Tankmates for a jag?

Lab_Rat

Lab_Rat

Merry Christmas!
Dec 3, 2009
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Deep South
I'm pretty sure my mystery cichlid is a jag, so I was wondering if there is any species that may be able to be housed with one. Right now he's growing out in a 20g until I move (4 months away), then I plan to buy him the tank he needs. Hopefully it will be a 125g or 180g. Are there any species that can handle being housed with a jag in tanks that size? I've not kept aggressive cichlids before, only the mellow ones, so this is new territory for me. I really like a lot of the Vieja species (esp synspilum) but idk if they could hold their own with a jag or not.
 
Honestly its a roll of the dice. Some Jags will be mellow others come out like my Jag was which could be best described as HYPER Aggressive. Your best bet is to do a pair of these. Also could try growing another cichlid with it with similiar general temperment like a Red Devil, Midas, Trimac... But even that is risky. Honestly aggressive fish tanks tend to become baron of life most of the time. Don't get me wrong I loved my Jag but not sure if Ide want another one unless I got a pair.
 
Ok, cool. It's fine if he gets to be the only fish in the tank too. Since the grow out tank for the next few months is small I don't want to risk putting another fish in. Thanks!
 
You could try silver dollars. They are big and fast enough to avoid a strike. When keeping fish with South American Cichlids it is best to put the species together as early as you can. How big is the jag right now?

If you could get your final tank sooner rather than later you could have the fish grow up together lessening the chance for agression.
 
Others that may be worth looking into include:
Giant Danios
Rosy Barbs
Large Plecos
Midas Cichlids
Red Devil Cichlids
Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Green Terror Cichlids

If all else fails, getting a few more jags could lead to a pair.
 
RazzleFish said:
You could try silver dollars. They are big and fast enough to avoid a strike. When keeping fish with South American Cichlids it is best to put the species together as early as you can. How big is the jag right now?

If you could get your final tank sooner rather than later you could have the fish grow up together lessening the chance for agression.
Click to expand...

I agree and disagree to your post Razzle. Silver Dollars do make good target and dither fish but are not fast enough to avoid strikes. I had some with my current loisellei pair the female ignored them the male use to hit them again and again and again without much trouble. My former Jag was faster and more powerful of a hitter then my current loisellei's.

On the flip side Silver Dollars if kept in large enough numbers of about 7 or more should be ok since they will all get targeted. Also Silver Dollars seem to be able to take some physical abuse better then other fish I've owned.

Also if the Jag's future home can be attained sooner then later then it's best to get it sooner while the Jag is still small (assuming its small) so it can be raised with something else. As cichlids mature they get set in there ways and will less likely then not reject a companion.

Also any pics??? LOL
 
RazzleFish said:
Others that may be worth looking into include:
Giant Danios
Rosy Barbs
Large Plecos
Midas Cichlids
Red Devil Cichlids
Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Green Terror Cichlids

If all else fails, getting a few more jags could lead to a pair.
Click to expand...

Giant Danios super fast and almost always are able to get away. Just make sure to replenish the school if any do get picked off. The smaller the school the easier they are to become a target.

Rosy barbs? Ide think they would eventually become a meal specially if the Jag turns out to be a male. Large pleco yes can work. Midas and Red Devil has been done before. JD's and GT's may work but if that Jag again is a male and get's a hair up its rear when its full grown neither the GT or JD would have the size or strength or speed to be a challenge in a fight or to get away.

Just my thoughts lol. But as I stated earlier it all depends on that individual cichlids temperment. I'm just going by there general temperment as a species not as an individual.
 
GEV83 said:
I agree and disagree to your post Razzle. Silver Dollars do make good target and dither fish but are not fast enough to avoid strikes. I had some with my current loisellei pair the female ignored them the male use to hit them again and again and again without much trouble. My former Jag was faster and more powerful of a hitter then my current loisellei's.

On the flip side Silver Dollars if kept in large enough numbers of about 7 or more should be ok since they will all get targeted. Also Silver Dollars seem to be able to take some physical abuse better then other fish I've owned.

Also if the Jag's future home can be attained sooner then later then it's best to get it sooner while the Jag is still small (assuming its small) so it can be raised with something else. As cichlids mature they get set in there ways and will less likely then not reject a companion.

Also any pics??? LOL
Click to expand...

Very true. In addition, more fish= more eyes to watch out for danger (jag) so they have a more advanced warning.

GEV83 said:
Giant Danios super fast and almost always are able to get away. Just make sure to replenish the school if any do get picked off. The smaller the school the easier they are to become a target.

Rosy barbs? Ide think they would eventually become a meal specially if the Jag turns out to be a male. Large pleco yes can work. Midas and Red Devil has been done before. JD's and GT's may work but if that Jag again is a male and get's a hair up its rear when its full grown neither the GT or JD would have the size or strength or speed to be a challenge in a fight or to get away.

Just my thoughts lol. But as I stated earlier it all depends on that individual cichlids temperment. I'm just going by there general temperment as a species not as an individual.
Click to expand...

One person I knew kept a very large school (30+) in a 210 gallon with a very mean oscar and a few other cichlids. It was very cool to see the huge school scatter from the oscar and the oscar get mad when he couldn't catch anything. :rofl:

I've never actually kept rosy barbs with cichlids but I've seen them used as dithers for breeding cichlids quite often. One thing to note is that long-fins tend to be eaten faster than the standards. They may or may not work with jags but they may be worth considering.

I think the most important thing to do when trying to keep anything with any large cichlid is to let the cichlid grow with the other fish.
 
I would think that giant danios would be your best bet for a 120, but silver dollars would be perfect for a 180.
 
You could try some of the dithers listed above, or if you have a back up tank or plan try the V. synspilum I'm not to sure but if your jag isn't overly aggressive it should work out, I'd still add dithers such as a school of silver dollar. But honestly best bet would be to try a pair.
 
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