Dwarf Central American Cichlid Community

[cjdesmit]

LOL reading is your friend

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?389989-1500l-american-cichlids-tank
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?447079-600-gallon-ca-cichlid-tank

We are talking about a 75 gallon tank here. Both those tanks you linked are 400+ gallons; you can get away with a lot more in something of that size... And yes, of course there are going to be exceptions to every "rule". I, personally, simply would not advise overstocking a Central American tank, especially one where your looking to have pairs.

 

[lp85253]

I am doing a similar tank right now,1 cutteri female, 1convict female ,1 rainbow male ,1 chocolate ,not sure but small, stunted, I think it spent to much time in a small tank at lfs .8 BA tetras 1 synodontis. this combo/ stocking level seems to work well.it needs (and gets)good filtration and large water changes.I woudnt go any more stock,this is in a 75.

 

[peathenster]

We are talking about a 75 gallon tank here. Both those tanks you linked are 400+ gallons; you can get away with a lot more in something of that size... And yes, of course there are going to be exceptions to every "rule". I, personally, simply would not advise overstocking a Central American tank, especially one where your looking to have pairs.

We are talking about dwarfs here....small fish....and the whole idea of over crowding is so that pairs would NOT form. There will be no territories and any fish won't see any other fish long enough to do any damage.... I've seen 55g tanks with 30-40 convicts in it...miserable life, but nobody got killed.

 

[virgil2090]

i like your idea,my experience has been that convicts M or F,or pairs start trouble.i would use HRP,sajica,rainbows,panamensis,cutteri,ellioti.you could start with a few of each then get your males.or i agree with only 2 pairs if you go that route.rainbow fish make fast colorful dithers

 

[cjdesmit]

We are talking about dwarfs here....small fish....and the whole idea of over crowding is so that pairs would NOT form. There will be no territories and any fish won't see any other fish long enough to do any damage.... I've seen 55g tanks with 30-40 convicts in it...miserable life, but nobody got killed.

I'm not really understanding your logic. If it would be a miserable life, why would you recommend it? I do not consider Thorichthys and Cryptoheros species "dwarfs"; Apisto's are dwarfs. Also, why would pairs not form? If you put males and females of the same species, in the same tank, there going to pair up regardless of stocking density. Will their spawns be successful? Probably not, but that won't stop them from trying. Simply put, I agree to disagree... To each there own.

 

[peathenster]

I'm not really understanding your logic. If it would be a miserable life, why would you recommend it? I do not consider Thorichthys and Cryptoheros species "dwarfs"; Apisto's are dwarfs. Also, why would pairs not form? If you put males and females of the same species, in the same tank, there going to pair up regardless of stocking density. Will their spawns be successful? Probably not, but that won't stop them from trying. Simply put, I agree to disagree... To each there own.

Once again, reading is your friend. Where did I say I'd recommend it? The OP asked specifically about CAs so why are we talking about apistos? He/she wanted to do 6 to 14. All I said was I wonder if 14 would be safer than 6 in terms of not getting fish killed. I did not say the tank would look good, nor did I say the fish would be happy. In case you missed it and don't want to go back to page one, I'm quoting it here for you.

Agree to disagree on what? You are making up an imaginary enemy here. Stop putting words in my mouth and then come back and bash me. I will not speculate on your motive. But please, read!

Interesting idea. I wonder if the overcrowding strategy would work? 14 is probably safer than 6.

 

[jonclark96]

To the OP - Plan B has a chance of working, although I have heard that panamensis are pretty aggressive for a small cichlid. Also, if you find some spinosisimus, let me know. I have not seen them available for years.

On the discussion of overcrowding, it won't work out long term. When Dogofwar had his house fire last year, I took in a great deal of his fish on a temporary basis. I had a 75 and a 55 jam packed with mid size centrals of all types. Inevitably, the less robust were the first to go, either from aggression, stress, or being out competed for food. Big males then began to fight with the other males in the tank. The smaller males then began to jockey for postiion and pick on eachother. Females were stressed out because there were always multiple fish fighting for their attention. After about 4 months, things settled down and a good amount of fish were lost. I would not recommend it at all.

 

[RLHam3]

Yeah I would be trying to avoid losing as many fish as possible. Which species/sexes were left at the end?

 

[303mfk]

I have 75 right now with a firemouth, convict, red jewel and jack dempsey along with a senegal bichir, 7 black skirt tetras and couple clown loaches. As far as i can tell, all my cichlids are males and get along great. As long as you have caves for them to claim you should be alright

 

[lp85253]

I have 75 right now with a firemouth, convict, red jewel and jack dempsey along with a senegal bichir, 7 black skirt tetras and couple clown loaches. As far as i can tell, all my cichlids are males and get along great. As long as you have caves for them to claim you should be alright

sounds like a similar set-up to mine .4 smaller cichlids will PROBABLY work in a75 but you woulnt go much more than that would you . I mean 6-14 of ANYTHING more agg. than something like keyholes is kinda asking for trouble down the road.