What's the smallest tank you'd keep a Texas in "comfortably"?

[Aquadi]

The recent pics I have been seeing make the fish look very attractive. Would it be feasible to keep on in a 75gallon tank with smaller sized loaches and smaller plecos? Are they too aggressive for that size of a tank with those inhabitants?

I originally had a thread here (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216974) asking for help stocking cichlids in a 75gallon tank. The blue's are very pretty I thought. Are they common to find in the Texas, or is it not a Texas, called something else? The GT looks like a great fish to me with the bright colors that pop off this fish but this fish is a real looker as well. I am referring to this fish here, (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211078) that Queenlander recently acquired.

We really liked the blues of the EBJD but the fish is just too pricey. This fish that Queenslander has is, imo, even better looking than the EBJD.


I'd love to get some more advice/tips on color eye catching fish that I could work in my 75gallon.

[fishkeeper25]

jackdemsey , flowerhorns,gt,red terrors, jewels, there are alot of very colrfull fish

[Eläköön]

smallest i would keep one in is a 55.
and as mentioned above theyre are plenty of tankmates options for your tank

[HiImSean]

a 75 is fine. i wouldnt try to squeeze one into a 55g

[Aquadi]

yes, there are tons of opions for the tank, I have gathered that much :) I'm trying to find some SA/CA that aren't all out killers that won't decimate my loaches and plecos as well. I know I could probably get away with JD's and GT's.. but I am trying to find a fish that has the blue popping colors like Queenslander's fish shows, or similar to EBJD's. I thought jewels were pretty aggressive fish? They do look a very pretty red though, I must admit.

[Eläköön]

then go for severums? colourfull, not overly aggresive. many different kinds to choose from

[Aquadi]

a 75 is fine. i wouldnt try to squeeze one into a 55g


Would I need to go single cichlid here or would putting in a GT or jewel with a texas at the same time at a young age possibly work out?

I know each fish's personality and every persons experience is different. This is why I want to get them all young and hopefully they grow up like cats and dogs with each other who come to have a common understanding of each other and don't try to kill each other


Thanks again,



then go for severums? colourfull, not overly aggresive. many different kinds to choose from


Those guys are not pretty to me, in the least. All the pics I have seen of them, including the severum pic thread here make them look quite drab minus the red on the rokteils. The gold red spot severum is the only one that is really eye catching to me.

[cchhcc]

75 would be a great home actually!

[Aquadi]

75 would be a great home actually!


Would they do ok with loaches and plecos though? That's my paramount concern. It's good to know a 75g is good for them though. Possibly another fish I can add to the shopping list.

[HiImSean]

i think you could put a smaller cichlid in with the texas like a con, jewel, or firemouth. as far as plecos they should be fine as long as you dont get a huge poop machine. as for loaches, i'd imagine they would be fine. my cichlids pay no attention to bottom dwelling fish. maybe some a bichir or two like a delhezi or senegal

[Adhlc]

Personally, I wouldn't put one in anything less than a 75.

[Aquadi]

Personally, I wouldn't put one in anything less than a 75.


So, in your opinion, a 75 is still pushing it? I don't like putting a fish in the 'smallest' it should go in, which is why I'm asking around so I can get a better idea on things.

[HiImSean]

i dont think a 75g is pushing it with a texas. they will get maybe 12" and bulky but a 48x18 footprint is a good size for a cichlid that size

[Aquadi]

i dont think a 75g is pushing it with a texas. they will get maybe 12" and bulky but a 48x18 footprint is a good size for a cichlid that size


Ok, so they are similar then in size to a robust jack dempsey?

[Aquanero]

Texas Cichlids are very nice looking fish! I've never owned one. I think somthing like a male Convict or Firemouth would be good additions both are a mid sized CA that could hold there own while not being a direct threat to the dominance of the Texas. They also require the same water and tempeature so they will all be happy enough. I would stay away from clown loaches They get too big but 4 Yoyo loaches would work maxing out at an average 4 or 5 inches. Great snail eaters too. If you like Severum the Rotkiel (Red Head) is really good looking not overly aggressave, except with each other and reaches a nice size of about 8 inches but does best in water a little warmer and slightly softer than the CA's like but not realy an issue if you stay with a nutral PH and around 77-80 degrees. Good luck with your tank, hope that was at least a little helpfull.

