Angelfish and Firemouths

[Angelphish]

I currently have three 3" Angels (I plan to get two more), and I was curious if I could put one or more 3ish" Firemouths with them. I have a 7' x 2' x 2', 200 gallon. I also have two Severum, one at 1" and the other at 3". Would they be okay with the Firemouth/s? If Firemouths aren't compatible, what other cichlids are?

 

[peathenster]

The tank is certainly big enough but personally I wouldn't add firemouths. Aggression aside, they are CA and prefer harder water. It would make the tank look a little, well, weird

You have plenty of choices. Maybe a group of Geophagus or some cool acara types?

 

[Angelphish]

Do the Geophagus school? If so, can I get by with about three?

 

[peathenster]

To be a little more specific, I meant to say the "surinamensis type" of Geophagus, such as G. abalios, G. sp orange head "tapajos" (good choice for you), G. altifrons (may be too big). There are two other types of Geophagus that are very different.

They don't "school" in the strict sense. Few cichlid species do. But they do well in a group, particularly when they are growing up - they tend to me more outgoing and aggression is spread out. As breeding adults they are fine as pairs.

Look into G. sp. Orange head "Tapajos". A group of 6 to 8 would be lovely in your tank. Oh and don't forget they like sandy substrates.

 

[Angelphish]

I already have sand, but I hate the maintenance on it.

 

[Angelphish]

I could probably fit a school of eight Orange heads.

 

[neutrino]

They don't "school" in the strict sense. Few cichlid species do. But they do well in a group, particularly when they are growing up - they tend to me more outgoing and aggression is spread out. As breeding adults they are fine as pairs.

+1. In particular, the general and common advice that geos like to be in groups misleads a lot of people into thinking they need to always need to remain in a group when, in fact, adult breeding pairs are perfectly content as pairs-- which doesn't mean they need to be in a breeding tank by themselves, they'll do just fine, often better, in a tank with other compatible fish.

 

[peathenster]

I already have sand, but I hate the maintenance on it.

Actually with Geos you won't have to

Orange heads are mid sized Geos but they do get to 8". Start with 6.

 

[Angelphish]

All the websites I've been on say 5"-6". Knowing that I will go with about 6.

 

[neutrino]

I already have sand, but I hate the maintenance on it.

Maintenance-- compared to? What kind of sand and how deep? Years ago I converted all my tanks from gravel to sand, primarily because my first sand bottom tank taught me there's far less maintenance than gravel. At least ime, in a moderately stocked, well filtered and maintained tank, with 1-2 inches average depth of sand, and with some fish that do sand sifting-- like cyphotilapia or geos-- I'm rarely having to do any sand cleaning, once every few months, some tanks more like once in six months.