Don't get me wrong, some strategies work with them.... just not 10 times out of 10 imo there's too many variables. I've had some crazy cohabs that worked longterm that people said would never work. But nothing is definite, I wouldn't bet on some of them working again.
IDK man, I 'm doing a very similar mix as i did last time w/ some tweeks here and there and it seems as long as I keep the right species together, the individuals don't seem to make much difference IME - JDs, Jaguars, Convicts, FMs and most CAs work well together as long as you don't get male Amphilophus in the mix, females are fine. As far as SAs go, Acaras, some GTs, Geophagus (except sometimes Brasiliensis ) and other mild-mannered SAs seem to do fine, Oscars are hit or miss, but usually not tough enough to keep w/ CA/SA cichids of the same size - Oscars must always be bigger and even then they get killed. GTs are another hit-or-miss....the males are usually chill, and the females are the ones that give me problems and kill fish.
Currently going to combine a few tanks this week when the 125g gets here and try raising the Dovii, RTM, Jags, Texas, Synspilum, JDs, Convicts and some Jewels and then some catfish and in a year or 2 either upgrade if i'm happy w/ the outcome or sell some that may not be optimal. I know its a crazy mix, but they are all still young and smaller-ish.
My biggest concern atm is not the mix, but how much filtration it's gonna take to keep everything primo. Any guesses ?? A 125g w/ roughly 20-some fish around 3"-7". I know, i'm insane, right?
