Please Can Anyone Advise On Which Would Be A Good Fish?

[julibob]

I have not been on the forum for a very long time, and I am considering a change. I have a peaceful community tank at the moment, but prior to that I kept Lake Malawi Cichlids.

I have a Juwel Vision 180 with a fully matured external Eheim Ecco 2236. Substrate is sand and at the moment I have a plethora of java fern and rocks.

My one condition is that I keep my 6" Bristlenose Pleco, as I couldn't part with him. He was also in with my Malawi's, so can hold his own.

My question is, with the size of my tank, what are my options with fish? I dont want Malawi's again, but was looking more at an Oscar or Jack Dempsey, or similar. I am not too sure on the tank size requirements for them.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

Julia

 

[stang1]

It's not big enough for an Oscar and Jack Dempseys can be very aggressive and could affect other stocking options.
Are you looking for aggressive, semi-aggressive or peaceful Cichlids?

 

[julibob]

I just wanted something a bit different. It will only go with my pleco, so aggression is not necessarily an issue. I wanted to have one or two larger fish rather than lots of smaller ones.

Julia

 

[stang1]

If you wanted to keep your current stock in your sig, then you could have:

Rams
Apistogramma sp.
Keyhole Ciclids.
Dwarf Flag Acara

If it's just Cichlids you want:

Jewel Cichlids
Blue Acara
Ellioti Cichlid
Firemouth

 

[julibob]

I am actually going to get rid of my other fish, to my LFS, so except for my Pleco, the tank would be a blank canvas.

Julia

 

[stang1]

You lucky thing!
With a blank canvas, any of the second lot I mentioned should be fine.
It's worth having a look at Jade Eye (Archosentrus spilurus) and T-Bar (Archocentrus sajica) Cichlids too. Both very pretty fish with lots of character.

 

[julibob]

You hit the nail on the head. It is fish with character that I want. Unfortunately I cannot upgrade the size of my tank, so have to make do. I just want to make sure that I get it right before making a decision.

Julia

 

[Truck]

if you want a fish with character, then you have selected the right family, new world cichlids, even the smaller cichlids are packed with personality

 

[stang1]

I've not come across many Cichlids that haven't got character!

 

[julibob]

I had my Malawi's for a few years, and since went back to community as they got too big.

I was hoping for a slightly larger fish (larger than the average Lake Malawi Cichlids). Something that will give me hours of entertainment. I am happy if I can only have a pair of larger fish.

Julia

 

[stang1]

It depends on what sort of size fish you want.
I wouldn't personally keep a pair of anything over 6" in that size tank but other members may have different ideas.

 

[julibob]

The Blue Acara looks very nice. Would they just be kept as a pair? Could I possibly keep some of my Corydoras then as well?

What about the Severum, or are they too big?

Julia

 

[shroob]

I wouldn't keep a pair as well (2 mated fish, not 2 random fish), it just increases aggression which may be taken out on your BN plec.

Whats the dimensions of the tank? (length and width at end of the tank are more important).

EDIT: Severums will be too big, blue acaras would probably work depending on dimensions

 

[julibob]

Dimensions are 92cm x 41cm x 55cm, but please bear in mind that it is a bow fronted tank. Approximate volume 180 ltr (approx 40 Gallons (UK)).

Julia

 

[minxfishy]

How about sajica's (Tbar cichlid) lovely colour, fairly peaceful, 6" max. You could have two in there with the BN plec and possibly some dithers, giant danios, or larger tetras?