How Many Cichlids

[drufly]

hi all Soon upgrading to a 240ltr and was wondering just how many cichlids i could have. I am moving what i have in my sig into the new tank, i know there will be casualties but im willing to sacrifice a few. most of the stocking are fully grown, so it will only really be the neons(which torture everything anyway) and the minows(which are half eating by the noens) which will be lunch.

I am looking possibly 3 keyholes, 1 male 2 female and 3 mamelela 1 male 2 female. Would this make me over stockeed or would it be fine to add all 6 to the 240ltr tank.

Alsogonna go for at least a 300ltr external canister.

 

[drufly]

No-one? No takers

 

[CentricOregon]

I'll have a go lol, you should still have plenty of room in there after you add those if you don't have anything else in there at the moment.Keyholes are really really peaceful and all swim about together and peacock cichlids are usually peacefull aswell, I would go for them.Those mamelela's look nice, just looked at a pic of them.

 

[drufly]

Lovely lovely fish they are indeed. i cant wait to get them and my new tank. My girlfriend is buying it as a xmas present, but it cant come quick enough lol.

 

[tenohfive]

Don't know a great deal about cichlids mate, put a post up in the appropriate forum - I think they're South Americans?

As for sacrificing your neons etc, why not rehome them rather than putting them in the tank with expectation of dying?

 

[minxfishy]

Providing you give them plenty of cover, caves, plants etc, then I see no problem with adding all 6 to the tank, you might consider adding some dither fish along with them, large shoal of large tetras, Lemon, congo, bleeding heart size would be good.

 

[drufly]

Providing you give them plenty of cover, caves, plants etc, then I see no problem with adding all 6 to the tank, you might consider adding some dither fish along with them, large shoal of large tetras, Lemon, congo, bleeding heart size would be good.

I am going to put the stock that I have in sig in with the cichlids, most of which are fully grown. I was going to maybe expand the platys and the corys to approx 10 each but i think i will have to get them and the cichlids together so as they get big enough not to become lunch.

The tank will be planted out withjava fern, amazon sword wisteria or the likes of that. I also have lots of rocks i got from a building site to make caves out of.

 

[minxfishy]

Ah in that case, you need to re-home the shrimp or they will become lunch, also the RTBS should not be in with cichlids, both species are territorial and I can forsee problems with those two together.

 

[drufly]

Serious? rtbs is my fave fish dont really want to get rid, which i will have to as i have no room for other tanks. Is there any cichlids that i can keep along with the fish i have. Dont mind rehoming the shrimp they can go in the cold water setup just add a heater.

 

[minxfishy]

Yep pretty serious, others have asked the same ? on here several times and its always recommended not to keep a RTBS with cichlids, they are both aggressive species and would compete for territory. Maybe the keyholes as they are the least aggresive, unless they spawn in which case its only natural for them to defend their patch and eggs.

 

[drufly]

Think i might take a chance as the rtbs is really placid, just cruises around minding his own business. If it starts to go tits up then rtbs will just have to go, i am looking for big fish as the most of mine are too small to fill a 240ltr.

Cheers for the info i shall post what comes of it.

Dru

 

[CentricOregon]

Think i might take a chance as the rtbs is really placid, just cruises around minding his own business. If it starts to go tits up then rtbs will just have to go, i am looking for big fish as the most of mine are too small to fill a 240ltr.

Cheers for the info i shall post what comes of it.

Dru

don't worry about the rtbs, I have one (well had 1, died last night) and he never bothered about any of my cichlids.I wouldn't add bleeding hearts or anything with keyholes because they get long flashy fins and will probably get nipped,keyholes are the kinda fish that just hate stress.quick note, the rtbs did not die of fighting with cichlids, he died of a disease.

edit: every fish has there own personality so all I would do is try it and if it fails just rehome them or take them back to where you bought them.

 

[drufly]

Couldnt have put it better myself. Ive settled on 2 pair of keyholes and 3 or 4 cockatoo dwarf cichlids. All i need now is to get the new tank transfer my stock then order my new fishes. So excited now i cant wait roll on xmas.