Hemichromis guttatus tankmates

[PassengerTN]

An in-law of mine gave me eleven 1.25-1.5" fry and a 3" sub/adult a few days ago that were also given to him. I have no experience with these fish, nor do I personally know anyone who keeps them. I've tried researching and seem to get mixed answers on housing. I understand they are African, but do not seem to mix well with my mbuna (no surprise). It seems it is common for people to keep these jewels with Americans such as JD, Fire mouth, convicts etc. However common it may be, is this advisable? I can easily transfer the jewels to my american cichlid tank, or take them to the LFS if mixing them with my JD/con/GT is not advised

Jesse

 

[Buphy]

I think it really depends on your tank. My personal experience, limited though it was, involved a pair of jewels with my jacks and EBJD. All the same size at first with the jewels being slightly more aggressive, the jacks soon out grew them and they were forced into hiding till I removed them from the tank. Granted this was 2" jewels and 4" jacks and full grown with enough space and hiding it might have worked long term. I'd try it again because I love how they look but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[Rafini]

second cichlid I ever spawned was Jewels, right after Spirilus.

I housed my jewels in a 90g aquarium with the same fish you listed, Firemouths, SD, and some other cichlids. they are known to be really aggressive when breeding but my pair were fine. they kept everyone away but they didn`t inflict any serious harm.

they are one of the easiest fish to keep and are very undemanding, you should be fine with them