Suggestion for a 55g Cichlid Tank

[MySpace Mike]

So I'm picking up my new 55g setup on monday, ill be cleaning it and setting it up monday night, and then stocking it starting wednesday. I am for sure putting my 6" Green Terror Female in it, but I was thinking of maybe a pair of Jack Dempseys. i really love the Electric Blue Dempseys, but whoa the price is up there $65. But I was thinking either a pair of Jacks, or getting a Male Green Terror for her. This will allow my Female FireMouth to choose a male, then ill put the other male into the 55g.

But I was wondering some suggestions of what to keep in the 55g with my Female Green Terror.

 

[Nolapete]

The main issue I see happening is when one of the types of cichlids starts pairing off and breeding. Whichever pair does is going to take over at least half of the tank. I wouldn't go with more than two types of cichlids.

I'd go with getting a male for your GT then adding a group of giant danios, black ruby barbs, or congo tetras to fill out the mid-upper level. Three blue botias (modesta) would work as well.

 

[MySpace Mike]

Well the thing with my female GT, is that she eats anything thats small enough to fit in her mouth. Shes only been kept with roughly same size fish her whole life. She hasnt been around dithers before, so im sure she will try to eat them.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I wouldnt do a pair of anything with the green terror in a 55 gallon. I also wouldnt do a male green terror. The male will get too big and be cramped likely and may fight with the female. Just because you get a male for the female dont mean they will pair up especially in a 55g its doutfull. I would get a Convict or a Firemouth or a smaller cichlid that only gets 4-6 inches max. Maybe a couple Bristle Nose Plecos. Botias Modestas get way too big for a 55g and should be kept in groups of five or more. The male firemouth you plan to put in there with the GT will work and I would call it fully stocked.

 

[Ruben Tolon]

There's a lot of good choices for smaller fish, like Honduran Red Points, which are very attractive. Look into the numerous Thorichthys as well.

 

[MySpace Mike]

Im thinking of getting rid of the spare male firemouth, and putting my pair in the 55g with my GT and pleco. Then I will get 4-5 new baby firemouths, get a pair out of them, and house the new pair in the 40g with some small dithers like a small group of neon tetras, or cherry barbs or something small to that effect ya know.

 

[mostlycichlids]

That might work But beware that a pair of anything may harass the green terror at spawning time. I would get a divider for them just in case and use it as needed.

 

[MySpace Mike]

hahaha yeah, right now the pair of firemouths is doing the whole spawning dance of circling eachother flailing their gills, and attacking the rocks and cleaning them, but every time they start up doing that the female GT swims thru them to break it up. its harassing i tell ya, but funny to watch.

 

[jm1212]

you may want to move the firemouths to the 55 gallon tank and then get another female for the "spare" male.