38 gallon tank predators?

[white specter crayfish]

"Aztec carpintis cichlid" im assuming you mean hericthys carpintis- they get to about 12" long, beefy, and highly aggressive. Definitely a bad idea for this tank.
This is a very small tank, I think you will have much better luck if you tone back your stocking ideas quite a bit. I don't want to seem like a negative guy or rain on your parade or anything. But if you try any of these ideas you have- large predators, large cichlids, mixing many cichlids- none of that is going to work beyond the very short term in a 29 gallon tank.
I agree that one juli species would be much better, get a group of one species rather than a couple of each, that way the aggression in the group is distributed evenly and you can watch the group behavior. You could also add some shell dwellers with the juli's such as N. Brevis.

oh, from my knowledge they got 6-8 inches, I don't know about the julies though, getting a few of each seems fine, I wouldn't say the tank is overly small and I don't think those kind of cichlids are overly aggressive, I was just thinking 2 of the marlieri, regani, marksmithi, dickfeldi cichlids, with how rocky the environment is I think it would be ok, I don't see why it wouldn't work, it's only 8 small cichlids and I understand you aren't trying to be mean, I only have a 29 gallon so this is what I'm limited to, Ideally I'd have a 90-120 but this is all I've got

 

[J. H.]

oh, from my knowledge they got 6-8 inches, I don't know about the julies though, getting a few of each seems fine, I wouldn't say the tank is overly small and I don't think those kind of cichlids are overly aggressive, I was just thinking 2 of the marlieri, regani, marksmithi, dickfeldi cichlids, with how rocky the environment is I think it would be ok, I don't see why it wouldn't work, it's only 8 small cichlids and I understand you aren't trying to be mean, I only have a 29 gallon so this is what I'm limited to, Ideally I'd have a 90-120 but this is all I've got

I've never kept Julies, but I've nearly bought them a few times, and have researched them. They are nearly unsexable, and have complex social and sex lives that really come out in groups. I've seen different species live together like they are the same, but that just creates hybrid fry. Simpler tanks have always made me happier. Easier to identify problems, care for fish properly, and watch the fish like they are the only thing in the world.

 

[white specter crayfish]

I've never kept Julies, but I've nearly bought them a few times, and have researched them. They are nearly unsexable, and have complex social and sex lives that really come out in groups. I've seen different species live together like they are the same, but that just creates hybrid fry. Simpler tanks have always made me happier. Easier to identify problems, care for fish properly, and watch the fish like they are the only thing in the world.

so you think it would be best if I didn't get a couple different types of julies?

 

[J. H.]

so you think it would be best if I didn't get a couple different types of julies?

Yeah, except for the size difference between species, and the hybridization issue. I would get one type and fill the rest of the tank with three or five mollies.

 

[white specter crayfish]

Yeah, except for the size difference between species, and the hybridization issue. I would get one type and fill the rest of the tank with three or five mollies.

hmmmmmmmmm, what about dickfeldi and marksmithi cichlid, I don't see why they couldn't get along, I just want some that look different from eachother, as long as they have enough hiding spots I think they would be fine, from what I heard they're only aggressive during spawning

 

[J. H.]

hmmmmmmmmm, what about dickfeldi and marksmithi cichlid, I don't see why they couldn't get along, I just want some that look different from eachother, as long as they have enough hiding spots I think they would be fine, from what I heard they're only aggressive during spawning

If that's what you want, do it I would use the mollies for color and variety, and they swim at the top, but do what you like.

 

[white specter crayfish]

If that's what you want, do it I would use the mollies for color and variety, and they swim at the top, but do what you like.

Would they get along though? that's my concern, assuming they have enough caves and stuff I don't see why they wouldn't get along

 

[Gourami Swami]

Would they get along though? that's my concern, assuming they have enough caves and stuff I don't see why they wouldn't get along

Experience is the best teacher. Give it a shot and you will learn from it. I don't think it's a great idea in a 29 gallon tank, long term at least. But you seem determined to try it, so give it a shot.

 

[white specter crayfish]

Experience is the best teacher. Give it a shot and you will learn from it. I don't think it's a great idea in a 29 gallon tank, long term at least. But you seem determined to try it, so give it a shot.

hmmmmmm, ok, yeah I think I'll just go for some dickfeldi and maybe some marksmithi and transcriptus, I'll just have a bunch of rocks and stuff to allow them to get territories for themselves.

 

[james99]

If you end up with a m/f pair, they can easily take over a smaller tank. Other fish will be beat on or killed.