Advice on stocking a 90 gallon

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Sidney73

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2018
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I'm new to this - first time with anything bigger than a 20 gallon (so excited - woohooo!) 2 days ago I added a JD and a gold severum. Loving it! They seem really happy and water parameters are great (did all my research) and I'm looking forward to adding the next few. (The last fish I'm going to add are a few clown loaches and plecos when the tank is fully established but I've got some playing room for some more fish between now and then.) Green Texas or Green Terror (or are both too aggressive?) Definitely one Firemouth (my son wants one.) I really want a redhead vieja - too aggressive? I also like vieja argentea and the red shoulder severum... (should there be 2 severums in a tank this size though?) Geophagus stripetail are kind of cute... I don't necessarily want dither fish, but is that important to help everyone get along better? I have my eye on dorityi rainbows if I need them (or maybe the red glossolepis)... If I do all of these it's probably way to many for a 90 gallon I'm sure(?) Suggestions for the right combination of pretty and somewhat peaceful? Sorry, I know this is a lot of questions for one post... :) Thanks!

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Both green texas , and terror are quite aggressive from what i have seen. The redhead vieja and firemouth are pretty good for community tanks.The red shoulder would be a good addition too. These fish also stay small enough for your size tank. I wouldn't put to all of the fish you have listed in though for the sake of you bioload.
 
Sounds good! So just those 3 then... and do I need the rainbows to keep the peace?
 
Alright, help me pick one: red shoulder severum or vieja Argentea or geophagus stripetail (I'm definitely adding the firemouth and a redhead vieja...)
 
Alright, help me pick one: red shoulder severum or vieja Argentea or geophagus stripetail (I'm definitely adding the firemouth and a redhead vieja...)

What fish do you mean when you say redhead vieja? If you mean Vieja Melanura, I wouldn't put one in a 90 gallon. It will grow too big for it.
 
Alright, help me pick one: red shoulder severum or vieja Argentea or geophagus stripetail (I'm definitely adding the firemouth and a redhead vieja...)

I would skip on the Argentea and viejas. They get too big. Argentea are very aggressive.
I would do a group of firemouths instead. They do best in groups and their interactions can be very entertaining.
 
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+1, definitely no vieja. A lone male would outgrow the tank, and I definitely can't imagine one sharing a 90 gallon. It may seem big to you now if it's your first big tank, and while your fish are small. But a 90 gallon is a small tank when we are talking about CA cichlids.
With the JD and the severum, you won't have room for much else when they get large. If your son wants a firemouth, I would add the firemouth and your clown loaches, and call it a day. Those three are relatively mellow, I could see that combo working in a 90.
 
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