Biggest Cichlid I could Keep in a 5 Ft Tank

[neutrino]

Malawi peacocks not a good fit, too active, nippy, more aggressive overall, and in a group of them you're likely to get a hyper and very aggressive male or two. If you see profiles saying they're peaceful, this is by comparison to the more aggressive Malawi species, not the more docile among SA species. I know, I bred them for years.

Cyphotilapia (frontosa/gibberosa) no, but altolamps yes? Doesn't make sense, they're from the same lake, and if anything frontosa are less sensitive and more robust than altolamps. I've kept Cyphotilapia for years, occasionally mixed with SAs in secondary tanks, no problem in pH in the mid to upper 7s and temps in the mid 70s to 80. It can be done, but would be more of a front tank with an EBA than a new world tank.

A variety of geo species would work, they do pretty well with reasonably peaceful acara types ime, and geos can be anywhere from @6 to @12 inches, depending on species. Severum(s) would work, again, usually do pretty well with reasonably peaceful acara ime. Severums can vary a bit in size; rotkeils, for example, typically end up 8-9 inches or so, others can be 10 inches or larger, depending on type, individual, etc. Ime mesonauta would work, occasionally I've read of aggressive ones, but not my experience. Large, wild angelfish, I've had nice mixes with wild Peru angels. With some species, like chocolate cichlids, it depends on the individual fish. Some pike cichlid species could work. A number of possibilities, with a moderate limitation imo on larger species at adult sizes in terms of numbers.

As far as the thread title-- Absolute biggest cichlid for the tank itself? People have different philosophies on this and tend to cover a spectrum on the overall question of size of tank per size of fish.

 

[J. H.]

Malawi peacocks not a good fit, too active, nippy, more aggressive overall, and in a group of them you're likely to get a hyper and very aggressive male or two. If you see profiles saying they're peaceful, this is by comparison to the more aggressive Malawi species, not the more docile among SA species. I know, I bred them for years.

Cyphotilapia (frontosa/gibberosa) no, but altolamps yes? Doesn't make sense, they're from the same lake, and if anything frontosa are less sensitive and more robust than altolamps. I've kept Cyphotilapia for years, occasionally mixed with SAs in secondary tanks, no problem in pH in the mid to upper 7s and temps in the mid 70s to 80. It can be done, but would be more of a front tank with an EBA than a new world tank.

A variety of geo species would work, they do pretty well with reasonably peaceful acara types ime, and geos can be anywhere from @6 to @12 inches, depending on species. Severum(s) would work, again, usually do pretty well with reasonably peaceful acara ime. Severums can vary a bit in size; rotkeils, for example, typically end up 8-9 inches or so, others can be 10 inches or larger, depending on type, individual, etc. Ime mesonauta would work, occasionally I've read of aggressive ones, but not my experience. Large, wild angelfish, I've had nice mixes with wild Peru angels. With some species, like chocolate cichlids, it depends on the individual fish. Some pike cichlid species could work. A number of possibilities, with a moderate limitation imo on larger species at adult sizes in terms of numbers.

As far as the thread title-- Absolute biggest cichlid for the tank itself? People have different philosophies on this and tend to cover a spectrum on the overall question of size of tank per size of fish.

You clearly know better than me, but my logic was that the peacocks would use a different area of the tank from the SAs, and that they may not even recognize each other as cichlids, and therefore threats. Altolamps yes and fronts no, because Fronts grow to 1ft+ and are highly predatory and aggressive, while everyone I know that has kept Altolamps says that while the males can reach 6"+, they don't, and they are shy and peaceful.

 

[celebrist]

Maybe a chocolate?

 

[tlindsey]

You clearly know better than me, but my logic was that the peacocks would use a different area of the tank from the SAs, and that they may not even recognize each other as cichlids, and therefore threats. Altolamps yes and fronts no, because Fronts grow to 1ft+ and are highly predatory and aggressive, while everyone I know that has kept Altolamps says that while the males can reach 6"+, they don't, and they are shy and peaceful.

Absolutely agree with neutrino about the African Peacock recently lost a mature male EBA to a juvie male Peacock that I was just letting grow larger before adding to 180 gal . Also Geophagus Balzinii needs a seasonal cool off period.

 

[neutrino]

because Fronts grow to 1ft+ and are highly predatory and aggressive.

