Best Community Cichlid (If Any)

[Squid31]

Hi everyone and thanks for looking into this post!
 
I have a 40 gallon tank with a gravel bottom, driftwood, and plastic plants, its kept at 76F.  It currently has 3 juvenile fish all around 2-2.5 inches. I have a Red Tailed Shark, Oplaine Gourami, and a Albino Britlenose Pleco. They all get along fine. I was wondering what type of cichlid you guys would suggest putting in there if its possible. I'm open to any color cichlid but I really would like to keep it at 6 inches or under for an adult size.
 
Also I would like a type of schooling fish, is there any recommendations there? If so would they be compatible with the cichlid? Maybe no more than 3 inches adult size.
 
Thanks everyone I appreciate it!

 

[ncguppy830]

rams
kribenis
angelfish
rainbowfish max is 3 inches and therefore wouldnt get eaten.

 

[Squid31]

rams
kribenis
angelfish
rainbowfish max is 3 inches and therefore wouldnt get eaten.

Thanks for the input! I look um up!

 

[ncguppy830]

your welcome

 

[ReddSamurai]

 

rams
kribenis
angelfish
rainbowfish max is 3 inches and therefore wouldnt get eaten.

Thanks for the input! I look um up!
 

this is my personal opinion but if you decide to go for rams make sure theres lots of hiding places and live plants and get some dither fish prior to putting them in.
i say this as rams tend to be incredibly shy and if they feel secure (lots of hiding places and cover) as well as having lots of fish wondering around happily they will more than likely do the same

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

It depends on the type of ram we're talking about, Bolivian rams are pretty confident fish IME.

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

Apistogramma!!!  Any species, though some are better than others.  They can be a bit territorial when breeding, but no big problem if your tank is large enough.  If you do plan on breeding, you'll need a guy and a harem.  Otherwise you can get only females, but they are less colorful.  Or you can do what I did once and get one male.  He was awesome: just chilled near the bottom and poked around in the plants and rocks.  Hardly ever bothered the other fish.  The few times he did, he just really wanted that piece of food.
 
Wikipedia:
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apistogramma
 
Google Image Seach:
https/www.google.com/search?q=apistogramma&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=trzxUYHXFYOi9QSB4ICQCg&biw=1600&bih=799&sei=xbzxUfOxJI_Q9gSTnIDoDQ

 

[ReddSamurai]

It depends on the type of ram we're talking about, Bolivian rams are pretty confident fish IME.

yea forgot about them i was aiming at golden rams, german blue rams and electric blue rams

 

[Squid31]

Ok, Thanks everyone! I don't plan on breeding though and I'm looking to get only one cichlid, I have a decent amount of hiding spots(driftwood rock caves etc.) but I don't have any live plants now, theyre all plastic. Ill look into the kribensis and bolivians more.

I was also looking at a Buffalo Head Cichlid, how would that work?

 

[ncguppy830]

there semi agressive fish that does best in 50 gallons or more so unless you plan on getting a bigger tank i would just stick to the others

 

[biggerfish]

ummmmm i think an oscar would be your best bet.... kidding. An angelfish is your best bet, the kribs and rams are both bottom-dwellers, and trust me your RTS will not take to kindly to that. As for the schooling fish i would do giant danios.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Keyhole Cichlids are really nice and peaceful, the only down side to them is that they're not very colourful.
 
You could get some Cardinal Tetras for a schooling fish.

 

[biggerfish]

Keyholes work to and if you get an angelfish don't get cardinal tetras he might eat them, and the RTS might kill them. When i had my RTS i put 6 black skirt tetras in and the next morning they were all dead, and i mean all 6 dead ripped to shreds. you do not want to put anything smaller then an RTS in with an RTS the giant danios will work though because they will get pretty close to the RTS size ( danios will get 4" RTS will mostly likely get 5.5") and will stay out of the way for the most part, and if the RTS tries to chase a danio the danios are faster for the most part. 

 

[bikerfish]

HI I have a pair of keyholes and they are great fish and no bother unless another fish has a nip at them , not best colour and quiet shy. They live with an angel also a pair of blue german rams and a pair of electric blue rams with no bother

cathy

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Ok, Thanks everyone! I don't plan on breeding though and I'm looking to get only one cichlid, I have a decent amount of hiding spots(driftwood rock caves etc.) but I don't have any live plants now, theyre all plastic. Ill look into the kribensis and bolivians more.

I was also looking at a Buffalo Head Cichlid, how would that work?

Buffalo Head as in Steatocranus casuarius? A single male would be fine in a community, a single female would probably be ok but they tend to have shortened lifespans if they do not find a mate, a sexed pair would be fine until breeding (typically around November here in UK), then all hell can be let loose in any tank 4-foot or under! These fish need a well oxygenated tank, often created by a lot of flow, my 6-foot ~315l has ~9000lph from 4 filters and a powerhead.
 
For peaceful cichlids, look to Laetacara spp., Keyholes, Rainbow. However, your Red Tail Shark would not be a good mix with these peaceful cichlids, it will bully them too much. In that respect, I think a Steatocranus male would be better. You could do a Krib pair, providing nothing smaller than them is added, I'm sure the shark will keep them busy when they breed! 
 
For dithers, perhaps look to either a group of Bloodfin (not Glass Bloodfin) Tetras that will stay in the upper water, or Bleeding Heart Tetras that will stay more centrally.