Archocentrus nanoluteus

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cornbread_5

cornbread_5

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2007
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I was just wondering what can be kept with these guys as tank mates. I currently have six of these juveniles guys growing out in a 75 gallon. I am looking for some livebearers and schooling fish to go with these guys and can other cichlids go with these guys.
 
Being the smallest cichlid from Central America, I believe choices are limited.
When I tried to keep mine with larger species they seemed to suffer,
A cichlid that comes from the same area and grows slowly would be Panamius panamense.
Both my naoluteus and panamense did well in a 75 gallon.
And I agree live bearers would also be a good choice, Olomius and Phallichthys among others would be geographically correct if that was your intent.

panamense
 
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I've got mine in a 5 foot tank with a mix of small CA cichlids, and he does OK. He squares up with my baby carpintis, and is aggressive enough to hold his own with fish of the same size, but he does get pushed around a bit by anything bigger than him. For a while, he was being bullied pretty badly by my sajica and I had to put him in his own 12 gallon for a while, then switch the big tank's decor, and reintroduce. After I did that, and added a couple more little fish to dissipate aggresion, he seems fine. I'd put him with small fish that aren't too aggressive. I bet Nicaraguense would be a good tankmate.
Here's my little one
20161008_132819_zpsvdig3odm.jpg
 
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If you don't mind them being mixed with CA cichlids from other parts of Central America, I recommend thorichthys helleri, aureus, or the mixteco varieties if your tank is at least a 75. Medium sized live bearers like sword tails, mollies, and other xiphophorus species would work well. You can also use medium deeper bodied tetras that are more robust like Bueno's Aires tetras or Columbia tetras if you don't mind venturing into south America. The Buenos Aires tetras actually closely mimic the CA native Astyanax tetras while not growing quite as large.

Decorate with sand and some round boulders. Add some wood to create more shelter and plant with a few pieces or hornwort and some lilies and you can have a gorgeous tank.
 
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I would let them get established before adding any other cichlid. Nanos are small and easily out-competed. I experienced it and have heard the same from several people that have bred them. They have a heard time establishing themselves in a community.
 
My females were more aggressive than males. They would go at it with my convicts and sajica
 
For me, if the fish are unable to pair, guard a territory, and then spawn then I was not successful. Totally different if you are just keeping a single specimen in a community tank.

I would mix a large group of livebearers of your choice (Except for the more aggressive goodeids). Let your group of nanos pair off and spawn. At that juncture, add something else and see how it works. The nanos would stand a much better chance maintaining themselves that way.
 
My nanoluteus have always been able to fend for themselves against thorichthys.
 
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