Hi, quick question. Does the "crowding" principle used with many African Cichlids have any applicable carry-over to CA/SA varieties? Obviously I'm not talking about keeping 4 Oscars in a 55g, or other ridiculous possibilities, just the concept within reasonable bounds.
Crowding CA/SA Cichlids?
- Thread starter BassetsForBrown
- Start date
I'm not sure myself but good question. Although alot of them can be real bruits requiring their own piece of the tank so I suppose it depends on tank size and how often certain fish may come into contact with each other maybe some of the central American gururs could shed a bit more light on the subject.
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IMO it's going to depend on species (and sometimes the individual fish). In some cases the baddest fish in the tank will just kill off enough (or all) of the others that are getting in its way until it's happy. With some (example, angelfish, geos, I've even seen it work in a green terror species tank) having a nice group can be a good thing, though I still wouldn't crowd them to the same extent as you can mbuna, for example. From what I've seen, tank size can come into play also. The place where I bought my wild rotkeil severum had it in a small (20 gal) tank and it killed whatever they tried to put with it. Took it home and it's been in a 75 and now a 135 and it doesn't even bother angelfish or small tetras.
So, basically imo you need to do your research on the particular fish in question to see how people who are successful are keeping them.
So, basically imo you need to do your research on the particular fish in question to see how people who are successful are keeping them.
I put a good crowd into a 240. Started with 30 or so all under 6". I have wittled it down to 20. I have 6 Syns, 2 briedohri, 2 gt, 2 festae, 1 female nic. 2 crysti 8"(African), 1 tyrannochromis 11"(african) 1 red severem, and I am taking out 1 trimac and replacing him with a argentea.
But I think my success is due largely to them being juveniles and growing up together. Now the syns are 8"-12" and they are some what of a melow group.
I think it would be alot harder to throw a bunch of almost adult ca/sa's together in a tank, but you never know??
Neutrino is right, its alot about the species and individual fish. Do alot of research and be patient. To summarize I would say crowded is better than scarce..?
But I think my success is due largely to them being juveniles and growing up together. Now the syns are 8"-12" and they are some what of a melow group.
I think it would be alot harder to throw a bunch of almost adult ca/sa's together in a tank, but you never know??
Neutrino is right, its alot about the species and individual fish. Do alot of research and be patient. To summarize I would say crowded is better than scarce..?
crowding is just wrong, unless you got no room or just dont want the fish to grow bigger lol that's what i do xD
I think ca and sa need more elbow room then their African cousins. The crowed tank might work with younger specimens but with size comes attitude and the need for a larger territory. When I had my 4 wild festae the largest would constantly kill other cichlids like it was a game. It got to the point were I had to put it with a 8" midevil in a 210 and the festae was about 4". Even with the midevil being double its size it wouldn't back down.
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That is where the individual fish comes in to play, cuz my 7" festae has never killed anything......yet
I honestly think it thought it was a game. It would start harassing the new target fish before they made it out the bag.
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