Large Cichlid for a 60 gallon

[KarlskidMarx]

I love my community tanks with my angels and festivums, but now I am thinking that I'd like to try something new. I was wondering what would be a Large and interesting cichlid that would be comfortable and happy in a 50 - 60 gallon tank. I am thinking of Just one large cichlid with a bristle nose plec for cleanup and a few dither fish (if need be).

Nothing has been bought, sp all suggestions are welcome. Suggestions are welcome, and experience is appreciated. I would like to have an impressive fish with character.

[PumaWard]

You could probably have a dempsey, green terror, blue acara, convict, or severum.

There's probably more too.

[DarthV]

What are the dimensions of the tank? I wouldn't put anything larger than 10" into a 12" wide tank...

[KarlskidMarx]

I haven't bought the tank yet, I'll probably by a 50 or 60 gallon tank to suit whichever fish I choose to keep

[bayoupr]

Try a pair of Copora N. Not much to look at when their small, but they turn out to be a very beautiful fish. I have attached a picture of my female.

[KarlskidMarx]

Pretty fish bayou. How big do they get and what's their personality like?

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by KarlskidMarx
Pretty fish bayou. How big do they get and what's their personality like? It's Coropa Nicaraguense. They are said to get as big as 10" but I have not seen any that large.

Here's the Aquaria Central Bio (http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0266&view_records=1)

Here is a picture of the two females in my 180:

http://www.sayersweb.com/aquariums/images/2003-12-14_180-02.jpg

[bayoupr]

Their attitude is good. Not very agressive. I have 6 small Festaes in with them which I'm going to try and get a pair out of them. My Coporas don't mess with them at all and my Coporas spawn regularly. My male Copora is 6" and the female around 5". My Festaes are all about 2" at present. Gives you an idea of their behavior. Here's a picture of my male.

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by DarthV
What are the dimensions of the tank? I wouldn't put anything larger than 10" into a 12" wide tank... I agree. Even 10" is big for a 12" wide tank. I try to have the tank width double the length of the largest fish, or as close to that as possible.

The 75 gallon (48"x18"x20") is a real beauty of a tank and offers a lot of flexibility. It will allow you to keep larger fish than a standard 55 gallon (48"x12.5"x20") and doesn't take up that much more space.

[rich]

theres some pretty geo fish that get 9-10". mabye a pair of firemouths would look nice. not to huge. nice colors and lots of attitude.

[ryan]

That size tank is right about the minimum for Oscars. They're aggressive enough (will still chomp on feeders) and have tons of personality (no hiding in the corner all day). The perfect "starter" big fish.

ryan

[KarlskidMarx]

I like the looks of the Coropa Nicaraguense, but oscars do have a great personality. What about a texas? What a hard choice. So many cichlids, not near enough money to keep them.

[Gulp]

Originally posted by ryan
That size tank is right about the minimum for Oscars. They're aggressive enough (will still chomp on feeders) and have tons of personality (no hiding in the corner all day). The perfect "starter" big fish.

ryan \


The only problem with getting an oscar as a "starter fish" is the fact that they can live over 10 years. :eek: Once you have an oscar in the family.....you are pretty much stuck with them for quite a while. :D They are fun to have around though.

[demon_surfer]

if you want something a bit more unique then check out the picture gallery at

www.tangledupincichlids.com that is THE place to get large rare cichlids.

if you want something a little easier to get then, green terror, jack dempsey, texas, a couple of convicts, an oscar or a red devil are all quite easy to get and are really intresting fish.

[KarlskidMarx]

So I guess the three frontrunners are now Coropa Nicaraguense(pair)or a single green terror. The other fish that I have discovered and love the look of is Amphilophus trimaculatus, but I don't have much information on that one.

[demon_surfer]

the trimacs are on the smaller size for Neotropical cichlids, they get to be about 8-10 inches tops (may be a little off there though)

they have a really nice coloring as you have noticed and are very active and personable just like nearly ever other Neo you can mention.

They are pretty aggressive and you may have a little trouble making a breeding pair stay a breeding pair. They are great fish and not to difficult to keep.