/fishindex/fish/L/laetacara_curviceps.htm
This is a picture of my regular Curviceps. Still young and tank raised.
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Flag_Cichlid/Curvicep/114-1429_IMG.JPG
And this is my juvi L. Curviceps 'Santarem'. Same specie but from different location. And this is wild caught.
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Flag_Cichlid/Santarem/120-2047_IMG.JPG
Basic info on Dorsigerus.
http://www.cichlidae.com/tanks/t006.html
And my juvi looks like this.
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Flag_Cichlid/Dorsigerus/122-2279_IMG.JPG
http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/Flag_Cichlid/Dorsigerus/122-2275_IMG.JPG
More pictures of Laetacara sp.
http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/Laetacara/default.html
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 2:36 PM
ahh nice, a little bit smaller than what I was looking for but the other suggestions are looking good.
giving me lots of ideas.
particularly the thorichthys aureus that is a gorgeous fish!
also the archocentrus Sajica, I was researching these fellas a while back but was having trouble finding pics that I thought looked good. The only ones I found were Jeffs amazing breeding pair. But I found a whole bunch of really good ones so im reconsidering them.
the gymnogeophagus balzanii is really neat too.
hehe so many ideas so few tanks! :rolleyes:
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 3:00 PM
Im also trying to work out some companions for the cichlids.
probably some cats. I would really like to get some clown loaches but I cant guarantee I will be able to give them the tank they need when they get bigger.
does anyone have any info on keeping
Synodontis nigriventris (upside down catfish)
or
the pimelodus pictus
with cichlids?
I have a pair of juvi Balzanii from Jeff as well. They are lively and beautiful.
You can also try for some plecos.
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 3:31 PM
I dont know, most of the nice looking ones get way to big for a 55 galloner.
did you check out www.planetcatfish.com ? Maybe that will help what bottom dwellers you want.
There are some loaches that don't get over 7".
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 3:39 PM
yeah its kinda hard to find a place to start in their great long list though.
I dont really just wanna start at the top yah know, take me years to get though it!
:)
What do you want the bottom dweller to do? Algae eater or just cleaning up the food debris?
L28, L46, L66, L73, L98, and a few others are small. However, not all of them are algae eaters. Check anything under L... look for size then your preference. That's how I found my favorite plecos.
demon_surfer
10-21-2003, 3:52 PM
Food debris more than algae, ive never really had a problem with that.
The corydoras axelrodi caught my eye, they get to be about 2.5inches. anyone know if they would hold up with larger cichlids?
thekrib
10-21-2003, 6:19 PM
a Tiger Botia or 2 would definitely be the best, they are absolutely beautiful, and will easily hold their own against the cichlids.
have you thought about africans, sounds like they might be more fitting for the kind of tank you seem to want.
demon_surfer
10-22-2003, 7:31 AM
I already have a Lake Malawi setup.
I really want Neo-Tropicals. I have found lots of potential fish.
My Girlfriend found some pictures of apistogramma though and ....well I think im going to end up getting them :D