American or African - Which is best?

[Mystix212]

American cichlids will always treat you like an underwater dog. So much personality. With a 180G tank, think of stocking in the way of Jaguar, Oscar, Vieja, Festae (Female only), Green terror, etc. Do some research on large American cichlids and you'll find what you like. After that stage, ask us which ones will go together.

 

[Red Devil]

I've found Africans to be anything but boring. when set up properly, Africans are highly active, always displaying for dominance, breeding, and interacting. Ive had several Africans that will eat from my hand as well.

If you like aquascaping, that is another plus for Africans as they prefer lots of rock work and territories to defend

Your fish and tanks are gorgeous beyond belief..

 

[octofasciatus]

Your question is confusing. What are you wanting to put together in a 150? Are you wanting to add oscars and jd to the fish you have listed in a 150?

Nah - read the start of my thread. I have this 150 to set up and could originally not decide wether to keep American or African Cichlids. After much advice I made a desicion on Americans but wanted further advice on adding some existing fish from another tank and wondered If they would be compatible together.

 

[Wajrhall]

Compatibility with cichlids is always a crap shoot, and some thing that works in the beginning may not work 3 months down the road. But don't be discouraged, I say go for it. If one fish is picked on more than the others remove it or make more hiding places.

I keep mostly cichlids and am starting to add cats I just bought a Lima and even though it is quite a bit smaller they seem to leave it alone. I did have a convict that was nipping his barbles so I removed that one. They don't seem to care for Pleco's for some reason, but just push them until they move.

But, Like I said you'll have to try it and see. With small oscars and JD's I would guess you'd be ok, fully stocked for months. Good luck, Can't wait to see the pics.

 

[Kogo]

I've found Africans to be anything but boring. when set up properly, Africans are highly active, always displaying for dominance, breeding, and interacting. Ive had several Africans that will eat from my hand as well.

If you like aquascaping, that is another plus for Africans as they prefer lots of rock work and territories to defend

Your fish and tanks are gorgeous beyond belief..

thanks.

 

[pdbrady]

Nah - read the start of my thread. I have this 150 to set up and could originally not decide wether to keep American or African Cichlids. After much advice I made a desicion on Americans but wanted further advice on adding some existing fish from another tank and wondered If they would be compatible together.

I was with you and your question in the beginning of the thread. What I was confused on, you answered in this post. I was asking if you were wanting to add the americans to the pre-existing fish you listed.

 

[octofasciatus]

Ah. I see - sorry for the confusion. From the list of my existing fish are there any that will not be compatible.

When my new tank is cycled and ready to add fish. Should i add my existing fish a few weeks before adding any cichlids.

Or should I add new cichlids - let them establish themselves and then add my catfish etc.

Common sense tells me to add my existing fish first as if I add them last the cichlids may have already established terrertories and be more asggresive to the newcomers.

Advice welcome.

 

[pdbrady]

Yes, put your current fish in first. Sounds like it might work. Just watch for the jd as they get larger, picking at the bgk. And there is always the possibility of the cae ending up in a larger mouth. I have one in with my ca/sa and a couple bichirs.....but I started with 3.

 

[octofasciatus]

Yes, put your current fish in first. Sounds like it might work. Just watch for the jd as they get larger, picking at the bgk. And there is always the possibility of the cae ending up in a larger mouth. I have one in with my ca/sa and a couple bichirs.....but I started with 3.

Cheers, I will probablly keep the BGK in the existing community tank as he's still only about 5".CAE has bullied my Pictus for months and killed my iridescant shark yesterday so it's time he was taught a lesson.

 

[thebestincali2000]

i would defineatly go with sa/ca cichlids. the only african fish that i like are frontosas and buttikoferies, both of which are awsome. but if you have a power outage for more than a day or two, you might find all your africans dead. im speaking from personal instances. i had 3 frontosas, all which were like 15 bucks, with my loaches and sharks and sa/ca cichlids. we had an outage and everything excepy my oscar,sevrum,convicts,jackdempseys,my salvini,and my plecostomases, all died. i personally wont be doing an african tank again