Community Americans

[colby268]

Hello,
I have recently got into aquariums and learnt a lot. (2 years)

I have only kept Americans and really like these and want to continue with them.
I have however been given a lot of bad advice from my local shop and spent a lot of money on fish I have had to return due to them fighting. I like in Sydney water hardness is 50mg/l (not sure what that means I think it’s soft)

several fish I have had:
Cuban
Convict
Firemouth
Uaru
Balzini
Blue eye
Rainbow
Bristlnose
Angels

most of these were abused by the Cuban.
At the moment I have no fish and want to get it right before I buy anymore.

I have a 5ft 580l tank.
These are the fish I really like

Pearsei
Heckelli (different type)
Geophagus (different types)
Bocourti
Veija Fenestrutus
Red bay snook
Red hump eartheater
Oscar

I understand these all aren’t compatible. But do only want about 4-5 fish.

Thank you

 

[duanes]

That tank will only be large enough for C pearsei, and bocourti for a fairly short grow out period, about a little over a year, if acquired young.
They need a tank of at least 300 gallons (over 1300 liters).
Beyond that.....

To do research about whether a cichlid will probably work in a community or not, consider how it has evolved iand lives n nature.
When you find that a cichlid is the only cichlid species in its natural habitat, it should be a clue as to whether it will work in the confines of an aquarium.

You have already found that, cichlids like Nandopsis tetracanthus (Cubans) don't, because in nature don't share habitat with any other cichlid naturally, so they don't make good cichlid community fish.,
There are other species where that natural seclusion applies, and their reputations usually precede them.
A couple examples
Nandopsis haitiensus is the only endemic cichlid to its island,
Mayaheros beanii is the only endemic cichlid to the northern coast of Mexico, so chances of them working in a mixed community setting are generally slim.
And these, and other central americans prefer hard, higher pH water

South Americans from east of the Andes in Amazonia come from varied cichlid communities in nature, so are often better choices for cichlid communities.
In general most prefer soft acidic water habitats.

Those from west of the Andes not so much.
They appreciate neutral pH water parameters, and are also more loner-ish.

If you do research about where your fish come from, what their naturally evolved water parameters are, even seasonal changes, and not randomly combine them, just because they are cichlids, you will have a better chance at success.

 

[colby268]

Thanks for your reply.

What about 1 Oscar and some some geophagus? Could they work together?

sorry I’m not being dismissive I’m just throwing ideas trying to learn all I can

 

[duanes]

An oscar and some Geos should be fine.
Both species come from east of the Andes in S American, so evolved to live in large cichlid communities
Best if your pH is 7 or below, and water fairly soft.
The tank may get cramped as they grow into adults though.

 

[A201]

You might consider Severums or Chocolate Cichlids. Both are colorful and relatively peaceful as compared to Oscars.
Either would likely do well with most Geophagus.

 

[jjohnwm]

I'll just make a very general suggestion here, rather than singling out individual species that might or might not work out for your tank.

Too many fishkeepers set up an aquarium, then surf around the internet looking at pictures and decide that they simply must have this species and that species and this other species...and never give a thought to their local water conditions before proceeding to buy those "want-list" species, let alone worrying about other aspects of compatibility.

As a beginning aquarist, you would be doing yourself a huge favour if you learn the general parameters of your local water...mainly hardness and pH...and then make an effort to choose species that like that kind of water. Otherwise, you will buy a lot of fish that just don't live well in what you have, and either die outright or else manage to linger for long periods during which they are constantly stressed before eventually falling victim to some malady or ailment that eventually kills them. And having fish that are constantly stressed leads to the aquarist being constantly stressed...which quickly sucks all the fun out of fishkeeping. The problem is even more noticeable with fish like cichlids, which are typically a bit bigger and typically have longer natural lifespans than many smaller tetras/barbs/livebearers; a fish that withers away while years younger and many inches smaller than it "should" be is all the more obvious, and thus all the more discouraging.

