Firemouth in a "community" tank

[Unratedaccount]

So I am looking to set up a 55 gallon tank, and I was going though what species of fish I want to keep. I know 55 gallons is a small tank for most South and Central American Cichlids. I had to narrow the list down, and I wanted a firemouth. I was doing some research about these fish, and I know they live in Central America. So I want to also keep sword tails with maybe a pair of firemouths. I want to know what other fish I can keep with the firemouths. I want mainly central American fish. Are there any tetras or just any other species of schooling fish from this portion of the world (Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua) that can live with firemouths. And if anyone has suggestions on bottom feeders.

 

[wiggywhitetrash]

Really depends of the personality of the individual fish. I had a firemouth that wouldn't get along with anything at all. I kept him with Pictus cats, plecos and other cichlids, he'd attack them all, even backed down a much larger Oscar. Had to rehome him in the end as he was getting his ass kicked by my fairly chilled out green terror but still wouldn't back down. On the other hand though, they tend to be all talk and rarely do much damage to your other fish. Great personality and cool to watch them flaring their gills at tank mates


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[Unratedaccount]

Okay thanks for your help

 

[Cyberman]

Keep a few Firemouths together and watch them interact. You can keep fish like Cutteri with them aswell or maybe even Ellioti but watch out for cross breeding.

 

[Unratedaccount]

It sounds like a plan. I might have a couple of firemouths, and maybe a cutteri. But I want a live bearer with them maybe like a molly, or sword tail. Because I seen a video on youtube it was firemouths in their natrual habitat and there was sword tails, and I think mollies or platys. Plus when the live bearers breed, the firemouths could have a nice snack. Here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzUnteF_vFI

 

[Unratedaccount]

Oh and the ellioti are very nice. Look like firemouths but are a diffrent species. They are from the same genus Im guessing

 

[Cyberman]

[video=youtube;yuOqSkfLYhk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuOqSkfLYhk[/video]
Thi might be of interest

 

[Unratedaccount]

Yeah I saw that video also, I am kinda going for that look I am actually boiling rocks from my back yard right now. And that is one good looking male.