75 gallon question

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The catfish are Rhamdia, not sure of species, and the live bearers are either Poecilia latipinna or velifora, and or Gambusia yucatana.
Below another video of JD habitat, this one is cenote Cristalino.
and yet another from cenote Aktun ha, where the cichlids are Parachromis friedrichsthalii,
and an non-native Tilapine. This video was shot after some heavy rains, so a bit turbid. Each time I jerk, its because the Astyanax tetras are biting my ears.
 
Nice videos.
Nymphia lily's seem to be quite a common plant in c/a biotopes yet you don't often see them in people's biotope tanks.I am not sure if that particular lily is available but it looks just like the African lotus lily's available in the hobby.
I have used these and even pearsei and veija left them alone.
 
If going with convicts, it would probably be better to get a male/female pair.

Also, you may want to consider other Central American fish like swordtails or mollies as tankmates. Tiger Barbs are Asian and Cory are South American. Corys are going to want warmer, softer, more acidic water than convicts.

Using fish from the same region together means they will thrive in the same water conditions, and it will also be aesthetically pleasing as a "biotope" even if it's only a rough approximation.
 
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If going with convicts, it would probably be better to get a male/female pair.

Also, you may want to consider other Central American fish like swordtails or mollies as tankmates. Tiger Barbs are Asian and Cory are South American. Corys are going to want warmer, softer, more acidic water than convicts.

Using fish from the same region together means they will thrive in the same water conditions, and it will also be aesthetically pleasing as a "biotope" even if it's only a rough approximation.
but why get a pair of convicts and risk them taking over the whole 75g when you could do a convict, a Jewel, a FM and a JD as long as the caves and hide-places are set properly. I tried and tested stuff from different continents and Jewels go better w/ SA/CA than Africans and some SA/CAs do. By pairing anything in a smaller-ish tank you are limiting your options even more. 1 each from a few species will keep things interesting and harder to form a hierarchy and a dominant fish. A pair will do nothing but take over and kill intruders.
 
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I think it boils down to taste.
Personally I would rather watch the pairing,courting and intricate behaviour of a pair of cichlids in a pleasing biotope with dithers they have evolved with in nature.
Nothing wrong in mixing different species if they are compatible but to me an assortment of different fish from different continents is is a bit messy.Like I said a matter of taste.
 
I think it boils down to taste.
Personally I would rather watch the pairing,courting and intricate behaviour of a pair of cichlids in a pleasing biotope with dithers they have evolved with in nature.
Nothing wrong in mixing different species if they are compatible but to me an assortment of different fish from different continents is is a bit messy.Like I said a matter of taste.
you ever try putting Jewels in an African biotope?
 
I think I missed your point there Frank.
I don't see why a pair of jewell cichlids would not work with some African tetra
 
No.
One is a West African species and the other rift lake so to my way of thinking not a good mix to begin with.
A.) they don't fit in ANY African biotope, even Riverine .....even all Jewels
B.) your exact statement goes the same for SA/CA, but they work wonderfully in a SA/CA tank, while they get bullied in Mbuna tanks
C.) In a tank that is mixed of both, they fit somewhere in the middle.
D.) If you don't want just a species-only tank of Jewels, put 'em with SA/CA, the latter preferably
I think I missed your point there Frank.
I don't see why a pair of jewell cichlids would not work with some African tetra
no, other CICHLIDS.......not talking dithers or bottom-feeders - SA/CA Cichlids
 
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