New cichlid tank

[Fushylor]

So I am between a 75 gallon and a 120. I will probably end up doing a 75 if I go the African cichlid route either peacocks or mbuna. I really want a 120 South American tank tho. I already have smaller planted tanks but I really want bigger fish more personality. Like an Oscar or a green terror or a jack dempsy. I was wondering if there is a combination of the three fish above with other large cichlids like sevrums or convicts. I want a big main cichlid with other large fish… maybe even some loach or red tail shark (not needed)
I really would appreciate the help on this

 

[itiwhetu]

Oscars are happiest with Oscars. Severums are fine with other south American Cichlids. Just make sure you get young fish and allow them to get used to each other. You could end up with a tank like this

Severums having fun

This is mum dad and the kids. This was a 250 liter tank the Severums spawned multiple times and always managed to raise a few. When I sold the set up there were 30 Severums plus the two Jewel Cichlids you can see in the photo.

www.fishforums.net

 

[Fushylor]

So if I where to forget about the Oscar and just have sevrum blue acara a jack dempsy would this work? How many of each and if not a jack dempsy maybe a green terror?

 

[itiwhetu]

I have never trusted any Jack Dempsey I have had, but then again they haven't given me half the problems some of the other cichlids I have kept. Blue Acaras are fine. Never kept Green Terrors but being in the Aequidens family I would say they will be fine with Severums. There are no rules about numbers with cichlids, it is about trial and error until you get a combination that works. Every tank will be different as cichlid personalities vary greatly.

 

[Guyb93]

I would avoid mixing south and Central American cichlids to be honest and pick one or the other oscars are slightly hit and miss iv found I know some oscars to live happy with fish as small as tiger barbs but also known oscars to eat fish half there size and actively hunt other fish my experience is with the latter , iv found Severum are great community fish and I keep two with 1 inch tetra no problem other larger mild mannered cichlids such as threadfin acara , geophagus amd chocolate cichlids would also work in a 120

 

[Colin_T]

Jack Dempsey cichlids are mean when mature and cannot be kept with anything else unless the tank is huge (10+ foot long).

Green terror cichlids are called terrors for a reason. They are pretty nasty fish when mature and generally end up on their own after killing everyone else in the tank. Again, if they are kept in a huge tank, it's less of an issue, but they aren't suitable for a community tank (that includes a community cichlid tank).

 

[Fushylor]

I have never trusted any Jack Dempsey I have had, but then again they haven't given me half the problems some of the other cichlids I have kept. Blue Acaras are fine. Never kept Green Terrors but being in the Aequidens family I would say they will be fine with Severums. There are no rules about numbers with cichlids, it is about trial and error until you get a combination that works. Every tank will be different as cichlid personalities vary greatly.

So basically if I start out a 120 and I want a sevrum a blue acara some sort of other bigger school of South American cichlids what would recommend? Maybe a fire mouth or convect or chocolate . I kinda want one of each of these fish unless it’s really better for them to be in small groups or school. And is there a combo where I could add a smaller Oscar have him grow up in the tank see if it will work?

 

[Fushylor]

Jack Dempsey cichlids are mean when mature and cannot be kept with anything else unless the tank is huge (10+ foot long).

Green terror cichlids are called terrors for a reason. They are pretty nasty fish when mature and generally end up on their own after killing everyone else in the tank. Again, if they are kept in a huge tank, it's less of an issue, but they aren't suitable for a community tank (that includes a community cichlid tank).

So if I wanted blue acara a red sevrum what other cichlids would u add if it’s a 120 set up?

 

[Fushylor]

I would avoid mixing south and Central American cichlids to be honest and pick one or the other oscars are slightly hit and miss iv found I know some oscars to live happy with fish as small as tiger barbs but also known oscars to eat fish half there size and actively hunt other fish my experience is with the latter , iv found Severum are great community fish and I keep two with 1 inch tetra no problem other larger mild mannered cichlids such as threadfin acara , geophagus amd chocolate cichlids would also work in a 120

What amount of each would u say then of sevrums geophagus blue acara and chocolate childs?

 

[Guyb93]

What amount of each would u say then of sevrums geophagus blue acara and chocolate childs?

I would pick between the 3 and have a pair of one , blue acara or electric blue acara you could have 2-3 in there in my 125 I have two Sev two electric blue acara two keyhole cichlids along with silver dollars corys and terras .. there’s no right answer really you could get lucky and have no territorial issues but mixing any larger cichlids can go wrong at any point all I advise is to buy them all young and let them establish a hierarchy

 

[Fushylor]

I would pick between the 3 and have a pair of one , blue acara or electric blue acara you could have 2-3 in there in my 125 I have two Sev two electric blue acara two keyhole cichlids along with silver dollars corys and terras .. there’s no right answer really you could get lucky and have no territorial issues but mixing any larger cichlids can go wrong at any point all I advise is to buy them all young and let them establish a hierarchy

I am trying to keep it to just cichlids but maybe some type of loach so would you say 2 servrums 1 blue acara 3 geophagus topajos and I still need that one bigger fish I kinda want options and opinions I will grow them young together but it can be to aggressive since yk the rest are more peaceful not a fan of adding in Tertras and other smaller fish.

 

[Guyb93]

I am trying to keep it to just cichlids but maybe some type of loach so would you say 2 servrums 1 blue acara 3 geophagus topajos and I still need that one bigger fish I kinda want options and opinions I will grow them young together but it can be to aggressive since yk the rest are more peaceful not a fan of adding in Tertras and other smaller fish.

I’m guessing your 120 is 5ft in length and guessing your tap water is suitable for South American cichlids I would say the biggest fish you could comfortably have is a Severum , possibly an Oscar but that is pushing it , I would personally if I was you have 1 Sev
2x blue acara
4-5 geos as they do prefer to be in a group I honestly think if you added anymore cichlids especially anything bigger than a Sev you could have issues , it’seasier to add fish than remove them

 

[Fushylor]

So you really think that would be maxing out a 120?

 

[Guyb93]

So you really think that would be maxing out a 120?

On large cichlids yeah I do ,you could have a whole lot more fish if keeping peace wasn’t an issue , I think once the stock is established with its pecking order there might be room for more

 

[Fushylor]

I mean what other cichlids could I even add? Once I get this stock in? I would still like not huge cichlids but yes closer on the large side. I might start out with just 2 sevrums and 1 electric blue acara prob not gonna add the geophagus since I have add some before.