Fish are, generally speaking, easy to keep...if you get fish that are suited to the water you have. If you don't...or if you decide to start out early in the hobby by spending a fortune on magic potions and electronic gadgets to make your water something that it isn't...they are a constant source of frustration. And whatever your water is like...there will be a huge variety of fish out there that are perfectly suited to it just as it is.

Choose wisely...do some basic research before buying new species...keep it fun.

Or...beat your head against the wall chasing parameters and likely move on to another hobby after a few years of frustration.

Good luck, and (hopefully) enjoy!

 

[LukeOscar]

Hello,
I have recently got into aquariums and learnt a lot. (2 years)

I have only kept Americans and really like these and want to continue with them.
I have however been given a lot of bad advice from my local shop and spent a lot of money on fish I have had to return due to them fighting. I like in Sydney water hardness is 50mg/l (not sure what that means I think it’s soft)

several fish I have had:
Cuban
Convict
Firemouth
Uaru
Balzini
Blue eye
Rainbow
Bristlnose
Angels

most of these were abused by the Cuban.
At the moment I have no fish and want to get it right before I buy anymore.

I have a 5ft 580l tank.
These are the fish I really like

Pearsei
Heckelli (different type)
Geophagus (different types)
Bocourti
Veija Fenestrutus
Red bay snook
Red hump eartheater
Oscar

I understand these all aren’t compatible. But do only want about 4-5 fish.

Thank you

vieja are super underrated in the hobby. i picked up 2 a few weeks ago and they are stunners and they have some very very big personalities. so much so i kinda wish i went with a bunch of them vs a community of cichlids.

 

[jjohnwm]

vieja are super underrated in the hobby. i picked up 2 a few weeks ago and they are stunners and they have some very very big personalities. so much so i kinda wish i went with a bunch of them vs a community of cichlids.

That's very diplomatic: "big personaities"! I like it.

Many years ago when my main aquarium interest was in having a kind of Thunder Dome set-up filled with a collection of chain-saw-wielding psychopaths, my single Vieja (sold back then as a synspillum) held his own very handily amongst such notable competitors as Tilapia buttikoferi, various Amphilophus and Parachromis species, giant all-mouth catfish, etc. They all had Big Personalities...really, really big...

 

[LukeOscar]

That's very diplomatic: "big personaities"! I like it.

Many years ago when my main aquarium interest was in having a kind of Thunder Dome set-up filled with a collection of chain-saw-wielding psychopaths, my single Vieja (sold back then as a synspillum) held his own very handily amongst such notable competitors as Tilapia buttikoferi, various Amphilophus and Parachromis species, giant all-mouth catfish, etc. They all had Big Personalities...really, really big...

they are tuff as nails. the ones in my tank will take a breeding pair of convicts head on. not to try and eat the babies or even fight with the parents. just a friendly. " hey we share this tank and ill swim where i please" zero effs given LOL

 

[duanes]

Another thing about cichlids, is that they are long lived, and go thru many phases during and throughout maturity.
Let's take the genus Vieja, a Central American genus that prefers hard high pH water.
As juvies until about 1(even 2 ) year(s), they are very social (there is safety in numbers in nature)
At maturity, some hit it early, but normal maturity for Vieja is between 2 and 3 years.
At the time, they can get very territorial, and aggressive, so the largest tank you can afford/fit in your house,/have time to do lots of water changes on, and take care of is needed.
To me this means minimally a 6 ft tank for just a pair, preferably a space over 250 to 300 gallons, if you're considering a community.
But Vieja can be lethal if there is not enough space, or if a mate is not cooperative.
I have kept a number of them, and for at least 5 years per species,
melanura, bifasciata, breidhori, fenestrata, guttalatta, maculacauda, and zonata and their sister genus with argentea and regani.
Some have been fairly mild mannered and have done well as pairs, in 6 ft tanks

Some I would not keep in anything under 250 gallons and might not even attempt a tank that small
Such as the two species below, and including V. maculacauda, and zonata.

And.....if choosing tank mates for Vieja, I would choose vastly different shaped cichlids, with very different mouth configurations, because they would appear to be less than competitors for similar resources.
As adults Vieja can get very jealous of available space, and resources, and once the perceived need hits, chaos is often the result.