How many blue acaras and fire mouth cichlids in 200l tank?

[F.Earley]

Hello, i am hoping to get some blue acaras and fire mouth cichlids in my 200l tank. I was told by a local fish store i could have 2 blue acaras and three firemouths, i am usually given great advice from there, but I'm not too convinced on this piece.

If someone could advise me on how many, and a ratio of acaras to fire mouths, i would be really happy
Thank you

 

[adamsfishes]

That sounds fine to me. You should also add some dithers, small fish that stay in the upper part of the water column, like swordtails.

 

[F.Earley]

thanks, but what would the dithers do?

 

[adamsfishes]

They make the cichlids feel less skittish, more at ease. It works. They also create more interest in the tank by occupying a part of the water column that would otherwise be empty.

Actually, you could probably (perhaps should) add one or two more firemouths. They like to be in groups, and with a larger group the aggression will get spread around more. With three, you risk the weakest of the three getting bullied. Five would better, three might work though. Bio load should be fine as long as you have good filtration and make weekly water changes.

 

[tlindsey]

Welcome to MFK Dithers are used to help curb aggression, it will help the less dominant fish also adding plants, driftwood, rocks would help with the line of sight from the dominant fish.

 

[adamsfishes]

Maybe Stanzzzz7 will weigh in, he's got a lot of experience with these fish.

 

[F.Earley]

oh wow, thank you. i am a little sceptical about 5 fire mouths though, I'm not saying i think you're wrong though. i have loads of filtration an do 50% weekly water changes so i guess it would be fine , also plenty of wood, rocks and some hardy plants, I'm just worried they will be too cramped

 

[dan518]

6 firemouths and a group of swordtails, leave out the blue acaras, would make a nice tank, is the tank 4 ft in length

 

[F.Earley]

its a 3.5ft tank . i love the look of both so would rather keep the acaras though

 

[adamsfishes]

I have 15 Thorichthys mixteco (cousins of firemouths) juveniles in a 125. These fish like to shoal and move around the tank together in a group. They don't each need their own big territory, which is why I think 5 would be ok. Of course a bigger tank would be better, maybe a 48x18" 75 gallon (or metric equivalent).