BEST big cichlid tank mates

[Kingster]

For my south American tank, I know i will get one oscar and 3 red spotted severums, but what can I get to be tank mates, need 2 species?

Qualifications:
- From South American
- 6 - 8 inches and can add 3 more of this fish to my tank without overstocking
- cool fish i.e (Catfish, Pike cichlid, Schooling fish, etc...)

Thanks for your help

 

[Davidiator]

Silver dollars or Red Snooks

 

[Kingster]

Silver dollars or Red Snooks

How many could I get before my tank is stocked max?

 

[Kingster]

Silver dollars or Red Snooks

120 gallon tank, 60 by 18 i believe, 36 gal trigger sum p

 

[Backfromthedead]

If you were to have just severums it opens up your options quite a bit. The oscar limits you for tankmates and crowds your tank quite a bit. You could keep a few severums with larger tetras, corys, pictus, dwarf cichlids, other friendly fish in your 120. other good SA community centerpiece cichlids would be an uaru or chocolate.

Oscar community tanks usually have tough, larger tankmates and are typically 240+ gallons. I would just try one with some SD and a couple bottom dwellers in the 120. Larger pims like we suggested earlier like ornatus or blochii. Raphaels would work too provided theyre not too small.

 

[Kingster]

If you were to have just severums it opens up your options quite a bit. The oscar limits you for tankmates and crowds your tank quite a bit. You could keep a few severums with larger tetras, corys, pictus, dwarf cichlids, other friendly fish in your 120. other good SA community centerpiece cichlids would be an uaru or chocolate.

Oscar community tanks usually have tough, larger tankmates and are typically 240+ gallons. I would just try one with some SD and a couple bottom dwellers in the 120. Larger pims like we suggested earlier like ornatus or blochii. Raphaels would work too provided theyre not too small.

Hmm, if I get rid of the Oscar..how and keep the Severus, can you give me some stocking options with numbers until my tank is fully stocked

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Have I got deija vu?

 

[Backfromthedead]

Hmm, if I get rid of the Oscar..how and keep the Severus, can you give me some stocking options with numbers until my tank is fully stocked

For a five foot 120:

-Pair of severums of your choosing
-Pair of acara-sized cichlids-many to choose from. Blue acaras are always excellent an excellent choice.
-5 redhead geophagus or other smaller geo.
-5+ pictus or cory cats
-12+ blackskirt, buenos aires, lampeye, or columbian tetras.

Of course theres always substitutions based on personal preference but bottom line is stick to a few larger peaceful fish and build around them. You can always throw in an oddball or two like bgk or a chalceus as well. Just nothing too aggressive if you dont want any problems.

 

[RocketGarStar]

For a five foot 120:

-Pair of severums of your choosing
-Pair of acara-sized cichlids-many to choose from. Blue acaras are always excellent an excellent choice.
-5 redhead geophagus or other smaller geo.
-5+ pictus or cory cats
-12+ blackskirt, buenos aires, lampeye, or columbian tetras.

Of course theres always substitutions based on personal preference but bottom line is stick to a few larger peaceful fish and build around them. You can always throw in an oddball or two like bgk or a chalceus as well. Just nothing too aggressive if you dont want any problems.

Imagine that thickly planted with a big patch of sand in the center for the geos... Ugh, I'm drooling.

 

[mattison187]

I know its breaking the south america rule of yours. But you should consider maybe swapping out the pictus cats for some synodontis. I have a random pictus cat that someone gave me like 3 years ago, and i have tried him in a few different tanks and he just seems to annoy any stock i put him with. Like not aggression by any means, just high strung and constantly darting around and i guess "smelling/tasting?" All the other fish. Just my $.02