What Type Of Cichlid Would You Advice

[alby10]

Hi everyone

I love Oscars and have always wanted one day own a pair since my first visit to my LFS, when I had just set up my first community tank.
However due to space restrictions and the lack of experience of managing a really large tank I only have a 39L x 16w x 20h, 180L tank ( Jewel rio 180 )available.
After research into the possibilty of having Oscars, of course I found that they grow far to large for my tank so I am seeking some ideas on similar suitable alternitives.
I only want to keep a non breeding pair in this tank as I understand that cichlids are quite prolific breeders and the fry are hard to give away.
There wouldnt be many other fish in the tank just a couple of cleanup crew and possibly my small firemouth when he gets to large for my community, where he lves in harmony with the other fish.
looking for alternivtives I thought convicts would be good as they only grow to six inches, anybody got any coments on suitibility or alternitives to Oscars of a smaller size.

 

[lisie]

Well if you don't want a breeding pair and you get convicts... make sure you get two of the same sex because they have a reputation of being very easy to spawn. You'd probably be best off getting two females.

 

[freddyk]

I only want to keep a non breeding pair in this tank as I understand that cichlids are quite prolific breeders and the fry are hard to give away.

There's really no such thing as a non-breeding pair because they're so prolific. I prefer a bit of a community setup and also like the behavior of having the cichlids as a pair, so I keep sneaky catfish that infiltrate the nest at night and eat the eggs.

As far as choices go, in your position I'd grow out a few firemouths and get some females to find a mate for the one I already had. Introducing the firemouth into a tank already established with a pair of cichlids will cause serious problems.

just a couple of cleanup crew

Convicts aren't the right fish for this, they're very determined parents and tend to clear out entire tanks. Going with more peaceful types like the Festivus or Port Acara opens the options for tankmates.

 

[alby10]

Thanks for the replies, looks like more research for me

 

[Seetrix]

Well I have sum cribensis and sum African butterflys and there reall good in my setp I have the same size tank as u and I have 3 Bolivian butterflys. 3 African butterflys 3 cribensis and sum clown loaches and they all live in complete harmony and happyness they breed but yes the eggs always get eaten by the briistlnoeses. I am goin to buy a fire mouth this week hope this helps

 

[Davo86]

tbh if you don't want the fish to breed then I would avoid pairs at all cost,
With most species adding two to a tank usually results in them either pairing up or one killing the other.

I'd personally go two different species along with your Firemouth, These could include a Blue Acara, Rainbow Cichlid, or Sajica, for example

Or possibly go for a bigger more proific fish like an electric blue Jack Dempsey alongside the Firemouth

 

[meguro]

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