75 gallon, a single and a pair?

[duanes]

If you want a breeding pair of any cichlids, and add a single interloper, you should expect carnage once the pair start to breed, especially in such a small tank. Any pair of medium size cichlids will see the entire tank as their territory, and try to kill any others once spawning begins. You might get away with it in a 6 ft tank, and even then, once spawning began you might need to divide the tank.
And any single species that could stand up to a united pair, would then be able to eat all the young.
Of course if that is not a conrcern, then it doesn't matter.

 

[Dwl0222]

I would think any cryptoheros or amitilania species should work well as a pair.
I play with a fire a little bit, in my own hobby.
I would think a single carpintis or nic could also work. Just some of my favorites.
Not too much bigger and quit simular to salvini is archocentrus centrarchus- beautiful peaceful fish- but hard to find.
If you did find it I would be tempted to just give them the tank and keep a trio of firemouths below

Only thing is I’m not sure I want anything that gets quite as big as the Carpintis. They can reach about 10-12 inches right? Ideally I’d like to have a smallish pair (Sajica, keyhole, cons, firemouth) with a single fish that gets 8-9 inches at most, something like a Sal or JD etc. It may come down to just giving something a shot if I find some Hugh i really like. Seems most combos are hit and miss anyway

 

[Mitchell The Monster]

Think they’d be ok in a 75 with a single larger cichlid like I mentioned in my original post, Salvini, JD, any others? Or are they best as the only cichlid in that size tank?

I have owned severums for many years and they have been a delight, Salvini and JD are a risk because they are sometimes very in tolerant of tankmates.
I would say for the larger cichlid, Severum, Electric blue acara, or angelfish as possibilities. All of which can be commonly found at any LFS.

 

[Dwl0222]

If you want a breeding pair of any cichlids, and add a single interloper, you should expect carnage once the pair start to breed, especially in such a small tank. Any pair of medium size cichlids will see the entire tank as their territory, and try to kill any others once spawning begins. You might get away with it in a 6 ft tank, and even then, once spawning began you might need to divide the tank.
And any single species that could stand up to a united pair, would then be able to eat all the young.
Of course if that is not a conrcern, then it doesn't matter.

You’re the 2nd person to say something similar to this. Maybe I should rethink what I want to do. I’m not overly concerned with the fry (I always feel like an ass when I say that) but I enjoy watching breeding behavior etc. Thanks for your input

 

[Dwl0222]

I have owned severums for many years and they have been a delight, Salvini and JD are a risk because they are sometimes very in tolerant of tankmates.
I would say for the larger cichlid, Severum, Electric blue acara, or angelfish as possibilities. All of which can be commonly found at any LFS.

I’ve gotten a few “no-gos” as far as mixing a semi aggressive pair with a larger Cichlid in a 75. The one suggestion I think may work is the Key hole pair with a single Severum. Both species are pretty mild tempered. I’ll have to do more research.

 

[Mitchell The Monster]

You are doing a great job on taking 2nd opinions and puting your fish first. Great job! I think you will end up with a lovely tank in the end

 

[Dwl0222]

You are doing a great job on taking 2nd opinions and puting your fish first. Great job! I think you will end up with a lovely tank in the end

Thanks! I don’t mind pushing the limit a bit but I don’t want to have a war in there either. Wonder if I should do a species only tank (with dithers and a cat or something)

 

[PhishMon84]

Only thing is I’m not sure I want anything that gets quite as big as the Carpintis. They can reach about 10-12 inches right? Ideally I’d like to have a smallish pair (Sajica, keyhole, cons, firemouth) with a single fish that gets 8-9 inches at most, something like a Sal or JD etc. It may come down to just giving something a shot if I find some Hugh i really like. Seems most combos are hit and miss anyway

Yeah- carpintis will eventually get over 10” my male nic is about 8” after 2.5 yrs and is beautiful.
I have a few tanks I can move things around too if they get too large or are uncooperative- so take my opinion with a grain of salt

 

[dan518]

Ime three cichlids hardly ever work, one is always going to end up as the punch bag. I would go for a pair of medium size or a group, thorichthys, guianacara etc.

 

[duanes]

I had a pair of Coptodon bythobates, that after spawning 3 times, I could no longer give fry away (so saturated the market), so I left the fry in a community tank. Every couple days I would watch the pair kill one other member of the community, and drag the carcass to the growing fry to feed on, amazingly dedicated parents (not so good for the community).
I finally gave the mated pair away for someone else to BAP