UPDATED stock list... is it good?

[7itanium]

So I have decided to go with a cichlid tank for my 55g for sure now.. I just need to narrow down the type..

here is a rough draft of what I would like... I have a feeling im a bit overstocked so please let me know what to add/remove...

THIS IS FOR MY 55G.. and there will be nothing in it as of tomorrow-- accept rock

5 aceis
5 Blueberry Zebras
3 Msobos
3 Demasoni
1 Chocolate Pleco

OTHER CICHLIDS I HAVE CONSIDERED/MAY GO WITH

Aurora
Chipokae
Cobalt Blue Zebra
Elongatus
Polit
Maingano
Marmalade Fuelliborni


PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR OPINIONS.. I WANNA DO THIS PROJECT RIGHT

IS THAT TOO MANY FISH?
IS THAT ENOUGH FISH?
IS THAT A GOOD VARIETY ETC ETC...

[7itanium]

Nobody wants to comment? :-(

[severum mama]

What are you going to do with your oscar when you set the 55 up for ARLCs? The chocolate pleco will also outgrow your tank.

IMO you don't really have enough space in your 55 to keep 4 different species of African cichlids. There just isn't enough room for these fish to claim territories as adults, and I think you're setting yourself up for major aggression issues once the fish hit sexual maturity. Also, stocking a cichlid tank heavily is not as simple as just keeping certain numbers of fish; it is largely dependent on keeping the correct M/F ratio.

[Kennedy327]

severum mama is correct. Cichlids are a challenge in the fact that there are so many situations that you have to plan for. Simple stocking rules dont always apply and worst off, it differs from fish to fish because they all have personality differences. Im learning this now just trying to keep something with my jack dempsey in a 55. Lfs knows my name by heart because im always in there trading something back in.

[blue2fyre]

I would not get the demasoni and just have the three other species. If you really want one then you are better off getting only 1 demasoni in that set up. 3 will quickly become 1 because of their aggression. I have a lone demasoni in my 55 gallon no problem. He chases a lot but that's it. I would bump up your msobo numbers with at least 1 male and 3 females.

As far as your back up cichlids I would not recommend Chipokae or Elongatus both came be very aggressive and in my opinion need a larger tank because of that.

[7itanium]

What are you going to do with your oscar when you set the 55 up for ARLCs? The chocolate pleco will also outgrow your tank.

IMO you don't really have enough space in your 55 to keep 4 different species of African cichlids. There just isn't enough room for these fish to claim territories as adults, and I think you're setting yourself up for major aggression issues once the fish hit sexual maturity. Also, stocking a cichlid tank heavily is not as simple as just keeping certain numbers of fish; it is largely dependent on keeping the correct M/F ratio.


The oscar is going back to the LFS in about an hour, because I came to the conclusion that i dont have room to set up my 75g at the moment.

I would also tend to disagree on the chocolate pleco outgrowing my 55g... they get only about the size of BNs IME.. and a bn does fine in a 55g

as far as the cichlids go.. I think your probably right-- too many species im gonna cut it down a little bit