My male carpintis who is currently around 9" now and about a year and a half old seems to be mellowing out a little now. I never used to be able to have any tank mates in with him when we was younger but was thinking maybe it is worth trying something now. He is in a 48x18x18 any suggestions on what I should try to add?
Carpintis compatibility.
- Thread starter cambrew
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If you're trying to find tankmates for the current tank, I wouldn't recommend any other cichlids. Just not enough space for them to get away from him when he wants to exert his dominance. Well, maybe you could throw in a sacrificial convict or something that you won't miss much. Or a female Carpintis with a divider so she can take refuge when needed, but otherwise I'd go with non cichlid tankmates.
I think a Convict would make it. Or perhaps some baby cichlids that are so much smaller than him, he just doesn't bother with them. But, you'd be growing out cichlids for a larger tank later. You need a bigger tank. Get 5 Argentea at 3 inches or less, he might be OK with that. But, if not, you'd need a backup plan, and then you'd be buying a second tank anyway. So just get a big tank now.
Yeh I have been waiting to buy my own house before I got a BIG tank but am in the process of doing so now. What size tank do you think would do me well long term? I have recently bought a baby albino sailfin pleco so I know that I will need a pretty big tank in the future and would like to add a couple more mid to large sized cichlids later on. I was thinking maybe a 5x2x2 or 6x2x2.
Get a 500 gallon. It's actually less work than a 125 or 75. Easier too. Only thing harder about a large tank is netting fish out and medicating it. Less blooms, less nitrates, more stable, easier to clean.
You're just asking for trouble. If he's been in there alone for over a year that tank belongs to him. Any cichlids you're thinking of adding would have to be adult so it could hold its own. And I know a 75 looks like a big tank but it's really not when you have two large, territorial cichlids. I personally wouldn't even add a convict.
I have Carpintes and they are never mellow. Not even in a 750 gallon tank.
They are aggressive but usually end up dead when fighting against more robust cichlids or they kill each other.
Best bet would be to get him a female with a divider in the tank or leave as is.
The pleco might work but you need to give the pleco a cave that the carpintie can't get in.
Good luck
They are aggressive but usually end up dead when fighting against more robust cichlids or they kill each other.
Best bet would be to get him a female with a divider in the tank or leave as is.
The pleco might work but you need to give the pleco a cave that the carpintie can't get in.
Good luck