Compatibility Chrisis

[Blue Ramirezi]

Hi everyone, i am completely stuck . you see i have my 2 (utterly beloved) firemouths in a small tank bout 50L luckily their still juvies but im gonna need to move them to my 250L soon but the problem is I plan on getting discus in that tank so iv decided on moving my blue rams and firemouths to the big tank but i am extremely unsure that keeping them together will work but i am desperate to get discus they will be a shoal of discus and lots of hiding places but im still unsure any help???

 

[fluttermoth]

You can't keep firemouths with discus, I'm afraid.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

Oh no, how about angelfish? (firemouths with angelfish not angels with discus

 

[This Old Spouse]

That won't work either.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

oh goodness you have got to be joking, ok how about ummmmmm ok name some fish (i love cichlids btw)

 

[onidrase]

oh goodness you have got to be joking, ok how about ummmmmm ok name some fish (i love cichlids btw)

Fish of similar size and temperament. Like. I dunno. Convicts are common tank mates, but there is debate that you shouldn't keep them together cause FM's bluff and convicts actually battle. People keep them with Jack Dempseys and Green Terrors often, which need 55 gallons at least.

You've picked a semi aggressive yet territorial fish, there.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm still amazed you have firemouths in a 50L tank. And are the blue rams in there too?

I'd suggest either rehoming the FMs and rams to get the discus you want in the 250L (don't even think about putting discus in a 50L tank) or putting the FMs OR rams in the 250L and rehoming the others. Save your 50L as a quarantine tank.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

I have decided on everything!!!!!!!! ok I will move the firemouths to the 250L maybe get 3 JDs then christmas is coming i will get a 100L high tank and get discus in there then put my blue rams in too then get a pearl gourami for my 50L?

 

[onidrase]

Agreed, I myself was wondering how they weren't killing eachother. I tried putting 2 juv. firemouths in a 29 gallon being misinformed by the LFS, and they would not stop fighting with eachother, so i had to take one back.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

my firemouths are real softies theyv never bullied any fish

 

[onidrase]

my firemouths are real softies theyv never bullied any fish

Just wait till they get older.

I have decided on everything!!!!!!!! ok I will move the firemouths to the 250L maybe get 3 JDs then christmas is coming i will get a 100L high tank and get discus in there then put my blue rams in too then get a pearl gourami for my 50L?

no, no, no, no no no no

Only 1 JD, that's all you can get. more than that, they'll fight and fight and fight and make it so you only have 1 JD, if any.

100 liters is way too small for discus. They need at least 55 gallons, bare minimum, not cutting back. I honestly think 55 is too small, in fact.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

Oh wow ok I'm starting to think I should give up on the discus and just do whAtever else comes to mind

I have a massive snaketank next to my bed, then a 250L on the other side next to my door then on the other side I have 2 50L we have decided on a place for that high tank I wanted but oh well I'll see how it goes

Oh wow ok I'm starting to think I should give up on the discus and just do whAtever else comes to mind

 

[Wills]

my firemouths are real softies theyv never bullied any fish

Just wait till they get older.

I have decided on everything!!!!!!!! ok I will move the firemouths to the 250L maybe get 3 JDs then christmas is coming i will get a 100L high tank and get discus in there then put my blue rams in too then get a pearl gourami for my 50L?

no, no, no, no no no no

Only 1 JD, that's all you can get. more than that, they'll fight and fight and fight and make it so you only have 1 JD, if any.

100 liters is way too small for discus. They need at least 55 gallons, bare minimum, not cutting back. I honestly think 55 is too small, in fact.

Totally agree with all of this. Just wanted to add the 50 liter is too small for a Pearl Gourami and also Rams need high temperatures and low ph so get some almond leaves and bog wood for the 50 liter and leave the rams in there - no other cichlids and look at getting a school of rummynose tetras who will also thrive in those conditions.

For the 250 liter the Firemouths might be calm now but as soon as they hit sexual maturity which is often around 4 inches or so sometimes sooner if you have a pair will be a danger to other fish in the tank though in 250 liters if stocked well should be okay but also as ever cichlids are unpredictable and are impossible to judge though we can do our best to avoid major incidents.

I would stick to Central American fish in this tank and keep the temperatures around 26 and have neutral ph so around 7 and I think a stock for that tank could be something like

1 Sajica or Cutteri or HRP - go for a male and try to keep the tank all male cichlids.
2 Firemouths - gender a bit irreverent though males would be an advantage over 1m 1f or 2f because Central American cichlids can cross breed with others.
3/4 Swordtails - 1 male few females, fry will be controlled by the cichlids to be honest so no worries there.
10 Red Eye Tetras - not 100% from Central America but close.
2/3 Bristlenose Plecs

Though there are plenty of other general community fish you could consider just be careful not to get anything too squishy or small

Wills

 

[This Old Spouse]

+1

Excellent information. You really can never do too much research before subjecting your fish to the conditions you make for them. And another little hint is to remember that you need to consider the size the fish will be when it's all grown up, not just the size you get it at the LFS. That cute little common pleco you pick up will eventually grow to be 2 feet long.

 

[Blue Ramirezi]

thank you very much wills, old spouse and ondirase I am now stuck between the 3 cichlids you gave me, I love them ALL!!!! especially the cutteri and the HRP whitch one would do best?