Even tougher to get a $185 wc Koliba lap on a Friday and have it jump out that weekend on Sunday night.... Been there!
Bichir with aggressive cichlids.
- Thread starter Covetous
- Start date
I thought I had all bases covered since the lid was tight with the plastic back on the top cut tight to everything... well I did not take into consideration the glass on the top was thin and with enough momentum the fish could pop it up and get out. Now I use heavier glass tops and weigh them down.
I've only had one fish do the suicide jump. About a 4ft zebra morey. I found it when I got home from work one night. Hard as a rock, mad as hell. So I threw it in the brackish Creek behind my house. Thinking something would eat its body.
Well turns out Morey eels can live up to 72 hours with no water. Heh. It was hardened but alive when I tossed it. Woops.... I'm sure he is stalking that Creek to this day. XD
Well turns out Morey eels can live up to 72 hours with no water. Heh. It was hardened but alive when I tossed it. Woops.... I'm sure he is stalking that Creek to this day. XD
Although it can be done, I would caution with the more aggressive cichlids. Although keeping them in large numbers helps with the aggression.....red devils can be jerks. Just my experience. Couldn't even put my hand in to clean the tanks.
What cichlids are you keeping ? The only guarantee with mixing cichlids is one of them is gonna throw you a curve ball lol.
In all honesty nothing any of us say matters because these are very intelligent fish and it all boils dow to what that particular jag (just an example) views as either competition, a threat or not welcomed in its territory. You should ask the owner of the shop about the tank. Ask if he had to play with the stock a bit to find the right fish to get along. Plus larger tank means more room for territories.
Theres allot of variables like size and age of the cichlids. Most of the heavy hitters change drastically when they get a little larger.
Boils down to how much time and effort you want to invest in this. You may have to try different fish out just to see what works.
I have a pearsei that doesnt get along with cichlids but totally ignores the polys. A heterospolus that wouldnt hurt a fly but even she will pretend to charge at them.
I traded in a nigerian lap to an lfs and not 3 seconds after the guy dropped it in (mixed cichlid tank) a few jds started attacking it. The lap was probably 12 inches and the jds were maybe 3.
Ive kept argentea that absolutely wouldnt tolerate any fish regardless of the species. Shredded my del. Zonatus that would sort of tolerate them but instantly attacked other cichlids.
Its really just a crap shoot. If i had to try a cichlid comm with polys again i would probably look to keep all females at smaller sizes and add them to the tank after the polys to avoid them establishing territories prior to the polys
Oh yeah forgot to mention feeding the polys can be a chore too. Maybe keep herbivores. I would imagine parachromis would enjoy the tilapia meant for the polys
