Cichlids with native fish?

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MuskieMartin

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 16, 2022
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I have a 40 breeder with a medium sized pike cichlid (about 7-8 inches) that I got from my friend who went off to college. While fishing, I found an area where I've been catching a lot of small rock bass. I've looked around online and saw a lot of people mention how rock bass are pretty mellow if they can't fit the other fish in their mouth, but I know cichlids can get pretty nasty, plus North American waters have different conditions than South/Central American waters. I feel like my tank is too small to get away with that, but I wanted some input from more experienced people about whether or not this is as bad of an idea as I suspect it is.

Edit: I wanted to add in, I have large sponge filter in there and he gave me a HOB filter by seachem, I think it's a tidal but I don't know what size.
 
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tlindsey said:
Wouldn't attempt this unless it was over 100 gallons. Also temperature may play a factor.
Click to expand...
That's what I suspected. I saw people keeping native fish with cichlids online and thought it looked cool. I thought about it and thought that water parameters might be too different (pH, temperature, etc.), bioload could be too much, space could be an issue (the pike cichlid looks relatively comfortable in the tank, but adding in a fish the size of my hand might make the tank be too crowded), fish territory, etc. There were just so many things that looked like they could go wrong that I couldn't see it being a good idea, but I wanted insight from more experienced people. Thank you for your answer.
 
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If your pike cichlid was one of the species from Uruguay or Argentina, temp might not be a major problem, because in that part of S America, there are seasonal changes similar to parts of the US.
Water parameters there are also different, at times....more alkaline than the soft waters of the S American north.
You'd actually need to know what species the pike is, and its geography.
There are at least 132 species of pike cichlids.


That said, I agree with tlindsey, especially in a small tank like like 40, and even then, you need to know the species of pike, to judge temperament and growth potential.
Some stop growing at 8", some don't stop, until 18"
 
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duanes said:
If your pike cichlid was one of the species from Uruguay or Argentina, temp might not be a major problem, because in that part of S America, there are seasonal changes similar to parts of the US.
Water parameters there are also different, at times....more alkaline than the soft waters of the S American north.
You'd actually need to know what species the pike is, and its geography.
There are at least 132 species of pike cichlids.


That said, I agree with tlindsey, especially in a small tank like like 40, and even then, you need to know the species of pike, to judge temperament and growth potential.
Some stop growing at 8", some don't stop, until 18"
Click to expand...
Ok, I agree this definitely seems like a bad idea after more insight from more experienced people. I think I know what pike cichlid it is, but I'm not 100% sure. I don't think it comes from that geographical area and even then, I definitely don't want to risk my pike cichlid or a rock bass to try and replicate something that is probably not a good idea that I saw online.
 
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The problem with keeping pike cichlids, and bichirs together, is that they are both long, cylindrical fish, and will look upon each other as competitors, and they both are substrate huggers, a problem of spacial concern.
Pike cichlids "will" often get along with high bodied types like Geophagines, Heros, or others that are not perceived as competitors for the same recourses
and the same area of the water column. (especially in a cramped space) or those they share habitat with in nature.
Note where the pike in the lower left, hangs out, compared to the others, in the pic of the 150 gal S American community below
1662821880640.png
 
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