newbie

[Mogurako]

I have wanted to get cichlids for awhile but i have no clue what type would be good for me. I would like a cich. that gets no more than 8 inchs and that would be healthy and happy in a 30-45ish gal tank by itself or as a pair. i was thinking maybe a Jack Dempsey. i also want it to be a lil more on the agressive side.

Jesse

 

[yvez9]

You could try convicts.

They breed easily and get very agressive so you would have to keep a mating pair alone in the tank.

As for myself, I prefer to get Bolivian Rams as they are more suited for community life and don't brred as much (I can't raise too many fry)

Convicts grow to 6 inches and bolivian rams to about 3-4 inches

You could keep two pairs of rams or one pair with other fish of equivalent size like gouramis

 

[Mogurako]

the tank i want to start with cichlids in it would be for cichlids only not a community. I want a larger one (with some personality of course) or a pair of cichs. Also i want to stay with a 30-40ish gallon tank as far as space is concerned.

 

[yvez9]

Check this out

If you want a cichlid only tank, you have many options. It might be interesting to get two very agressive cichlids­. The only problem is the fry they will produce every month or so...

If I were to make a cichlid only tank, i'd go for convicts.

 

[juanveldez]

that tank size would be fine for one male JD, another option to consider is a pike cichlid from the saxatillis group I have a male Frenata they max out some where in the 8 inch range, as for the other 2 pikes that I have they get alot bigger than that. but my Frenata is very agressive just loves to flare and egg on my Midas which is in the same tank

 

[Mogurako]

yvez9~
I am really not to concerned about the fry. I will have to do some research on convicts. how many would i beable to keep in a tank that size to do u figure? also that link dose not work.

juanveldez~
I will have to check out the pike cichs do u have any pics of yours?

Jesse

 

[yvez9]

As far as I know, convicts will be very protective of their eggs and fry and will most likely kill any other fish in a tank that size so it would be better to only keep 2 convicts.

As for the fry, you will have to remove them once they grow a little and are fine on their own as these fish lay eggs every month or so

 

[digital_run]

If you want cons then a species tank with 2 is probably the best route. As mentioned ...Cons breed quite frequently and unless you have a viable solution planned for removing them it can become overwhelming. A species of dwarf cichlid such as keyholes or Rams would be good in that sized tank. If you wanted a larger semi-agressive cichlid id go with Firemouths. HIH a little


Firemouth
Convict

 

[freddyk]

If you want the most out of these types of cichlids it's nice to keep a pair, since they are monogomous, and much of their cool behavior is in their relationship with each other. In this case Convicts seem to be the most popular, but there are other ones, like the mentioned firemouths. Eartheaters are another cool option, and they'll tolerate other fish.

You'll need to be specific about the tank size. A 30 gallon is not the right environment for the big aggressive fish you have in mind, including the Jack Demp.

 

[Mogurako]

If you want the most out of these types of cichlids it's nice to keep a pair, since they are monogomous, and much of their cool behavior is in their relationship with each other. In this case Convicts seem to be the most popular, but there are other ones, like the mentioned firemouths. Eartheaters are another cool option, and they'll tolerate other fish.

You'll need to be specific about the tank size. A 30 gallon is not the right environment for the big aggressive fish you have in mind, including the Jack Demp.

Ya i know i need to go look at tanks and find the size of tank i can afford that will also help me decide about the kind of cichs i want. what would be a good size tank for a single or pair of a JD or something along those lines?

Jesse

 

[digital_run]

You would need a minimum of 45g to keep a single JD. check the link


Jack Dempsey

 

[juanveldez]

here is a link to a site that will help with finding pikes.

pic of Crenicichla Frenata

as for the JD profile I have found many things wrong with it, that however is a problem with allowing people that are inexperenced in keeping these fish for long periods of time write the profiles. they read in some book and or on a site and think that it is the word of god that they just read instead of using their own brain and figuring that a JD is going to need at least 30 gallons to be comfortable and of course the bigger the better.

 

[freddyk]

Go for a 4 foot tank if you can swing it, this opens up your options from the 3 foot tank. The 55 gallon is a nice size. I would not put a JD, or any other largish fish, in a 3 foot tank - it's much to limiting and confining.

 

[fufanu360]

i would say that 3 or 4 fire mouth cichlids would be really fun in thre, they get to aobut 6 inches and have beautiful colors

 

[black convict 0331]

convicts r definitly the way to go u could even get black convicts and pink convicts get 2 of each and make shore they have caves on opisit sides of the tank cuz they will fight convicts r very agressive i have mine with 3 red belly pirrahnas and i never had a problem