40 breeder stock options?

[duanes]

Thoricthys would be do-able for a good while but not forever, at full max size a group would be packed in there. Need more like a 75 minimum. Maybe just a pair in a 40 would be OK. Still I think it would look small. I've never heard of pasionis being the largest thoricthys, I would have thought maculipinnis. Most of the thoricthys can reach 6" eventually though, may be a few of the less common ones stay 5". Meeki for example can definitely reach 6".
Rainbow cichlids are a good option, a pair would be fine in a 40 for a long while. Placid fish.
I do think dwarf pikes would be good as well. Need a low pH, wheras these other fish mentioned like it higher.

Agree with the above, I consider a 40 to small for any but dwarf cichlids, and I've seen Thorichthys in the 10"-12" range, so I consider even a 75 a bit too small for a reasonable size shoal of FMs.
If you have soft water, the array of S American dwarfs is extensive,
but In the hard water realm only A nanoluteus, H multispinossa, and maybe a few other Amatitlania, or Neetroplus nematopsus from the Central American category, with geographically correct live bearers would work in a biotope setting.
Or of course rift lake African dwarfs.

One outside the box consideration might be a few Etroplus canarensus from India, with small barbs of rasboras as dithers.
I had a shoal or about half dozen in a 55 that was quite an interesting tank.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Ive just set up a 40G with a similar theme. Just put in 1m and 2f swordtails as dithers and will be looking for a pair of rainbow cichlids for the main fish. I will probably get a few guppies or mollies too just to add a bit more liveliness. I would have preferred the nanoluteus but they arent available here. The temptation to push things to the limit is always there but I think a 40G is more suited to the smaller and more peaceful cichlids. Im still considering a pair of convicts but dont really want them to be breeding constantly and terrorising all the other fish in there.
Take a look at Rass thread with his rainbow cichlids, everytime i get tempted to go crazy with my stock considerations I look at his setup and think "thats actually very cool", it makes me realise a balanced peaceful tank canlook nice and be interesting and you dontreally need big aggresive fish to have a cool cichlid tank.

 

[Rass]

Ive just set up a 40G with a similar theme. Just put in 1m and 2f swordtails as dithers and will be looking for a pair of rainbow cichlids for the main fish. I will probably get a few guppies or mollies too just to add a bit more liveliness. I would have preferred the nanoluteus but they arent available here. The temptation to push things to the limit is always there but I think a 40G is more suited to the smaller and more peaceful cichlids. Im still considering a pair of convicts but dont really want them to be breeding constantly and terrorising all the other fish in there.
Take a look at Rass thread with his rainbow cichlids, everytime i get tempted to go crazy with my stock considerations I look at his setup and think "thats actually very cool", it makes me realise a balanced peaceful tank canlook nice and be interesting and you dontreally need big aggresive fish to have a cool cichlid tank.

Yes sir! I have my big aggressive fish, but my tanks that are very active and full of life are incredibly rewarding. I have a 40B that's heavily planted with yellow tiger endlers, blue dream neocaridina, an otocinclus, two reticulated hillstream loaches, and a bunch of snails. Always something to look at in there. The nanoluteus are beautiful small cichlids as well. I want to do swordtails with my rainbow cichlids also, but I'll probably wait until I dont have any angelfish. The Angel's pick off the rainbow cichlid fry so I'm sure they would get the swordtails as well. My LFS had a bunch of really nice looking swordtails but I decided to hold off for now. They would make a great combo with the multispinosa. Even when breeding, and with fry in the tank, they dont do any real damage to tank mates. Mostly just chase away anything that gets too close to their fry.