Firemouth stocking.

[Wolf]

How many in a 40 gallon? I know with African cichlids. to keep the agression down. you can overstock the tank a little bit.. but since Firemouths grow 6-7", is that still how people do it? Or any type of NW cichlid that grows bigger. Like Jack Dempseys.. don't they grow up to 10" ? how many in a 40 gallon? And since the number would be significantly smaller than say africians that only grow 3-4"... how do you keep agression down in the tank?

 

[impur]

I would say no more than 3 firemouths in a 40. You cannot overstock like africans with new world cichlids. The best thing i have found is to keep some dithers in the tank. This gives the cichlids something to chase other than the other cichlids in the tank. The best dithers i have used are giant danios. Get about 5 of them. You may find (as i did) that you eventually have to replace them, since the cichlids occasionally catch the danios or the danios jump out!!!!