Central American Community Grow Out

[Bobby2415]

Just thought I would throw a few pictures of up my tank. Started out in a 55 and switched over to a 90 about 2 months ago. I have added fish in slowly but have had the current stock for a couple months now. So far so good as far as aggression goes. Filtration is (2) Penn Plax Cascade 1000 canister filters. Stock is (oldest to newest added fish);

(2) giant danio (started with 9 when I started the 55 gallon about a year ago, lost the majority to a previous Oscar I had).
(1) BN pleco
(1) Jack Dempsey (largest fish current tank boss)
(1) Firemouth
(1) Jaguar
(1) Dovii
(1) Salvini
(2) Black Convict
(1) Red Devil
(1) Pink Convict

For the record , I am 100% aware that the majority of these fish are going to outgrow this tank and probably get much more aggressive as they grow. I am prepared to re home as needed. Depending on how quickly it happens, I got the ??from the wife to get a big tank when we finish the basement. When that happens, I plan on getting a 180+.

 

[Jexnell]

Sounds like you have planned ahead, and willing to take action if needed both good things. Just keep and eye out and be ready to take action with possible divider or emergency/hospital tank.
Especially watch them Cons. If you got a male and female they shall start breeding soon and cause all kinds of unplanned chaos. I had a pair boss around an obviously bigger fish till I got the divider.


You got some potential brutes in there, it's just a matter of size and maturity and the fight for territory will be on.

 

[esoxlucius]

I've got very limited knowledge when it comes to cichlids. I recognise the names of most of the ones you have and boy is someone going to throw a grenade in that tank soon.

Make the most of it whilst it's nice and peaceful and i'd hurry up with that 180g too!

Keep us updated on this thread, it'll be very interesting as to who ends up pulling through once the war starts. I'm leaning toward the dovii.

 

[Jexnell]

I'll add this, in picture three that RD looks female, and flirting with the JD so keep an eye on that.

 

[Bobby2415]

Sounds like you have planned ahead, and willing to take action if needed both good things. Just keep and eye out and be ready to take action with possible divider or emergency/hospital tank.
Especially watch them Cons. If you got a male and female they shall start breeding soon and cause all kinds of unplanned chaos. I had a pair boss around an obviously bigger fish till I got the divider.
View attachment 1410428

You got some potential brutes in there, it's just a matter of size and maturity and the fight for territory will be on.

Thanks for the reply! Yah I’m kind of just waiting and seeing. Im pretty positive my big black convict is a male and the pink is a female. They follow each other around constantly. I do a 50% water change every 3-4 days. When I do the water change I move the decor in half the tank and do a pretty good gravel vac job so it makes me wonder if that keeps them from completing their spawning routine.

 

[Bobby2415]

I'll add this, in picture three that RD looks female, and flirting with the JD so keep an eye on that.

I was curious on the sex of the RD actually. What makes you think it’s a female?

 

[Jexnell]

I was curious on the sex of the RD actually. What makes you think it’s a female?

The shape of the head, body, fins. Mostly tho it's the head shape.


So the angle these lines make is near the 45° area, males this is closer to the 70 range. This gives females more of a torpedo shape vs the Mac truck bluntness males have in comparison.

 

[MrsE88]

It might be a good idea to pop some sponge filters in there for when the time comes to set up a new tank

Will most of these guys be getting their own tanks in the future or is the goal that you are trying to get them to all live in one big tank eventually?

 

[pelleeklund]

Nice fish, I think your Dovii is a male. You should probably take that green light from the wife and set up at least a 220 in the meantime. Actually, always take the green light as soon as possible, that window can close and you will be kicking yourself.

 

[Bobby2415]

It might be a good idea to pop some sponge filters in there for when the time comes to set up a new tank

Will most of these guys be getting their own tanks in the future or is the goal that you are trying to get them to all live in one big tank eventually?

Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. Honestly, I’m just taking it a day at a time. If I’m able to get a big tank soon enough and these fish all go in it and cooperate with each other, then that is the goal. Otherwise, I’m just keeping an eye on the fish, seeing if I end up liking the personality of one much more than the rest and re home accordingly when the time comes.