Couple of questions. New to cichlids

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bigmixx

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Mar 25, 2005
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Hope someone can help me out. I'm nearing the purchase of a 75 gallon and I want to keep a couple of cichlids. I'd like to go bigger but the 75 is stretching my budget as is. I've had small tanks before with tetras, barbs, etc. but this will be my first time with cichlids. The fish I'm interested in are in order: Convicts, Oscars, Midas, Green Terror, Texas, & Jack Dempsey.

1. Can you have 2 male convicts together or will they constantly fight? I don't want a male/female combo because I've read that when they're breeding they can be a nightmare on tankmates, not to mention the fry all over the place.

2. Do Oscars do well by themselves or will a pair be better? Meaning will one solo Oscar be lonely.

3. I know Oscars need a lot of space but I want to keep more than 1 fish. Therefore, if I pass on the Oscar, what other CA cichlids will work with Convicts? I love the Convicts by the way.
 
1. Can you have 2 male convicts together or will they constantly fight? I don't want a male/female combo because I've read that when they're breeding they can be a nightmare on tankmates, not to mention the fry all over the place.

- Convicts are some of the meanest fish I've run across. I think you'd be ok keeping only 2 of them in a tank that big as long as they have lots and lots of hiding places. I would think they'd have enough room to stake out territories

2. Do Oscars do well by themselves or will a pair be better? Meaning will one solo Oscar be lonely.

- I've seen lots of people keep oscars by themselves. I would think one would be fine for a 75 gallon, but no more than that. Some people on here will disagree with me and say that's pushing it.

3. I know Oscars need a lot of space but I want to keep more than 1 fish. Therefore, if I pass on the Oscar, what other CA cichlids will work with Convicts? I love the Convicts by the way.

- Because of their aggression, I don't know if you'd want to keep any other fish with the convicts. I haven't heard of anyone doing it with any success other than with plecos.

Have you considered angelfish, kribs, rams or apistos. They're smaller cichlids, but they are generally peaceful and you could stock a tank this size with lots of them.
 
chinnp said:
1. Can you have 2 male convicts together or will they constantly fight? I don't want a male/female combo because I've read that when they're breeding they can be a nightmare on tankmates, not to mention the fry all over the place.

- Convicts are some of the meanest fish I've run across. I think you'd be ok keeping only 2 of them in a tank that big as long as they have lots and lots of hiding places. I would think they'd have enough room to stake out territories

2. Do Oscars do well by themselves or will a pair be better? Meaning will one solo Oscar be lonely.

- I've seen lots of people keep oscars by themselves. I would think one would be fine for a 75 gallon, but no more than that. Some people on here will disagree with me and say that's pushing it.

3. I know Oscars need a lot of space but I want to keep more than 1 fish. Therefore, if I pass on the Oscar, what other CA cichlids will work with Convicts? I love the Convicts by the way.

- Because of their aggression, I don't know if you'd want to keep any other fish with the convicts. I haven't heard of anyone doing it with any success other than with plecos.

Have you considered angelfish, kribs, rams or apistos. They're smaller cichlids, but they are generally peaceful and you could stock a tank this size with lots of them.
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Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Preciate it. Yes I have heard of those fish but I would like to have bigger fish. I was hoping that Cons wouldn't be as tough without a female to pair up with. I know I don't have many options with a 75 gal and I want to do it right.
 
From what a know a green severum can fit in a 75. BUT- with an oscar the tank would be crowded.
 
As mean as people say convicts are, can't something like say.... a texas or a midas or a dempsey or green terror or even an oscar not be able to hold it's against a couple of convicts? ;)

I mean, a Midas may be pushing it in a 75 gallon though.

Not sure if a Texas cichlid would do ok....

But maybe a Green Terror and/or Jack Dempsey should do fine no?
 
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