180g Stocking

[twentyleagues]

So ropes need to be in groups 3 to 5. They will fit nicely in a large cichlid mouth just like spaghetti! As for polys they play nice with just about all bigger fish......every once in a while you'll get a jerk but its rare. Just remember polys tend to be longer and thinner might look like a snack to larger cichlids, especially when small. Also polys won't fight with the cichlids so if there is aggression the poly will get beat up and flighty if it survives they are known jumpers so it will only increase in possibility if the cichlids are picking on them.

The problem with wanting large s/a c/a cichlids is their aggression levels these will fight to the death alot of times. You said you can't rehome so someones going to die. Your Texas is your center piece. Build around it. No other large cichlids if you do its going to result in its or your Texas dying. Your Texas has already killed a jd so.....
I liked the mix of
Texas
Fms
Congos
Couple larger uj polys like delhazi ....I worry if you have the smaller upper jaws like your sen could end up being eaten. Going into lower jaws would probably limit your choices of dithers it's possible even with the ujs that dithers may be on the menu.
My tank is mostly polys and ropes. I started with 6 longfin black skirts as I dont hate how they look to cycle the tank and be dithers I'm down to 2. I have all upper jaw polys which tend to be smaller although there are three that get 20"+ ornate, weeksi, teugelsi. I do have 2 teugelsi the tend to stay on the thinner side as do all ujs vs ljs.
Good luck

 

[Trichome jones]

This thread is insane.

 

[lp85253]

a lot of madness on this thread... you have many stocking options with 1 tex and 1 poly... just keep it simple... an oscar may or may not work , depending on the tex ... i might go for a small group of convict size cichlids with the tex as a centerpiece ..

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Good lord. twentyleagues and Gourami Swami have given some great advice. I worry about your polys/ropes in a tank with a texas cichlid. My suggestion would be to go over to the poly forum and get some advice on there to see if they think this is feasible.

One thing you need to keep in mind, if you can't rehome your fish, then mixing a large cichlid tank together is going to end up with a lot of dead and maimed fish. I would be extra cautious considering you won't be able to rehome whatever you select.

 

[twentyleagues]

So do you all ever just wonder if there was someone out there going watch this I'm going to rile up the fish nerd heard?
I hate replying to these because it's just so out there. "Really are you effing with me right now or are you just that dense?" Is what I think when I read these and there are so many. Then I want to post this kind of reply and don't because I don't want to hurt feelings. Sorry op if you are sincere. There is a lot of info but you are going to do what you want to do anyway you always do.....if this is true. You are going to loose a lot of fish buddy.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

So do you all ever just wonder if there was someone out there going watch this I'm going to rile up the fish nerd heard?
I hate replying to these because it's just so out there. "Really are you effing with me right now or are you just that dense?" Is what I think when I read these and there are so many. Then I want to post this kind of reply and don't because I don't want to hurt feelings. Sorry op if you are sincere. There is a lot of info but you are going to do what you want to do anyway you always do.....if this is true. You are going to loose a lot of fish buddy.

Sometimes I do. I got the feeling this one was sincere though

 

[Jexnell]

So do you all ever just wonder if there was someone out there going watch this I'm going to rile up the fish nerd heard?
I hate replying to these because it's just so out there. "Really are you effing with me right now or are you just that dense?" Is what I think when I read these and there are so many. Then I want to post this kind of reply and don't because I don't want to hurt feelings. Sorry op if you are sincere. There is a lot of info but you are going to do what you want to do anyway you always do.....if this is true. You are going to loose a lot of fish buddy.

I feel the same way at times and have done some weird stocking myself. First I read the Posters bio. In this case it's a overly excited teenager. So I give him some slack, and try to teach some things along the way.

 

[twentyleagues]

I feel the same way at times and have done some weird stocking myself. First I read the Posters bio. In this case it's a overly excited teenager. So I give him some slack, and try to teach some things along the way.

Yes and that's how I usually go ahead too. I hope that my last post curbs the enthusiasm a little so they will listen to reason. I did not intend to do harm but he needs to realize that with those fish and his directive to not rehome he needs to excerize caution.

Sometimes I do. I got the feeling this one was sincere though

I think so too. Just sometimes. I agree with Jexnell just a super excited teen with the posibility of a really cool new tank. Alot of us started the same way and had some successes and alot of failures. Hope they can have just success. We can help but he needs to listen to the masses.