Datnoids or Central American Cichlids??

[jusgooninit]

You should be fine mixing dats and cichlids, but most cichlids will grow alot faster. And if you do decide to get some dats you will be hooked. Like they say, once you get one you won't be able to stop.

^^^ that is very true

 

[balton777]

So should I get like 6 to juvies to start out? TUIC's are only 3.5". Maybe I'll look around...don't know if NTT's are what I want but others seem hard to get.

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

So should I get like 6 to juvies to start out? TUIC's are only 3.5". Maybe I'll look around...don't know if NTT's are what I want but others seem hard to get.

Yeah, that would be a good start. Dats do look very impressive when they are kept in larger groups. It also helps disburse any aggression as well as stimulate feeding on prepared foods.

I've also had luck with some cichlids in my dat tanks...mainly geos, but I also have some synspilum as well. I never tried any real nasty guys...but I'm guessing the dats would be on the losing end of that one.

 

[blazin_dragon18]

Heres Proof. theyre fine together as long as u pick the right cichlid.

BAd pic, but u should get the point.

no doubt about that. i have my 2 NTTs w/a 6" gt, 6" jd, and a almost 8" female festae together. the dat is just the like those 2 in the pic, (dude, da's not a bad pic man, nice set up!) the bigger one which is 6" is the one w/a mini-bar, and the smaller 4" one is the 3 bars ntt.

i also have a jar and the jar is keeping everyone in their places. therefore the cichlids and the dats are in the same position as to get out of the way of the jar. this way, the cichlids don't take over, and they don't seem to have much interests or aggression on the dats. but i did have a electric blue, african cichlid...and it was trying to tear my dat apart...

 

[blazin_dragon18]

So should I get like 6 to juvies to start out? TUIC's are only 3.5". Maybe I'll look around...don't know if NTT's are what I want but others seem hard to get.

dats grow way slower than cic, so be4 u get those juvies, the growrate is something to think about. and if u want to get STs or ITs, there're many sales in the Buy&Sell classified, and many LFS here have little baby ITs. donno about texas, but if ITs are the ones u want to get, they're pretty easy to acquire.

 

[balton777]

Thanks a lot for all the input. At this point it seems the majority vote is to make an all Dat tank in the 156g. That just might be a cool thing to do..or I might mix them I dunno. Lemme do some searching around and see what I can reel in.

 

[ewurm]

Get a few thinbars. I think Dats are great. If I had to choose, I would take Dats over cichlids, but I choose both.

 

[Pulcher]

I have a major hatred for Cichlids from any continent. I guess all the years of looking at them at fish stores and catching them in the ditches down the street caused me to have a major dislike of them. If i were you i would buy large datnoides and use the cichlids for feeders.

 

[balton777]

I have a major hatred for Cichlids from any continent. I guess all the years of looking at them at fish stores and catching them in the ditches down the street caused me to have a major dislike of them. If i were you i would buy large datnoides and use the cichlids for feeders.

Thanks for the 2 cents lol that's funny.

I'm confused on what kind I want. I didn't think I wanted NTT's at first but they're starting to grow on me. They're also looking like the most affordable but I need to do more research I guess.

Personalitywise, are thin bars as good as any other Dat?

 

[TCZeli]

Thin bars are the most timid of all the Dats, and most people say they are the hardest to get off live food (I didnt have any prob with any of mine)

Good chance they will hide more often then other species
They also tend to be a duller gold then other datnoids.
This dat species also experiences SDS more often then others (especially at smaller sizes)

I know I am painting a bad picture but they are great fish who recongnize their owner. and are the best choice for the rookie dat owner because of the price.
Also because they are the most timid you have the least problems with aggression.