best tankmates for jewel cichlids

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T

Tjend

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 10, 2009
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Texas
hey everyone just started my 30 gallon over, got it cycled , and now it has 4 jewel cichlids in it about 1-2 inches, 2$ a piece. i was wondering what good tankmates would be. also i would like some kind of fish in the tank that will help with algae. also does anyone know how to sex these.
Thanks:)
 
After a pair has formed, I doubt they will tolerate anything else in the tank. You might be okay with a couple of bristlenose plecos, and maybe some quick schooling fish (such as barbs) as tankmates, but I wouldn't try anything else. Also, just so you know, Jewels are African Cichlids, so you might get more help with them if you post in the African Cichlid forum :)
 
yeah these are great little fish but they are african so you'll get better advice if you ask there. but yeah these guys are mean little SOBs once they start breeding i had a pair in my 120g tank and they were one of the smallest fish in there but they were the bosses and no body messed with their nesting site. they are like the cons of the african world
 
I agree with the above with one small exception...

Jewels are West African River fish.

The water of the W African rivers is very very similar to that of upper South America (soft in regards to PH & GH) and is nothing like the waters of the Rift Lakes.

The behavior of Jewels is much more typical of Central American Cichlids (aggressive solitary or pairing fish) and not much like the typical behanviro of the Rift Lake Cichlids (colony fish).

So while they are not SA/CA fish... people with experience in SA/CA fish could offer better advice than those with only Rift Lake Cichlid advice.


But the above advice is still solid. Jewels Cichlids have an aggression level very comparable to Convicts.
 
yeah i meant to direct the OP to the "African Riverine and Madagascar" forum NOT the rift lakes, you are very right in that their requirements are pretty much the same as SA/CA cichlids
 
haha sorry i was in a rush and just put it down in that catagory. wow i didnt know they would be that aggressive but i hear those mbunas will skin em alive lol
 
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