Would a firemouth fit in?

Quick5oh

AC Members
Sep 30, 2008
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Southern Cali
Hey guys,

Well I am hoping to find one more tank mate for the fish in my 40g, soon to be 75g+. The stock I have is in my sig and everybody gets along fine.. The loaches are never bothered and neither is the pleco.. And the barbs and the shark keep each other in line. I recently tried some congo tetras and they got abused non-stop by the barbs. At my LFS, they recommended to me either a kribensis cichlid or a firemouth.. I looked into them and thought a single small firemouth may work.. Any input? If not, any other tank mates you would suggest? By the way, the barbs didnt do well with zebra or giant danios either, I have always been recommended those.
 
Convicts are too aggressive for that stock. You might be able to get away with a Firemouth. Rams are a good choice.
 
I think a firemouth would fit, assuming you get it as a juvie and you're upgrading to the 75G + within a year or so I think it sounds great. Should work well with all your stock. I agree that a con would probably be too aggressive for your stock, perhaps you can think of a severum when you get the 75G+, but while you are still using the 40G, I'd stick with adding one firemouth and that's it until you upgrade. I *think* rams might get bullied/beat up by the RTS, but this is complete speculation because I have no experience with RTS myself.
 
Cool, thanks for all that advice. I may try to get a firemouth today and see how it goes. I hadn't even thought of putting any type of rams in there.. That may be worth a shot as well... I hate to keep buying and returning fish, but I want a stock thats gonna work well together..
 
Rainbow Cichlids and Honduran Red Points are some other fish to consider as well.
 
Well I ended up with a firemouth. He is about 2 1/2" and hasn't bothered anybody yet, whats funny is he is always following my group of loaches around.
 
When he gets bigger, he will become boss.

I had three together in a tank. When that did not work, I moved one firemouth in with my JDs, severum, and salvini....a 40g tank. He was beating up on some...actually, all..of the fish. And in the other 29g where I left the two remaining FMs, one was beating up on the remaining FM and the Jewel Cichlid. SO, I thought we will teach them.

I dropped the two bullies in with my 11" oscar and two 6" silver dollars. Well, the most agressive FM soon carved out a territory, and he chases the SDs out of his area. Even the oscar stays away from him. The other FM swims around but does not bully anyone.

Anyone want some firemouths? :evil_lol:

Personally, I would not get any again. In your case, I think the FM will keep your shark in line and even may keep him in a corner. Your experience may be different than mine.
 
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