Compatibility??

[Chockful O Phail]

I have 6 Carpintis ATM hoping for a pair as they mature. They'll be going in a 210 when I get it setup with 6-8 tiger dollars and about half my clowns. I was considering getting a batch of Salvini and get a pair from them. Would the Texas and Salvini cohabitate ok in a 6ft 210? Assuming an average amount of rocks and wood for decor(clowns don't do well for me w/o a fair amount of places to hide) Am I just asking for too much trouble with the 2 pairs or think maybe worth a shot? I thought about rainbows but that's already been shot down on other threads. Thought maybe even with the size difference the Salvinis could possibly hang with the Texas given the $s for distractions.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Hit and miss in my opinion.
I have never had texas play nice in com tanks,they have always become very dominant as they mature.
Salvini is another very aggressive fish for its size. Mature males defending a spawn can be ruthless.
I think it will be trial and error so if your determined give it a go.
I do doubt it will work long term though.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Just another point worth a mention,texas cichlids pair up and breed at a very small size so it won't be long before you get a pair.
This old pair of mine below were no more than 3 inches and completely dominated a 7x2x2.


Once paired and breeding their growth becomes very slow.
It will take a very long time for them to reach full size if allowed to spawn regularly.

 

[PhishMon84]

While I cannot speak from experience with pairs- I do have a carpintis in my large CA community who spares all the time with other blue fish, Dempsey, robertsoni. He completely ignores my male Nic that's about the same size.
I think it may be more peaceful to add a group of Nics instead of salvini- if all started together at a small size. Nics won't neccessarly pair up either.
I know most ppl will say no- but you could end up with a set hierarchy or peaceful individuals. Plus my salvini hide ALL the time.

 

[RD.]

Not to mention your clowns will get caught in the crossfire.

 

[duanes]

I agree with both statements above.
My carpintus also spawned at a very young age, the female only about 3", male larger.

After the first spawn, the male continued to grow at a normal rate, but the females growth slowed considerably, because they would then spawn every 6 weeks or so.

Adding the salvini may be risky because they are equally aggressive, especially if the carpintus are already established. In a 210 you may have wiggle room, as one pair might set up on one end and the other part on the opposite end.
One caveat, I have always found putting similarly colored (blue spangled) cichlids together and similar body shapes in the same tank problematic. Because it always seems to elicit a competitive response for territory, and food.
I have had more success trying to house very different, shaped (especially mouth shapes),and differently colored together. Of course this all depends on how aggressive their tendencies are.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Meh I guess I won't be trying that lol. So what do you all think of a stock like:
Texas pair
7-9 7-9" clowns(mainly to relieve some bioload from my 180 but also really good at clean up)
7-9 tiger $s
1 atabapo pleco that I never see
Maybe 1 Black Shark

Note the pair not really for breeding purposes but I can probably get a little LFS credit for those fry that do make it. Mainly so I don't have to angry cichlids beating on each other.

 

[duanes]

Geographically a little crazy, but with species different enough from each other to actually work, of course geographic correctness is just my one of my buggaboos.
just another observation,
I have found salvini, once established (although beautiful) to be some of the most aggressive cichlids. Those bright colors are often warnings to others to stay away or face the consequences. similar to poison dart frogs bright color warnings.

A friend of mine and MFK member (Newworld) who has caught salving in Mexico, often says he thinks they are the most aggressive of the new world cichlids

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Thanks everybody! duanes yeah I figured the geography would get to you lol. While I'm with you on the no hybrid front, I don't mind a little geography mishmash.