How many South American cichlids can I keep in a 55 gallon aquarium?

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I wouldn't add very many firemouths as IMO adding two is starting to push it. Convict might look cute and seem to work well with their fishy friends for anywhere from a day to a year and one day they'll turn and they'll kill competitors. Most likely you'll get at least one pair out of the convicts (they breed like rabbits) it will only add to the aggression. Just making sure you are aware to the risk of adding fish to an established tank of any species. But if you're going to add anything firemouths and assuming your tank has plenty of hiding spots and places to use as territory, your tank should work fine. Also, what filtration are you running?
 
Oh, sorry to tell you but the convicts are highly likely to attack the mosquito fish.
 
Username. said:
I wouldn't add very many firemouths as IMO adding two is starting to push it. Convict might look cute and seem to work well with their fishy friends for anywhere from a day to a year and one day they'll turn and they'll kill competitors. Most likely you'll get at least one pair out of the convicts (they breed like rabbits) it will only add to the aggression. Just making sure you are aware to the risk of adding fish to an established tank of any species. But if you're going to add anything firemouths and assuming your tank has plenty of hiding spots and places to use as territory, your tank should work fine. Also, what filtration are you running?
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I am running a fluval 305 canister filter. And I've had mosquito fish with these cichlids before but I romoved them after the tank cycled. My mosquito fish are 2 1/2 - 3 inches long and breeding.
 
ok that's good filtration. I'm not sure if you've already mentioned it before but how big are the convicts?
 
Well, with every story I've heard, convicts are one of the most aggressive cichlids pound for pound, so just expect that. Just a heads up
 
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Personally, I would just keep the convicts. I had a male, named Al Capone (RIP), with a few Blue Acaras and I had to keep a divider in the tank because otherwise he would beat the crap out of the Blue Acaras. If you really want to add more I would add a schooling fish of some sort. Black Neon Tetras and Tiger Barbs are personally some of my favorites. You could also add some guppies. They will be a lot like your mosquito fish only more colorful. They will breed enough to keep their population up, and provide an occasional snack for your Convicts;). I do this with my 55 gallon with Two blue Acaras in it.
 
Deansy said:
Personally, I would just keep the convicts. I had a male, named Al Capone (RIP), with a few Blue Acaras and I had to keep a divider in the tank because otherwise he would beat the crap out of the Blue Acaras. If you really want to add more I would add a schooling fish of some sort. Black Neon Tetras and Tiger Barbs are personally some of my favorites. You could also add some guppies. They will be a lot like your mosquito fish only more colorful. They will breed enough to keep their population up, and provide an occasional snack for your Convicts;). I do this with my 55 gallon with Two blue Acaras in it.
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Thanks for the advice! I am going to move around the decor and add 2 more convicts and some guppies to school like you said. every time I have added a new convict (I added them all at once) they have just joined the group and they have been fine. I have a 10 gal set up if I get a breeding pair as well.
 
Nativefishkeeper904 said:
Thanks for the advice! I am going to move around the decor and add 2 more convicts and some guppies to school like you said. every time I have added a new convict (I added them all at once) they have just joined the group and they have been fine. I have a 10 gal set up if I get a breeding pair as well.
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I meant to say I added them all 1 at a time. Oops;)
 
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