I have a 55 gallon tank with a 5 inch green sunfish. I want to keep some CA and SA cichlids in the tank. any suggestions? i was thinking about an oscar or jack dempsey. i heard that greenies can be really aggressive so i want a cichlid that can hold its own. also i want a cichlid that is really owner responsive
Green sunfish with cichlids
- Thread starter 619aquaponics
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In a 55 I'm afraid that you wouldn't find a whole lot of peace between the two fish. Green Sunfish can be pretty aggressive and at 5 inches I'd say he pretty much owns that tank. However, if you were going to try anything, I would say to go with the JD or a Convict. JDs seem to start holding their own at a pretty small size and Convicts are quick and extremely resilient.
I just put a Red Texas in with mine, at about 7-8" long the texas is considerably bigger than the green at 5-6", but less girth. I also put in a regular Texas at 3" with the sunfsh first and all was well...
There is definitely a pecking order though!
There is definitely a pecking order though!
I would avoid larger cichlids like an oscar as a 55g probably won't be large enough. If you're set on cichlids go with smaller species like convicts, Jack Dempsey, Severum etc. I have and still do keep cichlids and sunfish together and for the most part they have gotten along but on occasion a particularly aggressive individual will cause trouble. If the green sunfish is a female you stand a better chance of success as female sunfish are much less aggressive than males.
. Need to have a back up tank just in case the combo doesn't work. The only tank I have with mixed sunfish and cichlids. A newly purchased depressed female Zonatus(mate died instantly), a fin nipping 4 inch bluegill, 5 rainbow cichlids and 3 extra small bluegills. WHAT A COMBO!!! 
The female Zonatus runs the tank and isn't depressed anymore. The fin nipper bluegill is 2nd. in rank, the smallest bluegill is 3rd. and the other 2 small bluegills and rainbows have no problem.
Here is the Crazy group here:
Forget how the tank looks, I have given up, the Zonatus moves what ever she wants. She has changed things again since this picture.
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