9" Texas Cichlid Tankmate Help

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J

jarhead92

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 20, 2012
58
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New Hampshire
So I have a 9 inch Texas in a 125g that I purchased a few years ago when he (or she???) was about 2 inches. Up until about 6 months ago he always at least tolerated other tank mates and just chased the other cichlids in the tank around a bit. Now he wants to eat/kill whatever I put in there with him. My last two attempts to add any fish went as follows: I purchased a GT and a Red Tiger Cichlid, each around 3-4 inches. I used a divider for a few days and rearranged the tank before introducing them and then he chased and tried to eat them. So I brought those two back and spent more money ($60) on a 8 inch Jaguar Cichlid which is supposed to be one of the most aggressive fish out there. Same thing happened and I had to take him back as well! So now I’m at a crossroad, do I try to find him a home (very large tank with very large aggressive fish) or is there something I can add that he won’t kill? Very large Oscar? School of SD’s? Pike? Any and all advice and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We love this fish, but I would really like to have more than one to look at. Thank you very much!

Tex 2.jpeg
 
Introducing new fish to this guys turf is going to be a challenge. If you are up for it I would try adding a couple new fish all at once. Maybe a big pleco along with a cichlid or two. Start by moving this guy to a new temporary tank for a couple days. Do a big water change on the 125 along with re-arranging it and maybe adding some new decorations. Then when you are ready put the newbies in along with Tex. It will seem like a new tank to him and everyone will have a chance to stake out a piece while they figure out the pecking order.

The pleco is there to absorb some punishment so the cichlids don`t have too. Let us know how it works out because this is something that comes up from time to time and it will help others.

Welcome to the forum. By the way, he`s a beast!
 
My Texas cichlid knowledge is limited, but does that look like a synspilum to anybody else?
 
Belly up said:
Introducing new fish to this guys turf is going to be a challenge. If you are up for it I would try adding a couple new fish all at once. Maybe a big pleco along with a cichlid or two. Start by moving this guy to a new temporary tank for a couple days. Do a big water change on the 125 along with re-arranging it and maybe adding some new decorations. Then when you are ready put the newbies in along with Tex. It will seem like a new tank to him and everyone will have a chance to stake out a piece while they figure out the pecking order.

The pleco is there to absorb some punishment so the cichlids don`t have too. Let us know how it works out because this is something that comes up from time to time and it will help others.

Welcome to the forum. By the way, he`s a beast!
Click to expand...

^^^^ This will give you the best chance. Could also add the new fish a few days before you put your texas back in the tank. That will give them time to settle before they have to deal with him. Welcome to MFK.... Very nice texas..

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Belly up said:
Introducing new fish to this guys turf is going to be a challenge. If you are up for it I would try adding a couple new fish all at once. Maybe a big pleco along with a cichlid or two. Start by moving this guy to a new temporary tank for a couple days. Do a big water change on the 125 along with re-arranging it and maybe adding some new decorations. Then when you are ready put the newbies in along with Tex. It will seem like a new tank to him and everyone will have a chance to stake out a piece while they figure out the pecking order.

The pleco is there to absorb some punishment so the cichlids don`t have too. Let us know how it works out because this is something that comes up from time to time and it will help others.

Welcome to the forum. By the way, he`s a beast!
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yeah, I should have taken him out for a few days to make the 125 more neutral. I just can't keep spending all this money on failed experiments. Thanks for the info, i'll update once I figure out what to do.
 
decoy50 said:
My Texas cichlid knowledge is limited, but does that look like a synspilum to anybody else?
Click to expand...
it does look like a texas cichlid sysnspilum cross....might have been sold as a texas cichlid...with all the diffrent texas hybrids out there ..but that is definitely not one of the two naturally occuring species or geographic variant species of texas cichlid.... i dont want to sound like the species id police .....just calling it like i see it ....i think the ideas given will help the situation....and i also think the fish looks like a male...which can further help you decide.... good luck
 
oscaroo said:
does look a little off for a texas,... maybe a hybrid...
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Ur repeating what others have already said and he's not asking for an ID.

As for tankmates I would say its very hard to get fish to accept them when that big. Not saying it can't be done but the best way would be to add a fish with a divider. Watch the way they interact and that way u won't have any dead fish on ur hands. A 125 isn't too big when your talking about large cichlids

Just because other say fish are aggressive doesn't mean the ones u buy will be. All fish are different but if you want an aggressive fish then try a male grammodes. Hands down the most aggressive fish pound for pound in my eyes. If you were to put my 6 inch female in with ur texas it wouldn't be very pretty after a few hours or a day. I've watcher take on a venny pike 7 inches bigger than her, she took down a 10 red isletas in a matter of 20 minutes to where she had to be removed .

Here's my suggestions
Male grammodes( very iffy depending on its aggression level)
Larger pikes(venny, cobra, johanna, or lenti)
Veja species


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Don't just throw fish together and expect them to work. Aggressive fish should have a divider to limit contact and after a week or a few take the divider out and see what happens? Good luck and hope I helped

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