CA cichlid stocking - 6x2x2

[ZoddyZod]

Hello!

New to the forum. Have been keeping fish for 10 years. Had a 4ft 300L and have just upgraded to a 6ft.

Have kept SA cichlids (and still have a Sev) but looking to switch to CA. Mainly as I have hard water (and not interested in African cichlids).

I'm looking for stocking advice. I'm keen on Vieja. Was thinking 1 or 2 of them, with some smaller (firemouth , rainbows) fish alongside.

Ideally my Sev could remain (he's about 5yrs old)

Looking forward to reading your ideas!

Cheers

 

[Rocksor]

Choose a single less aggressive vieja-type and it might work (no maculicauda). I've had a pretty mellow female bifasciatus. Another option is breidohri.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello!

New to the forum. Have been keeping fish for 10 years. Had a 4ft 300L and have just upgraded to a 6ft.

Have kept SA cichlids (and still have a Sev) but looking to switch to CA. Mainly as I have hard water (and not interested in African cichlids).

I'm looking for stocking advice. I'm keen on Vieja. Was thinking 1 or 2 of them, with some smaller (firemouth , rainbows) fish alongside.

Ideally my Sev could remain (he's about 5yrs old)

Looking forward to reading your ideas!

Cheers

Welcome aboard

 

[ZoddyZod]

I've not seen bifasciatus or breidohri locally (but maybe I haven't been looking). synspilum and argentea was what I had in mind.

 

[ZoddyZod]

How about
1 vieja synspilum
2 x firemouth
2 x rainbow
(all juvenile/sub-adult)

+fish currently in the 4ft
adult Sev
BN plecs
6 bronze corydora

 

[duanes]

Choose a single less aggressive vieja-type and it might work (no maculicauda). I've had a pretty mellow female bifasciatus. Another option is breidohri.

Agree with Rocksor.
V bifasciata below

and below V breidhori

If you get a pair, instead of other cichlid species, geographically correct live bearers would be great tank mates and make use of the mid to surface areas of the tank (cichlid mid to lower regions), they help keep Vieja calm, and some eat algae. And even though Vieja are highly vegetarian, live bearer fry will offer occasional snacks.
Although in my tanks, I usually remove gravid female live bearers to another tank to drop fry, so there are a continuous replacements available to the shoal, when large enough.
Similar to the way the split up the strata in the Mexican Cenote video below.
027 zps4b102ffd

 

[Rocksor]

Juvenile/sub-adult doesn't matter much. Aggression as they grow into adulthood will change.

It might work with the synspilum, better to get 4 FM or 4 rainbow rather than 2 of each. This will help prevent 1 of a species picking on its conspecific, and help to spread aggression from the synspilum (now called melanurum).

 

[duanes]

How about
1 vieja synspilum
2 x firemouth
2 x rainbow
(all juvenile/sub-adult)

+fish currently in the 4ft
adult Sev
BN plecs
6 bronze corydora

These are also nice choices, and juvie or sub adults are usually a good idea.
Young melanurum (AKA synpsilum)

 

[ZoddyZod]

Juvenile/sub-adult doesn't matter much. Aggression as they grow into adulthood will change.

my thinking was more that if they start young then hopefully they will be tolerant of the Sev (and vice versa) when they reach adulthood.

better to get 4 FM or 4 rainbow rather than 2 of each.

ok, will switch to 4 of one species (probably the rainbows)

If you get a pair, instead of other cichlid species, geographically correct live bearers would be great tank mates

what live bearers are you thinking? I've not had any interest in them previously. Would sword tails be appropriate?

 

[tlindsey]

my thinking was more that if they start young then hopefully they will be tolerant of the Sev (and vice versa) when they reach adulthood.



ok, will switch to 4 of one species (probably the rainbows)



what live bearers are you thinking? I've not had any interest in them previously. Would sword tails be appropriate?

Yes Sword tails are appropriate.