Cichla help

[Loony Fish]

Hi,
I'm getting a 180 (72"X24"X24") Gallon tank. I need to get my 5 discus in a larger tank and I've heard cichla will fight and maybe even kill discus. Is that true? Would they hurt the discus if I baught a small cichla and raised it with my discus? If they CAN'T live with discus, I'll divide the tank. can a Cichla live in a space of 38"X24"X24" or should I make the discus' side smaller to the cichla could have more like 60"X24"X24"? Maybe start with smaller and make it bigger as it grows?

How long does it take a cichla ocellaris to reach it's full 30"?

Thanks for the help and sorry for all the quastions!

 

[channarox]

they will not fight and kill discus on purpose.
they will show aggression,chasing.
but they are no dovii or jag if you know what i mean...
the only thing is that discus can be sensitive right?
plus cichla tend to eat...fast and furious.
getting food to the discus can be hard.
it can be done though.

 

[Loony Fish]

Discus are sensitive. What I do in a feeding situation like that is drop the cichla some food on his side and then hand feed the discus on the other. Never fails! Isn't the tank long enough that the discus could hide if they need to? I'm also willing to use a devider as long as the fish will have enough space.

 

[channarox]

Discus are sensitive. What I do in a feeding situation like that is drop the cichla some food on his side and then hand feed the discus on the other. Never fails! Isn't the tank long enough that the discus could hide if they need to? I'm also willing to use a devider as long as the fish will have enough space.

i just think that dropping the divider in all the time might freak the others out.
i'd personally just keep feeding til the bass have had their fill.
you change water often anyways cause you keep discus right?
im sure the discus would be able to hide or get away.
the cichla wont chase them all the way.
more like short bursts.

 

[Loony Fish]

Oh, so just like my shark!
If I used a divider, I'd always have it in. I do water changes every 3 days on my discus tanks. I'll have some sticks, grass, root tangles etc. the discus could get away and Hide in. I think I'll give t a try and through in a divider if I need to. Sound good?

 

[channarox]

Oh, so just like my shark!
If I used a divider, I'd always have it in. I do water changes every 3 days on my discus tanks. I'll have some sticks, grass, root tangles etc. the discus could get away and Hide in. I think I'll give t a try and through in a divider if I need to. Sound good?

give it a try...it will work definitely for now since the cichla is small.
the more cichla you have,the more the aggression is against each other and not against the discus.
but you'll have to feed....alot...more.

 

[Loony Fish]

give it a try...it will work definitely for now since the cichla is small.
the more cichla you have,the more the aggression is against each other and not against the discus.
but you'll have to feed....alot...more.

If I get more than 1 large, aggressive fish, the discus will freak out with all of the activity. Should I get some "Dither" fish for the bass to chase?

 

[channarox]

If I get more than 1 large, aggressive fish, the discus will freak out with all of the activity. Should I get some "Dither" fish for the bass to chase?

that works too.

 

[Loony Fish]

what would be some good ones? peaceful preferably.

 

[channarox]

what would be some good ones? peaceful preferably.

silver dollars.
but they eat too much too fast...
anything can be used as a dither really...
as long as it cant be eaten or isnt too aggressive.