Cichlids?

[beautifulfish]

Why can't you have chichlids in tanks with other kinds of fish?

[PumaWard]

You can depending on the species and whether the other fish are compatible. IME, when people refer to "cichlids" they are usually thinking of malawis or larger/agressive central and south americans. There are plenty of dwarf cichlid species that go well in community tanks..... there are also cichlids like angelfish and discus, but I don't think that most LFS employees or others who say "you can't keep a cichlid with other fish" know that they are indeed cichids.

Do you have a species or more in mind?

[thesydmonster]

I was told that kribs and many types of apistogrammas would be okay community fish and good cichlids to start with if you have never had any. I am not familiar with these fish, just passing on what I am learning (I am planning a community tank and would like to have a cichlids in there with my loaches, cory cats and rasboras).

[dave76]

You can keep fish with cichlids. Even some of the big ones, they just have to be tough enough to survive. Synodontus catfish are a good choice. I have a school of giant danios with my GT JD and Oscar. Now some like jags or RD will kill anything they are not paired with when they get larger but these fish are piscivores and are fish predators by trade. I have a small dwarf cichlid colony and I have neons and glowlights, corydoras cats, otos, snails and even shrimp in with them. Its my favorite tank. They cichlids all squabble but they leave the other fish alone. But there are always exceptions. One of my rams has to live in his own 10 gallon. He just will not tolerate any other fish that resembles a cichlid.. Right now he is in my snail breeding tank and doesnt seem to eat the babies. They are very individualistic, tempermental, and personable. They maybe thats why? Some you can some you cant.

[YoFishboy]

4 or 5 Silver dollars with Oscars, Severums, Jack Dempseys, etc. in a very large tank make an impressive site - the cichlids generally ignore them (the silver dollars are too fast any way) and the silver dollars swim and play and make quick work of the excess food that comes out of the cichlids gills (messy eaters!).