Am i overstocked or safe?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Not to sound hard core, but...AGW (Ain't gonna work). :shakehead

Not sure how you ended up with that combo...that 125 will be a bucket in 3 months. Like everyone said, territory/space/incompatibility/stress problems. I wouldn't 'wait' on anything...start preparing to get a couple of 75s (or better) right now. Keep some extra media in the current tank, get it seasoned up so you can transport when things go sideways. And they will. You just want to stay ahead of the curve and not have to react AFTER fish are injured or killed.

Get some 18-30 gallon totes (lids too!) and keep 'em stored. Extra airstones, hose, pumps, the whole deal. I keep fake plants for all tubs and qt to reduce stress. You also want your fish to grow to max size and potential, they need space and clean water for that.

Good luck! :headbang2
 
I have a empty 55 gallon i can put someone in. I just love the setup so much right now ?. Do you guys think if i took out the texas cichlid and added a jewel cichlid it would work better long term because they stay smaller?
 
I have a empty 55 gallon i can put someone in. I just love the setup so much right now ?. Do you guys think if i took out the texas cichlid and added a jewel cichlid it would work better long term because they stay smaller?
Jewel cichlids are also aggressive, I’ve heard horror stories about how even little ones can wreak havoc. You’re also Ganna be overstocked as they grow already I wouldn’t add more fish
 
I think i may remove the oscar seeing that he will likely get the biggest. This should free up alot of tank space, and also reduce waste and aggression. What do you guys think?
 
I think i may remove the oscar seeing that he will likely get the biggest. This should free up alot of tank space, and also reduce waste and aggression. What do you guys think?
Remove the Devil. That's what's going to cause your issues. The Oscar may be a big waste producer, but is by far not the most aggressive
 
Ok thanks alot. Do you think the texas cichlid is less aggressive than the red devil once full grown? I havent really kept a texas before but they are gorgeous fish.
 
Ok thanks alot. Do you think the texas cichlid is less aggressive than the red devil once full grown? I havent really kept a texas before but they are gorgeous fish.
Texas cichlids are also pretty aggressive. I'd say thats ganna be your #2 problem fish after the Devil. It's just kind of unlucky that you happened to pick out cichlids that dont really adjust to communities well
 
Lot's of great advice here.

Finwin's note about the backup supplies to separate in emergency is great, and also what people have said about the red devil and the Texas being the biggest potential problems.

I've come to like having dither fish in cichlid tanks, both to increase the cichlids' confidence by always having fish moving around the tank, and to spread out aggression. I would recommend adding maybe half dozen silver dollars or tinfoil barbs of 3-4" size and be prepared to let go of some fish as they grow.

An eventual community of the oscar, convict, jack dempsey, the catfish, and 3-4 silver dollars or half-grown tinfoils would make an active and pretty tank. The red devil and texas would stay in my tank until they proved themselves to be too much for it, which I would expect sooner than later.
 
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