Hi New 2 Ca/sa After Some Advice

[ChrisT]

Hi new here but kept african cichlids for about 10yrs now but movin on 2 new world cichlids.
 
My current tank is 100g uk/120g us size 50"x22"16 (at narrowest)24"(at widest) (jewel vision 450 bow front)i run 2 external filters aqua1 aquis 1250 and 1200 with halide lights from when i did marine but lookin at going 2 l.e.d .
 
My current stocklist is
 
2 x synspilums (1m/1f)
1 x nicaragua sex unknown
1 x polleni (yes i know its from madagascar but like it =) )
1 x gibbiceps
1 x chaetostoma
2 x unkown L cats
 
i'm lookin 2 add 2 this if i can and if i can what would people suggest ?
from my LFS i can get
 
Sajica
GT
JD
Salvini
Midas
Festae
Firemouths
convicts
 
would any of theys work ?
any help and info would be much appreciated thanks.
 
ChrisT
 
P.S a few pics =)
 
http/s1113.photobucket.com/user/Chris_Tindall/slideshow/NWC
 
hope u like
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[Wills]

To be honest sounds about full - if not overstocked.
 
Quite a few problems that could happen.... They are all big cichlids that you have - especially if the Nic turns out to be male. The biggest issue I can see is the Syns breeding and then taking over the tank, which would seriously risk the other fish in there - really you only want that pair of bruisers in there if they are breeding and the female is still at risk from the male.
 
The Polleni is  great fish and can do well with central americans but they have huge jaws and will eat most things.
 
Which shops do you go to?
 
Wills

 

[ChrisT]

they r both in hull frisby and live aquatics  so u would say no more and if i do remove the female syn 2 make space 4 another or is their any dither fish i could put in just 2 fill it up a bit as my nic and polleni r about 4-5" syns at about 8-9".

 

[Wills]

Yeah, I think with the three big cichlids in a tank like that adding more will be an issue. Central Americans can always be a risk unless they are in the biggest of tanks - ie 6 foot + when you get to a 6x2x2 then it starts to become slightly more predictable.
 
I would stick with the three for now, as for dither fish there are a hand full of options - most likely ones are Silver Dollars but I cant help but think that your fish could do with being in a slightly longer tank... Is this an option?
 
I do like a good look around Frisbies but.... not sure I always trust their advice... harsh but As for Live Aquatics I took one trip came out empty handed and walked away. For me in Hull and the surrounding area its got to be Maidenhead at Beverley - maybe venturing out to Ferrybridge but I have found their fish to have some diseases at times.
 
Wills

 

[ChrisT]

Unless I want a divorce a bigger tank is not a option as for other shops I dont drive so kind of stuck 4 shops 2 visit I also gather my Info off forums or the net as I think shops say things just 2 get u 2 buy more as 4 dither fish I'm not a lover of dollars but I ave read people puttin swordtails and large rainbows do u think ether of them work ?

 

[Wills]

Lol I always forget Swordtails but yes I have seen them work pretty well search for a blog by a guy called Lee Nutall he has some amazing tanks with centrals in
 
Other dithers that might work are Blind Cave Tetras - the pink mexicans Some people keep Red Eye Tetras with them as well which are biotope correct but I think they are a bit small for these fish.
 
If you dont mind moving away from a Central American biotope the bigger Rainbow Fish work great but they are slow growing so could end up as food for the bigger faster growing cichlids unless you can find adults.
 
Barbs are an other option T-Bars are a good option.
 
Wills