Help Me Choose My First Cichla!

[Fishes33]

Like I said I have a soft spot for C. orinocensis and have had them since back "when they were cool" lol. However there are some neat species out there. I personally wouldn' recommend any of the larger species (C. temensis and temensis complex, C. piquiti) for your size tank but the smaller species would have a hay day in there

What do you mean by "I personally wouldn' recommend any of the larger species (C. temensis and temensis complex, C. piquiti)" ???

How come your not recommending him on Azul???? Isn't their max size is around 24" while Temensis grows to 36"???

 

[apriliarider15]

Kullander & Ferreira says the fish on average is 500mm which is about 19-20" but I have seen many pictures of fish much, much larger on Brazilian fishing sites. This species has only been on US soil for 5 years so I don't think anyone really knows the adult size in aquaria yet. Seiichi maybe the only person who knows. There were reports a few years back that said C. kelberi only reached 8-10" that since has been blown out of the water.

 

[I<3fish]

Kullander & Ferreira says the fish on average is 500mm which is about 19-20" but I have seen many pictures of fish much, much larger on Brazilian fishing sites. This species has only been on US soil for 5 years so I don't think anyone really knows the adult size in aquaria yet. Seiichi maybe the only person who knows. There were reports a few years back that said C. kelberi only reached 8-10" that since has been blown out of the water.

Yeah, and even the 18" max size for kelberi has since been dis proven.

 

[MFM]

Not very familiar with Cichla, but will the school's aggressiveness increase as its size increases? ie Will more Cichla equal more risk for his gar (if not now, later)?

I have cichla with one, and nothing...he chills and floats around. He is around 18 inches though.

 

[gangster]

Id go orino's, azuls or kelberi's. Tems lack color...and get huge!

 

[gangster]

Honestly my rescue C. monoculus is the most aggressive eater out of all my Cichla. I have a soft spot for C. orinocensis (probably the reason I have so many of them) but out of all my fish C. orinocensis, C. kelberi, C. piquiti, C. "intermedia", and that rescue he is the only that will come out and bite the crap out of me when my hand hit the water. I'm not sure if it just because he is dumber than my WCs or what but he is very aggressive when it comes to food. I think you should look through pictures of others fish and decide for yourself what fish you want to get. It sad to see these fish sitting in an lfs 55 gallon at 12" because someone thought they would be cool until they figure out how much they eat and they haven't got any color because they are stressed and aren't of the right diet. However I do recommend more than a few.... I know I am a Cichlaholic but these fish thrive on competition and community. In the wild it isn't rare to see a shoal of 20 or more with fry.

Gotta see some tank updates. Your knowledge for cichla is actually worth listening to. Lets see a thread show casing your cichla tanks..stock lists, filtration, diet etc.

 

[HULON]

I am pretty new to cichla but i would have to say Orino just because they are hardy tough for your community you have at least one gar if i am not mistaken?Oh and not to mention the Beauty of Orino

 

[Madding]

I am pretty new to cichla but i would have to say Orino just because they are hardy tough for your community you have at least one gar if i am not mistaken?Oh and not to mention the Beauty of Orino

I have around seven gars in the tank, from 10" to 18".

 

[MFM]

Gotta see some tank updates. Your knowledge for cichla is actually worth listening to. Lets see a thread show casing your cichla tanks..stock lists, filtration, diet etc.

I think he should also!! I have never seen his fish!

 

[pwmin]

I would actually stay away from orinos as they're usually the most aggressive species and aggressive cichlds don't usually bode well for gar as you know from hanging around the gar forum, but you know how that goes.