Saw them described as "highly predatory and aggressive" somewhere else recently, forget just where... except they're not. As a long time mod on a forum dedicated to them, here's a brief summary.

Highly aggressive is the most inaccurate bit. They vary in temperament, so sure, you can get an unusually aggressive individual, just like you can get an unusually aggressive severum. But they're generally pretty low on the aggression spectrum and are often kept with peaceful fish-- it's an odd combo, but I've even seen them with discus. Some would describe them as semi-aggressive, but I've also seen severums, angelfish, etc. described this way, so this is relative. A breeding group will fuss with each other, some alpha males can be hard on females, others quite gentle, most somewhere in between. Rival males can be hard on each other, it depends on the group. They are powerful fish and I once had two rival males that would get into some spectacular tussles, without any real damage. Occasionally I've separated males preoccupied with hassling each other, same as most of the other cichlids I've kept.

Toward other fish-- most of them are peaceful toward most other species. But, yeah, if they decided to do some damage, they're capable of it-- powerful, and deceptively fast when they really want to be.

Highly predatory-- in the wild they do eat small fish (like Ciprichromis), crustaceans, etc. In a tank they're capable of it, but F1 and later generations are generally not that predatory. Occasional individuals or groups might be or you could condition them to be. Let them go hungry long enough and they're capable of it. But many people, including myself have kept them with much smaller fish, like neolamps, for example. I've had them with congo tetras. Again, they vary in temperament, some can be predatory, most are not ime.

Size-- Males can get 12-14 inches, many stay in the 11-12 inch range. Females are generally smaller by a few inches. It takes several years for them to reach full size, generally 5 or so. In other words, they're generally similar in size to large type geos.

All this is for information only. If it was me, for that tank I'd be thinking of other SA species, not Tanganyikan species, but that's just me.

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

I currently have an electric blue acara that I would move into the tank, so a fish that would do well with him would be great. I'm not really interested in a breeding pair at the moment.

Thanks!

As long as you provide some territories some options includes
South American cichlids
Oscar 30-40cm
Blue acara 15-20cm
Severum 20-25cm
Red head tapajos 15-25cm
Uaru 25-35cm
Chocolate cichlids 25-30cm
True parrot cichlids 30-35cm
Festivum cichlids 15-20cm
Medium-large pike cichlids 15-30cm
Central American Cichlids:
Sajica cichlids 9-12cm
Jack dempsey cichlids 15-25cm
Nicaragua cichlids 15-25cm
Vieja synspilum 25-40cm

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

Wow you guys are so great!!

I currently have the EBA in a 3 ft, 45G tank. What if I kept him in there and then freed up the 5ft for either one large wet pet or a couple of large fish? What would be my options then?

For a wet per community there are loads of options
Motaguense cichlid
Synspilum cichlid
Red devil
Midas cichlid
Tilapia buttikoferi
Texas cichlid
Oscar
Female red terror
Trimac
Beani
Grammodes
Istlanum

 

[RD.]

Wow, what a shocker, JH talking out of his arse about fish that he has no personal experience with. Hats off to neutrino for taking the time to clarify the situation.

I guess I will have to think of my options, as I'd love a big cichlid (love the flowerhorns!) or oscar.

Keep the acara in your 45, and get yourself one of the above. (either/or) Good luck.

 

[neutrino]

Wow, what a shocker, JH talking out of his arse about fish that he has no personal experience with. Hats off to neutrino for taking the time to clarify the situation.



Keep the acara in your 45, and get yourself one of the above. (either/or) Good luck.

Don't remember where else I saw them described as highly aggressive and predatory, but it's funny how some fish get a reputation that differs from my own experience or from the mean. Guess some extrapolate rules based on limited exposure, small sample size, self pollinating opinions on a particular forum, etc . If I extrapolated from individual fronts I've had I could say opposite things-- 'Wants to fight all other fronts in the tank and hates any fish over 2 or 3 inches, keep with small fish of other species only' would describe one I had. 'Gets depressed without other fronts in the tank, hard to get them to eat' describes another who perked up immediately when I put three more in what was my first real front tank.

 

[justarn]

I know is not American but a polleni/bleekeri could work, I've found them to be quite soft and ignorant of other fish. Very Oscar like personality and stay a bit smaller, obviously gorgeous with it.