Cichlid for 40gal

[RandomFish]

Hi I have been trying to figure out what cichlid i should put in my 40 breeder but I am to indeciscive to make a choice. I know a few things about what my tank will be when it is set up though.

I will have a school of 6-10 corries
Some smaller breed of pleco
Probably some other dithers
Lightly-moderately planted
200ghp filter rate

Im not sure if I want to go for a community of ciclids, just one, or a pair. Since this is my first tank I probably do not want to get a pair because I will have no idea what to do with the fry. I'm intrested in pike cichlids and green terrors but they seem to big for my tank. I just know that I want the fish to have a lot of personality. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advanced.

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Welcom aboard.
That's a tricky one. You have come to the right place though. We have menders here with good experience. I'm sure someone can direct you in the rifht direction. Happy fishkeeping to you.

 

[PhishMon84]

Given the planted nature of your tank and your peaceful ground crew, I would look to something dwarf pikes (Regani) I’ve kept two pair in a 40b successfully.
Other options might be Bolivian rams- I say Bolivian and not blue as the Bolivians tend to be hardier.
Other possibilities would be a group of laetacara. Beautiful, peaceful and you could have more than 1.
I’ve never successfully kept apistos so I wouldn’t recommend them based off my experiences alone.
Cichlids tends to dig and that may be your downfall. Good luck and have fun with it

 

[Jexnell]

I think the Blue Acara would fit.
(Aequidens pulcher) It's a smaller cousin of the green terror.
Get a couple and grow out till you find a nice male, take back/rehome the rest.
In the wild they live along side of all that you mentioned.
I would suggest if you want a pleco get a bushynose, they stay small and do a relatively good job of algea control. Get a taller body tetra like Bleeding Hearts, Black Skirt, Diamond, around ten or so.

 

[Zachk29]

My friend has rams in his 36 gallon community tank.

 

[RandomFish]

Given the planted nature of your tank and your peaceful ground crew, I would look to something dwarf pikes (Regani) I’ve kept two pair in a 40b successfully.

I really like this idea for regani considering that I can control when they breed slightly. Maybe I might get 1 apisto, angle fish, or ram but I feel like that may be to much. But for a schooling fish I am looking at the high bodied tetras or hatchet fish. 1 question would you say that C. regani like to have floating plants or not.

 

[PhishMon84]

I think all cichlids like floating plants-
Makes them feel comfortable as they are shielded from overhead predators.
I think you could get away with a singleton ram (Bolivian) if stocked before the pikes.
40b aren’t that tall, so an angel may eventually get too tall.
Hatchets like to jump.
Serpae’s are tough
So are Colombian red and blue

 

[RandomFish]

I think all cichlids like floating plants-
Makes them feel comfortable as they are shielded from overhead predators.
I think you could get away with a singleton ram (Bolivian) if stocked before the pikes.
40b aren’t that tall, so an angel may eventually get too tall.
Hatchets like to jump.
Serpae’s are tough
So are Colombian red and blue

The pikes will probably be the last addition considering i have basiaclly no LFS and being in the north east shipping is not really an option till spring. I was thinking floating plants might help stop the hatchet fish from jumping.

 

[PhishMon84]

I live in central MA and get shipments in winter. Got an order from Rapps 2 weeks ago- you just watch overnight temps

 

[RandomFish]

I live in central MA and get shipments in winter. Got an order from Rapps 2 weeks ago- you just watch overnight temps

Thats good to know. The problem is that I still need to put together my stand and cycle the tank. After that I'll start stocking it starting with either corydoras or a high bodied tetra but the C.regani are going in last so they dont take over the whole tank.