55gal

[1 fish 2 fish]

Looking for some SA/CA occupants for my 55 gallon. I'd like something that is terretorial, but won't kill anything you put in with it.
I was thinking somethimg from the Geo family, blue acaras, severums maybe firemouths. Something I could keep in a pair and still not max out the tank when full grown
If i'm being too picky let me know thx.

[Co/\/vict]

My 2 cents.... Firemouths suck. You're lucky to get one with good color, and in 4 months mine grew maybe half an inch! And it isn't food or water quality.

Geo Family.... never owned them but have heard many good things about them.

Severums.... Excellent choice, I am fixing to get rid of a few convicts to empty a 55 of mine in exchange for a few severums. Great coloration.......

My personal opinions......(but you won't be able to put any other fish in it)

Jaguar
Midas
Oscar
Texas

You got a lot of options with a 55 gallon:)

[perrito_blanco]

Chocolate Cichlid
Keyhole Cichlid
Salvani Cichlids (great colors!)
Convicts

I wouldn't put more than 6 sub-adults in a 55. Whatever you choose, consider their adult size.

Have you considered dwarf cichlids?

[blee358]

I think firemouths, severum, chocolate cichlids, salvinis, or convicts would be ok. Although they're aggresive, they won't overcome anything in the tank. Nearly every single species of the Geo family can be housed in a 55 gallon tank so I woud go with any of those. I was going to say green terrors and jack dempseys, but they are way too aggresive. I think a blue acara will seem like a good replacement for them.

[bobbdd]

Geophagus are my favorite, but the shouldn't be housed with any of the more aggressive SA/CA fish. Also, depending on the variety, the can grow 8-12 inches. Ask questions and I'll let you know what I know....good luck!

Oh, as another option, I heard that the Rainbow Cichlids are good. I've seen some pics of these and they look good.

[1 fish 2 fish]

could a pair of juripares, or most other geos, get along with a pair of blue acaras?
or would that be too crowded?

and if I went with severums how many could I keep fully grown in a 55?

k, I looked through my book and here are the geos i'm interested in, brasiliensis, jurupari, steindachneri, and one that wasn't in teh book, but i'v seen and liked, pellegrini.

[1 fish 2 fish]

Hoiw about carpintes, does any one have pics, I can't find any besides the one ate aquaria central

[bobbdd]

Here is a pic that I have....I have a pair, but the GEOS have it hands down!

[Dobermann]

Firemouths rule!!!!

http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=Herotilapia&album_id=105324&image_id=6&courtesy=1



But Acaras rock too!!!

http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=Herotilapia&album_id=113043&image_id=4&courtesy=1

[Sum-X]

I am a fan of Firemouths and Geophagus personnaly... Dont have a big enough tank for geo though... :(

[Lynsey]

How about a few Nicaragua cichlids. They have excellent colors and are not extremely aggressive. Could keep with severums, firemouths, acaras, etc...

[1 fish 2 fish]

carpintes are the same as Texas chiclids? I thought Texas were 15 inchers.

K here goes, A severum, 2 geos and 2 blue acaras I'm thinking thats a little too overcrowded, but will it work?

Also I'v heard geos need sand, will they be stressed without it?

[Anton Wernher]

Young smaller fish of the geo. species should be housed with sand. As they grow larger fine gravel can be used. The fish can live without this however as you mentioned they will most likely become stressed and annoyed. These species have a very interesting way of feeding .. a behavior that keeps them active all the time. They way they are able to filter still amazes me for some reason.

[Tightdog1]

stick with what u got b.acaras are very nice fish that a lot of people are getting now a days. i got a breeding pair in my over crowded 55g.

[1 fish 2 fish]

tightdog: what do you mean by stick with what I have?

does anyone have pictures of ports or rainbows?

[Baraka]

I'd Love a pair of Cons in a 55---
you just have to have an outlet for the fry
but thats enough room for them to stretch ther fins and act crazy

[O-man21]

I'd say you should get an oscar. But only one. He will grow on you( both literally and as a figure of speech) htey make great pets, when they trust you you can even pet them

[Slappy*McFish]

I'm a big fan of Salvinis, but I think a group of Jewel cichlids would be great for your tank.

[O-man21]

jewels would make a good fish in that tank.

[ScottoMacD]

Originally posted by 1 fish 2 fish
carpintes are the same as Texas chiclids? I thought Texas were 15 inchers.


Who told you that?

They are two completely different fish that look alike and may be differnt morphs of the same fish that were related somewhere down the line.

A Texas cichlid is a Herichthys cyanoguttatus. It reaches up to 7 inches in length.

A carpinte is a Herichthys Carpinte. They will and have however cross breed with a texas.

Anyway my 55 has my Male JD in it with my large female symspilum, and 6 arulius barbs as targets.

The synspilum is being moved this weekend to one of my other tanks and is being replaced by either a red terror or a texas.

I'm leaning more towards the texas.

[O-man21]

Yea I agree ScottoMacD

[1 fish 2 fish]

Bob's pic was called texas

[Baraka]

Texas and Carpinte both get bigger then 7"


Texas are known to reach a foot
amd I have read on this board about 8-9" Carpintes

[ScottoMacD]

Originally posted by Baraka
Texas and Carpinte both get bigger then 7"


Texas are known to reach a foot
amd I have read on this board about 8-9" Carpintes

The average store bought Texas will not usually grow more than 7 to 9 inches max. With 9" being really big.

It's rare to get a big 12" texas, or to get one to grow that big.

It's even more rare for a Carpinte to grow those sizes.

I am however not debateing that it can happen.

I'm basing my info on what I researched from Axelrod. While deciding last week whether to go with the texas or the red terror as my new tankmate for my big male JD.

[Tightdog1]

A lone Jaguar (very aggressive tho),
Blue Acaras are excellent as doberman suggests.