Are There Any Cichlids I Could Add To My Current Setup?

[BigFish01]

I was wondering if there would be any cichlids that would be compatible with the fish in my 130 gal tank. I know the tetras would be in danger so I would re home them. mainly concerned with the BGK and the clown loaches. Probably a dumb question but its worth a shot! thanks!!

 

[gregswimm]

Yes, there are LOTS. I would need more info on your stocking.
If a BKG is a black knife, I wouldn't even bother with the tetras lol. Maybe a big school of silver dollars, maybe.

My first thought for cichilids was Boulengerochromis microlepis, but your tank is way to small to keep this fish much less with anything else. You are also keeping soft water species that like lots of cover, so you can throw any rift lake species out the window.
There are african river and american(north and south) cichlids that fit the bill.

-At 6" Haplochromis burtoni may work, but they need to be kept 1M:5F but may give your knife and clowns a run for their money.
-At 18" Oreochromis mossambicus may work, but I know little about them, (ill leave that to you )
-Anything in the Tilapia genus, once again, agression is a concern
-Geophagus spp, are big enough and on the peaceful side of things; just make sure that the species you go with will be big enough as an adult. G. brokopondo would be a poor choice.
-Satanoperca daemon/lilith peaceful side and large enough
-Vieja synspilum 17" do your homework
-Hypselecara temporalis/coryphaenoides

You get the idea, just do your homework on whichever you decide to go with.
http/www.davesfish.com/ often has many of these fish, I have dealt with him several times and I highly recommend.

 

[BigFish01]

I currently have 5 clown loaches, 6 skirted tetras, 1 clown pleco, and a bgk in my tank at the moment. I think I found someone that wants to buy my clown loaches from me. I'm having a tough time deciding if I want to do that. I'm looking for colorful. If I get rid of the clowns and put the tetras and bgk in a different tank what would be a good stocking list for my 130 gal? I have lots of flat stone in it with plenty of hiding places, and I am planning on getting lots more fake plants. I like the real ones but its just not doing it for me.. lol plus they would get destroyed with the cichlids.
I like your choices gregswimm, But I havnt the slightest clue about these fish. That would be why i'm asking about what would be a good stocking list of colorful fish that would all get along together in that size aquarium. then I can work on tracking them down and adding them as I get the funds.
And also my other question is from the pic in my sig would my setup be ok for those fish. I just have play sand for the substrtate and flat stone and some plants. Anything special I would need?
Also, the water in my area is very hard, but my tap runs through a water softner. What kind of effect would that have on them? or would they want my hard tea looking water?
Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. I do have some time before I can make the jump so I would like to do the research and get the info that I need from you folks with the experience before I jump into it!!!

 

[BigFish01]

Oh and I would like more smaller fish than a couple larger fish if that makes sense!! Thanks again for your help everyone

 

[gregswimm]

Those fish I listed are going to require some research on your part, I have never kept any of them and my knowledge of quite limited. If you see one you especially like I can help answer your questions and help you choose what design changes should or shouldn't be made; assuming of course you have taken the initiative and done your research, I'm not going to do it for you.

Your water will really depend again on the fish you want. I know that Haplochromis burtoni likes water on the hardish side. It is native to the rivers that lead into lake Tanganyika so it may enjoy more flow then your typical Lake Tanganyika fish (most of them don't like much, remember its a lake). They are a hap so expect aggression to some degree.

The last 5 all come from somewhere in the Americas and all vary to some degree on habitat, feeding and personality. They may or may not tolerate their own kind, but all have been chosen for compatibility with a large knife fish; I looked for: size, peacefulness toward other fish (not all are as peaceful as the next), and water parameters (again, some fit better than others).

 

[BigFish01]

I was at the LFS today and I saw some electric yellow labidochromis, Water conditions match my tank. In the research I have done so far it says they can not be kept with tetras because they will nip their fins. Which is fine because I planned on rehoming them before I purchase anything of the sort. But of course it dont say anything for the clown loaches and BGK.. I really like the coloring of them, And they get to 5 inches or so. Maybe too small for the clowns and or bgk?
They also had some that were labeled "assorted cichlids" that I was not sure what they meant by that.

