Starting Over....

[leah00]

Hello!

I recently (sadly) lost all of my fish due to a terrible ice storm that knocked out my power for two weeks. I had a beautiful severum, some lemon tetras, and 2 pictus cats in my 75 gallon tank.

So I'm starting over and I thought I'd ask for some advice on different mixes.

Right now I've got two little firemouths and a rubber lipped pleco. I'm looking for another cichlid and then maybe a school of something. What about Jack dempseys? I know they are aggresive but maybe if I only got one and added him last...? Would a school of tiger barbs be ok or too small? I like silver dollars too. I love severums but I really don't have a reliable lfs and it seems like everytime I see sevs they are sickly. Would a red tail shark work with the cichlids?

Thank you!


Also one of my little firemouths has a split tail. I'm wondering if this is some sign of a terrible disease or maybe (hopefully) just an oddity. He seems healthy and swims around just fine.

 

[juanveldez]

with that tank I would add 2 or 3 more firemouths lots of rock, drift wood, and plants, then add some rainbows and possibly some type of larger tetra or barb.

 

[Lokemer]

For cichlids, Firemouths are rather shy and retiring. Unlike many other popular species of the same family, you will not find them out in front, jostling for space nor food generally. As such, if you're placing these cichlids with other cichlid species, it's strongly advised to introduce them in pecking order, the more easygoing first... and as always with aggressive fishes, observe closely for escalating agonistic behavior.

While. Jack Dempsey Cichlids are well-known for their aggressive behavior. After all, that is what led to them being called Jack Dempseys. It is quite a popular fish among fish enthusiasts because it breeds easily, and because of its aggressive manner.

Realy they can go together just use lots of rocks a big piece of driftwood to break the line of sight if it gets aggressive and some plants for the firemouth to hide in, although fire mouths can be aggressive too. And on the subject of schooling fish silver dollars can work but will have to be kinda big. You are aware of the 4 inch difference in size of the JD and firemouth right? And if the firemouths are female and male they can become rather bitchy and aggressive if they have eggs. Realy don't let me hold you back on this i am definitely not pro on these two fish.

 

[leah00]

Yes, I know that there is a size difference but I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so big to cause problems. I was hoping to that if the firemouths were male and female that the dither fish would help the aggression. I guess we'll see.
I purchased the firemouths on a whim because it was very depressing looking at my big empty tank, but as I watch them I'm really getting attached. They are such cute little guys.

 

[Lokemer]

i would have to agree lol. and the aggressiveness problem with a JD won't be swayed (most likely) by adding a m&F unless the JD backs down the firemouths will just have it out with the jd and even if he backs down the firemouths because of the eggs will still be angry and mean. but it will most likely be ok

 

[leah00]

Thanks. I'm leaning towards adding one JD and some silver dollars (I think).

Any other fish that might be ok?

 

[Lokemer]

Well if you have high filtration you could put an oscar in there just move the decos and reset the territories. What size are the fire mouths and what is the siZe of the jd going to be?

 

[leah00]

Everybody will be small, at the most a couple of inches. I like to watch them grow. The firemouths are only maybe 2 inches. Would an Oscar be ok with my little firemouths when everybody grows up? My only problem with adding an Oscar (I love Oscars!) is that with a big JD and a big Oscar, wouldn't I need a larger tank eventually? My husband bought me the 75 gallon with the understanding that I would not go larger. We really don't have room for a larger tank.

 

[Lokemer]

yes but with good filtration a oscar can stay in a 75 gall ill check compatibility between oscars and firemouths in a min.

 

[leah00]

Thank you.

I've been looking at firemouths and oscar compatability on the web and most places are saying that they can go together. It's so tempting... I'm not sure if I want to try firemouths, an oscar, and a JD all together (because I'd still like a school of something in there too and I don't want to overload). So now I'm stuck between a JD or an Oscar. JD's are so pretty but I've always wanted an Oscar.... My dh doesn't seem to like Oscars much....but it IS my tank.... Thanks a lot, now I'm stuck.

 

[Lokemer]

lol. i would go for the oscars but thats just me, jack dempseys depending on their upbringing before you buy them can be great fish or terrible agressive jerks then agan its the same with oscars. if the firemouths are still small id go for a jd if it grows agressive rehome then you must wait for the fms to get bigger then you can add a oscar. dont add a oscar as a baby with them for the oscar will grow a ton and they will be small so he might think its a treat. then again if you add the o as a baby they might grow to be tolerant of eachother, with oscars its alway a risk lol.

 

[leah00]

It seems like one of the "risks" of owning cichlids is that everything is a risk. lol

The Oscar would grow up so fast that it might eat the firemouths before they could get bigger??? Holy cow, I knew Oscars grew fast but I didn't know they'd grow that fast. I figured they would just grow together. I'd be pretty upset if my little firemouths disappeared.

 

[Davo86]

It seems like one of the "risks" of owning cichlids is that everything is a risk. lol

The Oscar would grow up so fast that it might eat the firemouths before they could get bigger??? Holy cow, I knew Oscars grew fast but I didn't know they'd grow that fast. I figured they would just grow together. I'd be pretty upset if my little firemouths disappeared.

Ok first Question is what are the dimensions of the tank?

Personally I wouldn't choose either Oscars or Jack Dempseys for the tank,
The rubber pleco at only 4inches fully grown could well get eaten or killed by either of those

Again if it was me I would go for one more similar sized cichlid, such as a Blue Acara, Sajica, Convict, Rainbow, HRP, or even another Severum.
and then a group of dithers such as Silver Dollars, Larger Rainbows, or Giant Danios,
and tbh In a 75G I'd probably add another 2-3 Rubber-lip plecs

 

[Lokemer]

the problem with cons is when they breed which they will the firemouths could be doomed and with a oscar he wont eat the plec if the plec has a place to hide

 

[Davo86]

the problem with cons is when they breed which they will the firemouths could be doomed and with a oscar he wont eat the plec if the plec has a place to hide

Where in my post did i say two convicts? I said one similar sized cichild,
and of course a bloomin 12 inch+ oscar will try and eat a 3-4 inch plec, unless you think the bulldog pleco will hide in a cave for the rest of its life