[FSM]

Ok, so they are similar then in size to a robust jack dempsey?

the body is much deeper than a JD.

[hailmike]

a 75 is fine for a texas imo. as for the plecs and loaches.. they should be ok too. ime ca's mostly just leave bottom dwellers alone and rarely even pay attention to them. i had an extremely aggressive plec that would try and go after one of my festae and he would just get out of the way. only once had i seen the him retalerate.

[Natalie]

I have my 11" Red Texas in a 90g.... he looks very comfortable. As far as tankmates, he's never been able to have any because he's similar in aggression level to a Red Devil. He will hunt and kill anything smaller than him.

Tankmates may be a possibility if you introduce them while your Texas is still a baby, but just to warn you, he may turn out too aggressive to accept anything else in his tank once he grows up. :)

[Aquadi]

What temp do ya'll usually keep the tank at? I current;y have mine set to 81* because of the loaches and plecs warmer waters.

[hailmike]

i have the heater set to 80 but it fluctuates from 79-83. aqueon heaters do that. is that your red tex in your avatar natalie? if so he looks stunning.

[Aquadi]

i have the heater set to 80 but it fluctuates from 79-83. aqueon heaters do that. is that your red tex in your avatar natalie? if so he looks stunning.


Oh really? cool deal then. Mine fluctuates between 80-82* when the light fixture is on, then back down to 80* in the evening when it goes off.

[hailmike]

it also depends on how cold it is in my house, my room mates are nazis about the thermostat and i've caught it at 55 one morning when it was only 12 outside. my tank was at 76; luckily i caught it before it could drop anymore.

[Aquadi]

As long as temp fluctuations of 2-3* are ok from the start of the day to the end of the day, I think I feel comfortable then.

[Natalie]

i have the heater set to 80 but it fluctuates from 79-83. aqueon heaters do that. is that your red tex in your avatar natalie? if so he looks stunning.

Yes that's him-- thanks very much! That pic is almost a year old and he's grown up a lot, so I'll have to take new pictures soon.

BTW, Texas have a great pet personality! IMO they're just as interactive as Midas/RD but don't try to bite your hand off when you're cleaning the tank, which is a plus.

[Aquadi]

Yes that's him-- thanks very much! That pic is almost a year old and he's grown up a lot, so I'll have to take new pictures soon.

BTW, Texas have a great pet personality! IMO they're just as interactive as Midas/RD but don't try to bite your hand off when you're cleaning the tank, which is a plus.



As long as he doesn't bite the heads off my loaches and plecos, I'd be happy with one! lol. That'd be $200 worth of fish loss though, lol. :( This is why I'm trying to do as much research as possible before I make a decision.

[hailmike]

you'll never know till you try, every fish is different. i'd say go for it and keep an eye out for a while till he gets use to the other fish or get some dithers or something.

[Aquadi]

you'll never know till you try, every fish is different. i'd say go for it and keep an eye out for a while till he gets use to the other fish or get some dithers or something.


Yup I completely understand that! Was actually just looking at different tetras that might fit the bill. Would nee to be fast little things, that's for sure.

[hailmike]

giant danios would be perfect, they're pretty ridiculously fast. but then again predatory fish can coup with that. so you should go the route of not too expensive but still attractive looking, which giant danios are :headbang2

[janzal3]

Yes that's him-- thanks very much! That pic is almost a year old and he's grown up a lot, so I'll have to take new pictures soon.

BTW, Texas have a great pet personality! IMO they're just as interactive as Midas/RD but don't try to bite your hand off when you're cleaning the tank, which is a plus.

That is a cool looking fish in your avatar. Picture updates would be appreciated. What exactly is a "red" texas cichlid. I had a regular one a long time ago. It got to about 10 inches b4 I had to part with him. My wasn't to aggressive. It probably dug more than any cichlid I ever had. Pretty entertaining to watch. It makes you think the fish is thinking and is just looking for something to do.

[hailmike]

That is a cool looking fish in your avatar. Picture updates would be appreciated. What exactly is a "red" texas cichlid. I had a regular one a long time ago. It got to about 10 inches b4 I had to part with him. My wasn't to aggressive. It probably dug more than any cichlid I ever had. Pretty entertaining to watch. It makes you think the fish is thinking and is just looking for something to do.
tex x midas