These are the guys that they had in the tank with such label. Any idea what they would be? it said they only get to 6" but I have nothing to go on for researching them!!
Maybe i'm getting into an area I should stay away from and stick to my clowns and other schooling fish.. lol Never hurts to ask though!!!

 

[gregswimm]

They are mbuna, they are nothing you want to add to your tank. They are from lake Malawi and are high energy, high territoriality and aggression. Mbuna are mostly strict herbivores and can die from being fed a high protein diet. Keep mbuna only with mbuna. They will also eat the vast majority of your plants. Miking rift lake species with fish from other lakes or other regions is generally a bad idea. Although the exception may be keeping Lake victora haps/mbuna with Malawi haps/mbuna respectively.

Haps with haps
Mbuna with mbuna
Tanganyika with Tanganyika (Should be considered on a species by species basis, one of the harder lakes to stock largely due to the species diversity)
Tropheus with tropheus
East African and central/south america may be compatible, but should be considered on a species by species basis.


Also those mixed cichlids are a terrible idea in general, hard for many of us (myself included) to know exactly what you are getting.

Don't forget to consider the diet of the fish you are getting. Keeping obligate herbavores (Mbuna and tropheus) with meat eaters (your Haps) is a no-no. You may be able to squeeze by in keeping a herbivore with a piscivorous fish if the carnivore won't eat the herbivore food (or the herbivore) and the herbivore won't eat the carnivore food (your feeder guppys).

Don't forget, if you still plan on a ghost knife, a 6" fish is small enough to be food for a full grown ghost knife.

 

[BigFish01]

Ok I have decided to rehome my BGK and the tetras, and was thinking about doing some mbumas with my clown loaches. Any suggestions along that line?

Was looking at labidochromis caeruleus, pseudotropheus acei, and lodotropheus sprengerae. Maybe even some metriaclima callaino also if I can find them. from my research they should all work together and like my current setup. Any thoughts?

Edit:
Oh and my current setup is the pic in my signature so you can see it.... lol

 

[gregswimm]

I know little about Mbuna except that they are almost 100% herbivorous. If those plants are real, consider them food. You may also want some taller rock structures with caves. Other than that my knowledge on mbuna is limited. I would head over to Cichlid-Forum.com lots of people there that deal with mbuna setups and some good articles.

 

[BigFish01]

Will do. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[gregswimm]

A quick look at these guys and I don't think lodotropheus sprengerae will work that well with the rest of the mbuna. Although l. sprengerae may work better with the loaches than the rest of the mbuna. The loaches may get harassed to death.

 

[BigFish01]

Man i cant win for losing! Eh oh well. Maybe i will get a nice shoal of tiger barbs to throw in there eh? Dont want to get rid if my clowns.. Love them too much... Thanks anyways!

 

[gregswimm]

Check out Cyprichromis leptosoma. Easily in my top 5 fish. They are the only schooling cichil, the school in a manner similar to tetras. They need at least 4' of tank length, which you have. They hail form lake Tanganyika and should be kept in groups no smaller than 10 (bare minimum 15-20 is ideal) stock 1:5 or 1:4 Males:Females. Feeding is small grain(1/4mm is perfect) high protien food. They are largely peaceful except the males like to bicker among themselves.


Here is my school.

Shot of my alpha:
http/imgur.com/a/YY8MY

Old tank shot (wish I had something more recent and in focus):
http/i.imgur.com/g6MvN.jpg

 

[BigFish01]

I like those but the availability around here is next to none. What about maybe a firemouth meeki and a nice shoal of tiger barbs? would they do good with each other and the clowns? getting desperate now!!! lol

 

[gregswimm]

You would have to order them online (that's how I got mine). I do all my ordering through davesfish.com


Firemouths are diggers and I know they like a lot of cover. Your setup now looks like it would be good for maybe a pair of Kribs (Pelvicachromis sp.) or maybe a pair of apisots. With no big carnivore it really opens up options or even a single Neolamprologus leleupi. These are all rather common down here.

Check out Black phantom tetras, they are a really cool as for a schooling fish.