texas cichlid tank mates
- Thread starter Matste32
- Start date
I've had success keeping Rivulatus, Festae, Salvini & Jack Dempsy w/ Texas Cichlids.
What size tank are they in? Tank size and if they are an actual pair will make a big difference for tank mates.
As you have probably know, they are the only cichlid endemic to their habitat. but they do share it with some very beautiful Sunfish (Such as Lepomis species -red ear and bluegill), minnows, mollies, catfish, bullheads, and killifish. So choices are quite varied if you wanted a south Texas biotope.
Some of the Gobys and sleepers would also be interesting substrate hugging additions, and Texas is part of their range..
Awaous
Eleotris
Awaous
Eleotris
In a 7 Foot tank you may be OK to try some similarly tough CA cichlids. I have kept cichlids from the vieja family and amphilophus family with carpintis, as well as tetracanthus, istlanum, convicts, probably more than I can remember at some point. In 6 foot tanks.
Central american communities are really a balancing act. Have another tank on standby in case you need to shuffle fish around because you never know, just because I had success with something, doesn't mean it would work for someone else. Go for tough fish that get to at least 6" or larger, and try introducing a few at a time, so new fish don't get singled out. You will probably have some trial and error to find a balance that works. And you may find when the carpintis get large, they take up more of the 7' tank than you'd expect; for this reason I avoid breeding pairs when trying to do community tanks.
Central american communities are really a balancing act. Have another tank on standby in case you need to shuffle fish around because you never know, just because I had success with something, doesn't mean it would work for someone else. Go for tough fish that get to at least 6" or larger, and try introducing a few at a time, so new fish don't get singled out. You will probably have some trial and error to find a balance that works. And you may find when the carpintis get large, they take up more of the 7' tank than you'd expect; for this reason I avoid breeding pairs when trying to do community tanks.
