What fish should I get

[only6foot6]

I have had tropical fish for over 15 years now. For most of the adventure I have had various different types of tetras.

I hate saying this but I have become board with them. I want to turn my 40 gallon tank into a Cichlid tank. What fish do people recommend getting?

I do still have some misc tetras in my tank right now. Is there any Cichlids & tetras that will get along? I have read & heard that dwarf cichlids are a bit calmer.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

 

[Analog Saint]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46401

I'd also reccomend a Green Severum- they're not particularly aggressive, you could put them with larger tetras, and they've got great personality.

I've also heard firemouths can work in a semi-aggressive community. No personal experience with this, but maybe somebody else can either confirm or deny this out of experience.

 

[Maj0rFiSh]

Keyhole cichlids

PS im 6ft 3, not quite your height but remember "its cool, to be tall" :dance

 

[only6foot6]

Thanks for the help. I am going to be going to the LFS later today to see what they have.

MajOrFiSh - It is cool to be tall - 6' 6" :dance

Does anybody else have any experience with mixing tetras & cichlids?

 

[Amazontankz]

Sure, I've mixed tetras and cichlids in almost every one of my tanks. Of course most the the cichlids were angelfish which IMO naturally go well with tetras. Most of the time its just about common since, most cichlids will eat fish that are small enough to fit in their mouths, so just get the appropriote(sp?) size tetra for your tank. However I must add, I keep a 9" gold severum in a tank with gold tetras,rasboras,and smaller black skirts and she has never tried to eat any of these small tetras....I think she's just special.

I agree that a Severum would be an excellent first cichlid as well as a great interactive "wetpet" for you. I promote them whenever I can (in good situations), I just fell in love with the personality of them. If you decide to go with a severum I must add that a 40g tank will not hold it forever. I think a 75g is the smallest size you could go for a full grown adult, but the 40g would be okay for probably 8-9mo or so. <-- thats just my estimate by how fast mine grew though.

Here is a pic of my severum, this pic was taken a year ago, she has grown more since then.

 

[Cat]

I two find my Sev is my Fev fish (he is my avatar) but agreed if you went for one he will outgrow your tank and eat anything small enough to fit in his mouth. Alternativly if your keeping tetras Angels or Keyholes are your best bet. However it all depends on your water pH. if your waters soft go for keyholes/angels if its harder go for Firemouths, Sevs or Acaras.