Considering More Cichlids

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divemaster99

Dovii
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2014
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Pittsburgh, PA
Just sold off my Cutteri pair and 23 of their 26 fry yesterday (couldn't catch 3 so they'll sadly wind up as feeders for the bullhead about to go in that tank). I loved the pair but they were just way to aggressive to my catfish at feeding time so I got rid of them. They were in my 75 gallon but that's now an all catfish plus 6 giant danios tank. I got a free 37 gallon (30"L x 12"W x 24"H) off my friend a while back and don't really have any plans for it. One thing I'm considering doing is a pair of cichlids but I don't know what would do well in that size tank. I'm looking for something with a lot of personality but in the size range that it'll fit in that tank for life. Since I wouldn't be keeping them with any tankmates that gives me the opportunity to do a type of fish I've always wanted: super aggressive! I love the behavior of aggressive fish but I just didn't like having them in with my peaceful catfish. I was thinking something like Red Ceibals or another big bad member of Archocentrus or similar genus. I'd prefer to use this tank since I got it for free but if it's just a downright terrible size for what I'm looking for I could sell it for a 40 or 50 breeder need be. So what would you guys suggest?
 
I was looking at youtube videos the other day, looked Lee Nuttal's channel, and I was very intrigued by the smaller cichlids he has. I've always liked C. Sajica, but Lee's channel had some "Bartoni" from "Media Luna" in Mexico? Black and white fish, seem pretty small, lots of attitude and behavior, looks like they breed kinda easy. I'd do some of those. Or maybe C. Spilurus?
 
A pair of sajica might work in that size tank. I have a pair in a 40 at the moment, but it has lots of PVC the female can hide in, that the male won't fit into.

A pair of bartoni, temporarily, but males can be very hard on females when not receptive to breeding.
I had a young pair breed in a 40gal, and as they grew were put in a 100gal, but when they went to another member of our club, and he put them in a 55, the female ended up toast.

That said, it could happen to just about any cichlid female in a tank 55 or smaller.
I believe a 37 might be OK for a pair of nanoluteus, or other dwarf, but a much larger
cichlid is pushing the envelope.

I've kept ceibals in a 40 gal when young, though not huge by many cichlid standards they get too large after about a year.
 
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