Dwarf Central American Cichlid Community

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RLHam3

RLHam3

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 29, 2008
536
9
48
Georgia
Hey MFK. So lately I’ve been thinking about making a community of 6-14 Dwarf Central American cichlids. The tank would be a 75 gal with a good amount of visual barriers in the form of a 1lb of anacharis and driftwood. The cichlids would be the focus of the tank, so I would get them first and then worry about tank mates.
The species that I’m currently considering are Rainbow, Honduran Red Point, firemouth, Sajica, Keyhole, convict, Centrarchus (in relatively that order). I’m not sure whether or not it would be better to keep pairs, single fish, or some pairs and some singles. If I kept singles, I would probably wanna keep only males of those species (no hybrids and I like males). I’m not sure if this tank will be big enough, or if there will be a lot of fighting between the different species? Does anyone have experience in keeping any of these different species of dwarf central American cichlids together?
 
I've kept Keyholes, Convicts, and Firemouths together without any problem... If you happen to get a pair of them though: watch out.
 
You could probably do 2 pairs in a 75 but thats about it. Most of the cryptoheros types get pretty fiesty when they are breeding. The all male route would probably work out well although I would be prepared for some dominance issues. I'd leave the keyholes out of the mix. They really cannot hang with any of the centrals you have listed and will eventually perrish from stress.

I have kept grow outs of sajica, convicts, hrp, and centrarchus together with no issues. Once they paired off, I moved them. I did leave some mixed sex hrps in the tank and it was too busy for breeding.
 
I agree with jonclark. Your proposed stock of 6-14 cichlids is very optimistic. Keyholes are South American and are very shy and reserved, so I would definitely cross them off your list. If you wanted more than two pairs, I'd look into stocking a pair of Meeki (Firemouths) and a small colony of Multispinosa (Rainbows). Rainbows usually do very well in smaller groups as they are relatively non-aggressive, however, they will establish a hierarchy within the group.
 
^That works with african and younger american cichlids. When they are full grown adults, they will rip each other apart.
 
+1... Overcrowding Centrals is not a good idea.
 
If I werr hoing to do something similar I would do
2 ellioti..................\
2 multispinosa.......|all males
2 panamensis......./
15 of a medium tetra species
sand bottom with a big piece of driftwood and a couple smaller pieces. Several rock/cave formations. Planted.
:)

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Here is my new revised proposal. Isn’t much better and If it gets bad reviews then I’ll just drop it for now:

I was thinking of putting in my pair of rainbows first. For the past few months they have lived and spawned regularly in a guppy colony without ever killing/eating a single guppy (that I know of). They're the most easy going pair I've ever had. My plan would be to put them in the tank first along with a school of 10 cory cats and a few bristlenose first. That way the two rainbows will be already fully grown and paired and in control of the tank. At this point I would start adding groups of juvenile HRP and thorichthys sp and possibly panamensis. As the juvie cichlids grow up, I will remove the females and possibly the more aggressive males so that in the end I’m only left with mild mannered males (ideally one per species) who’ve grown up under the rule of the two rainbows and won’t challenge them as an adult.

I also forgot to mention Archcentrus spinosissimus, anybody got an opinion?
 
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