Firemouth cichlids stocking
- Thread starter Nyrkorey
- Start date
If those measurements are in feet, thats a very nice size tank over 300 gallons.
And in that tank 10 Thorichthys would work nicely.
If it were me though, istead of another cichlid species, I´d proobably add non-cichlids that they share the same biotope with.
Live bearers such Gambusia,swordtails or mollies that would occupy the area near the surface, and tetras such as Astyanax or Roeboides that inhabit the mid water column., leaving the area near substrate that the Thorichthys use as sand sifters..
Some of those biotopically correct live bearers above.
Similar geographically correct Tetras below.
And in that tank 10 Thorichthys would work nicely.
If it were me though, istead of another cichlid species, I´d proobably add non-cichlids that they share the same biotope with.
Live bearers such Gambusia,swordtails or mollies that would occupy the area near the surface, and tetras such as Astyanax or Roeboides that inhabit the mid water column., leaving the area near substrate that the Thorichthys use as sand sifters..
Some of those biotopically correct live bearers above.
Similar geographically correct Tetras below.
Last edited:
10 sounds like a great number. Just be sure to add tons of rocks and driftwood so each meeki can have a safe spot if needed.
If you're going to add other cichlids, keep Central American cichlids that aren't built for ripping and tearing. Meeki have soft jaws that aren't built for big time fighting.
If you're going to add other cichlids, keep Central American cichlids that aren't built for ripping and tearing. Meeki have soft jaws that aren't built for big time fighting.
Yeah I wanted to stay within central American . You have any you would suggest ?
What that size tank, maybe a small group of Nicaraguans (aka "macaw") cichlids, or Herotilapia multispinosa as a group aka rainbow cichlids, maybe a single vieja or pair like synspilum (more on the peaceful side of vieja), and large group of swordtails.
It's a 360 gallon 8 feet by 3 feet width by 2 feet tall.. I was thinking about doing a vieja or 2 as well.. I do enjoy GT but I know personality wise it's real hit or miss.
If you do the vieja, do single vieja or pair of same species only. Some vieja are pretty nasty. I had a fenestratus that nasty with anything in the tank and had to rehome. Could do a single maskaheros Argentea. Beautiful white/silver coloring. A single male of that species would do fine solo with active medium sized Nicaraguans and meeki.
A lot of maskaheros and vieja can be very aggressive with each other of different species within their own genus.
I would stick with central american theme. GTs can be stress makers/bullies but don't have the bite to back it up when the role is reversed lol.
A lot of maskaheros and vieja can be very aggressive with each other of different species within their own genus.
I would stick with central american theme. GTs can be stress makers/bullies but don't have the bite to back it up when the role is reversed lol.
maskaheros Argentea are gorgeous wow! That's definitely an option! So let's say I did one Male then did 10 or so firemouth , could I still add a group of Nicaraguans
I would definitely do them as a solo. They get 12-14 inches and have an on/off switch attitude to anything that's as big as them or looks like them in large size. Because I kept mine as a solo large resident, I was able to keep a group of 7 meeki and female salvini with it and had no issues.
You can probably have the tank look nice as 8ft in length with one male and 3 females for Nicaraguans. The males can reach 8-9 inches. 10 inches in some rare cases with female staying 6-7.
You can probably have the tank look nice as 8ft in length with one male and 3 females for Nicaraguans. The males can reach 8-9 inches. 10 inches in some rare cases with female staying 6-7.