Gutsy Mix, Can it be Done? 2.0

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Placidochromis electra aren’t really all that predatory or aggressive and shouldn’t really bother a Rafael as long as there’s a few places for it to hide. If you’re looking for haps and you’re on a budget, have you tried PetSmart/Co? I’ve found some nice ones for $7-$12. Don’t worry if they look plain, they’ll color up as they mature. If they’re nearly fully colored and small, stay away or at least be aware they could still be female . It means they’re juiced

Yeah, the haps that the store has aren't what I'm looking for...I think I will stick to a pure SA tank. Are there any SA tank mate options for a Blood Parrot and Raphael (and maybe a Black Ghost Knife, which I also own rn)? I was thinking of possibly getting more raphs and having a raph school and a blood parrot.
I was also wanting to keep the pictus that I have right now, maybe get some more of those instead of more raphs?

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I can confirm this as I have personally did what you’re talking about. When I began keeping fish there wasn’t a single person that kept Wallace’s shoehead catfish in this country (that I was aware of) and there wasn’t a single place to buy them online. I had to beg multiple platforms online for years before aquaimports and the wet spot finally brought them in. If my memory serves correctly I bought that first batch at $100 a fish for 6 fish andthe shipping was about $70. It’s because of me that you can find those catfish for sale occasionally online in America. If this sounds like it’s to much for you at this time then I’d hit the brakes and wait for a couple years for when you have a steady job, a place of your own, and enough money to fund something like that. I’m not trying to discourage you, no, I want to see more young keepers in the hobby.

You'll never quench my spirit for fishkeeping. I won't order fish online for now, but eventually, when I have a much larger budget I will order the rare ones online.

 

[Deadeye]

For the record, bp are a cocktail of Central American cichlids rather than South Americans. In a 55, it’s best to let it be the only big fish. I would put some type of schooling fish with it. Frankly it makes the big fish look even bigger.
Most cichlids would either be abused or attack the parrot.
I don’t know how much raphael Ike groups or not, but I’d think that’s just paying extra for more fish you won’t see.

 

[Cal Amari]

Raphs don't school, if you want a roving band of cats stick to the pictus, they'll group up some and are constantly in motion and wagging their tails like puppies. second if you want more than 1 cichlid in a 55 you're going to have to stick to something smaller, maybe a pair of firemouths, or apistos or rams, 1 BP will max out your tank alone, maybe with some dithers and a cat, but especially if you get him as an adult he's going to want the whole tank to himself, it's not about predation it's about space and competition.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Actually...Raphs do school; they are just not as well known for it as other catfish like Pictus. But Pictus may be better for schooling...

 

[Cal Amari]

Well, again I liked the one I had, but he was sedentary and reclusive, I guess you could put ten of them in the same tankand call it whatever you want but if they're still sedentary and reclusive is it really a school?

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Well, again, I liked the one I had, but he was sedentary and reclusive, I guess you could put ten of them in the same tank and call it whatever you want but if they're still sedentary and reclusive is it really a school?

They are more active in a school, you would be more likely to see them than not. As I mentioned before, it depends on your tank setup, if you have a bunch of hiding places and it is thickly decorated with plenty of shade and whatnot, then you will never see your fish again, but if it is lightly decorated and has more catfish (even ones of various species) it will come out more, and you will see it more.

I honestly see mine every single day, in the daytime and nighttime. It's more active at night, but it comes out during the day.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

On a completely different note, what do the fish names under our profile names mean? Mine went from Feeder Fish to Exodon... Is it like a ranking or something? Some of y'all I've seen with Goliath Tigerfish and Arapaima. I've always wondered what those mean.

 

[Joshuakahan]

On a completely different note, what do the fish names under our profile names mean? Mine went from Feeder Fish to Exodon... Is it like a ranking or something? Some of y'all I've seen with Goliath Tigerfish and Arapaima. I've always wondered what those mean.

Yes, it’s a ranking system
It sounds like you want a colorful, active and full tank from everything that’s been said on your post. IMO with your tank size, Africans are the way to go. Here’s my 75 African tank and you could easily do something similar in a 55

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

One small problem with Africans...I have a striped Raph...and I don't want Africans to hurt my precious raph. I've kept peacocks and haps before; I was literally chewing my nails off, worried that they would kill my other fish. I would rather not deal with that again. I love African cichlids and would do a tank of them, but I would rather they have their own tank rather than shared with my raph.

I know, I know, my raph is a total tank, but still, it's better to be safe than sorry.

It's another reason why I'm seriously considering the blood parrot, blood parrots don't have anything that can harm a raph, they may try to pester it, but they can't do any damage, even a large one. So I'm happier with that prospect.